Integrisanje obrazovanja i nauke: učešće studenata masterskog programa FOPER u naučnoistraživačkom radu
Education and Science Integration: Participation of FOEPR Students in Research Process

Summary/Abstract: Forest Policy and Economics Education and Research (FOPER) project, financed by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represent one of the most developed cooperation projects in the domain of higher education in the Western Balkan region. As a response to the growing diversification of human demands toward forest resources, FOPER offers unique set of competencies and skills through creation of specific expert profile capable to fulfill large spectrum of tasks from the domain of sustainable management of forests as well as other natural resources. A peculiarity of this Master program is students’ inclusiveness in research projects which result in necessary synergy between education and research - principle that should be one of the key postulates of the modern higher education. By this approach, alongside with their education, students have a chance to be actively involved in research process following the principle of “learning by doing“. In the curriculum of the FOPER Master program, in adition to obligatory courses in which students are introduced with research methodology and applications of qualitative and quantitative methods, possibility of elective courses (i.e. SPSS, Survey design, Case study, Questionnaire design, Sampling methods, Computer based text analysis etc.) as a way of improvement of their knowledge in field of research is also offered. Beside research activities as a part of each course, students also have possibility to be actively involved in the Collaborative Regional Research Teams (CRRT) which deals with current problems in domain of forest and environmental policy and economics, nature protection, management of protected areas, renewable energy resources, marketing of forest products, game management and urban forestry. With this approach, despite practical implementation of theoretical knowledge, students` active participation in CRRT projects will assure gathering of the information needed for their Master thesis. The aim of this paper is to present some positive experiences and advantages of the FOPER Master Program as a study that educate new generation of scientists-experts, capable to offer solutions for practical problems respecting the postulates of science and qualified enough to face with challenges of advanced perception of natural resources management. This approach in education of Master students could significantly contribute to the continuity of the higher education reform respecting the Bologna principles at the University of Sarajevo.

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