Our main objective was to synthesize and make available partner teaching material in forest ecology and forest management using an Open-Access platform, in English language. In doing so, such teaching material may serve as a reference and repository for developing tailor-made courses at institutes of higher education elsewhere. During the process, the teaching material is revised and updated, including international examples, references for further study, and recent scientific publications. By using an Open-Access platform with simple architecture, the material can be continuously updated and extended with relevant topics. The current partners aim to keep the platform operational at least 5 years after project end. The repository may also be expanded later to include exercises and excursion guides. As part of the production process of the individual chapters, the material is evaluated by an editorial panel to ensure consistency and quality, which serves as a guarantee for teaching standards. This quality assurance is an important characteristic of the EUROSILVICS platform, and will serve as benchmark and improvement mechanism for education programs at participating institutions as well as users of the material.
The project was part of an ongoing effort to improve the quality and visibility of teaching in forest ecology and forest management at the partner universities. This was done by making existing teaching materials (national textbooks, handouts, etc.) available on an Open-Access platform to be used by lecturers at other universities, as well as by individual students. The main motivation for EUROSILVICS stems from the interest of lecturers, students, and practitioners in forestry, environmental sciences and biology to have online access to disciplinary basic knowledge on forest ecology and forest management, including reference to further study material. This provides a broader context for forestry education, and allows lecturers to update their own teaching material. By gradually filling the Open-Access platform with education material previously available in national language only, an educational data-base takes shape that allows benchmarking and further development of study programs at forest faculties in Europe and elsewhere. By making available national teaching material, transparency and further exchange and collaboration between forest faculties and other interested parties is stimulated.