"How to become a forester in Chile": curriculum innovations in biodiversity conservation and protected areas for local and global forestry challenges

Abstract

The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (founded in 1888) is one of the leading Universities of Latin America (QS Standard ranked #1st in Latin America) and The Schoolof Agriculture & Forestry Engineering (founded in 1904) is also highly ranked globally (QSStandard #51st in the world). Forestry Engineering was launched as an undergraduateprogram in 1993. Since its creation, more than 300 students have graduated with a degree in Forestry Engineering. This School had a Department of Forestry Sciences, the support of four Departments of Agriculture, and basic sciences from other Schools in the University. The curriculum includes general topics and basic sciences for two years. The syllabus included two years of pre-professional courses in Agriculture and Forestry sciences. The next two years included advanced forestry engineering courses and practical fieldwork. Graduation is complete after a fifth year and a final exam or a research topic. The School experienced asharp decline of undergraduate students from 2000 to 2010 resulting in a single program in Natural Resources with Agriculture. A common bachelor's degree with a final year ofspecialization did not increase the number of students enrolled in Forestry Engineering. Globalization, climate change and rates of biodiversity loss were considered new challengesfor the Forestry Engineering curricula and the Department was re-structured into a newDepartment of Ecosystems & the Environment