The EU has set very challenging goals for the partial replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy by 2020. In many EU countries forests are the main source of renewable energy and wood energy is booming all over the continent. Technologies for woody biomass production, transportation, and energy conversion are rapidly expanding both inside and outside the EU. In this context highly trained professionals who understand and can apply the latest technology, international trade rules, and environmental frameworks, are essential to secure practical and sustainable development solutions in wood energy production. This challenge has been addressed by six higher educational institutions and bioenergy research organizations from across Europe. The consortium, in the framework of the EU Erasmus Multilateral Programme, is developing a masters program for educating experts in wood energy production, trade, and transportation as well as modern research and development methods, within the EU and globally. The relevant stakeholders in the sector of wood energy had been interviewed by means of a questionnaire and online survey to better understand their view of this sector and which skills they consider essential in master of science professionals. The outcomes of the survey are here analyzed and the resulting structure of the masters curriculum is described.
International Masters in Wood Energy: an EU project for developing higher education in the bioenergy sector
2014
Abstract
The EU has set very challenging goals for the partial replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy by 2020. In many EU countries forests are the main source of renewable energy and wood energy is booming all over the continent. Technologies for woody biomass production, transportation, and energy conversion are rapidly expanding both inside and outside the EU. In this context highly trained professionals who understand and can apply the latest technology, international trade rules, and environmental frameworks, are essential to secure practical and sustainable development solutions in wood energy production. This challenge has been addressed by six higher educational institutions and bioenergy research organizations from across Europe. The consortium, in the framework of the EU Erasmus Multilateral Programme, is developing a masters program for educating experts in wood energy production, trade, and transportation as well as modern research and development methods, within the EU and globally. The relevant stakeholders in the sector of wood energy had been interviewed by means of a questionnaire and online survey to better understand their view of this sector and which skills they consider essential in master of science professionals. The outcomes of the survey are here analyzed and the resulting structure of the masters curriculum is described.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
