This project will demonstrate how UBC Forestry uses open educational resources developed through international collaboration to benefit UBC students and provide accessible forestry education to global learners.
Challenges such as climate change and deforestation have created high demand for sustainable forest management (SFM), and access to relevant education is important for improving forest management and nurturing new generation practitioners. To improve the capacity building of SFM, starting in 2014 the Faculty of Forestry, has led the development of a joint educational program entitled Innovative Sustainable Forest Management Education in the Asia-Pacific Region which includes the development of a series of five self-directed online courses with its content as open educational resources (OER). In the first phase of the program, five international renowned forestry universities including UBC, Beijing Forestry University, University of Melbourne, University Putra Malaysia, and University of the Philippines Los Baños had worked together to apply new educational technology and innovative pedagogical method for conveying SFM knowledge to a global audience.
As open educational resources, all courses in this program can be re-purposed entirely or partially in support of flipped or blended classroom approaches, as well as future credential programs. Given those features, the Faculty of Forestry has used the courses in various ways to improve teaching and learning. Since 2016, this program has attracted over 3300 interested learners including students, faculty members and professionals from 90 countries around the world. The program won the CNIE-RCIE Award in the category of Excellence and Innovation in the Integration of Technology in Educational Practices/Collaboration. We believe this project will provide useful experience and information on improving equity in forestry education worldwide.
We will showcase the project with video lectures, infographic and invited guest speakers. Q & A will be arranged to interact with audiences.
