Filling an educational gap - delivering expert knowledge on gender equality, diversity and inclusion in forestry to all

The course is a collaboration between 29 organisations and 40 international experts on five continents, and is jointly coordinated by University of Padova, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Université de Moncton. Co-funders of the course are SLU Global and FSC International. Among the organisations contributing with materials are UN Women, CIFOR-ICRAF, and FSC International. The IUFRO (International Union of Forest Research Organizations) Task Force on Gender equality in forestry initiated the course development.

ForGEDI MOOC is primarily designed for forestry students and university educators. It will also be beneficial for students and educators from forest-related sectors such as rural development, trade, and environmental studies. It is possible for professionals in vocational training to take the course as well. Educators and curricula developers are warmly invited to select parts of the materials and use within own courses outside FutureLearn.

During three weeks, 8-28 April, coordinators and tutors will facilitate discussions and be available for the learners, but the course materials will be available at any time for anyone with an internet connection. The course is free of charge, but taking the final test requires the learner to pay a small fee to FutureLearn.

The course encompasses about 15 hours of learning over three weeks, each week covering one significant aspect of the topic.
Week 1 will introduce basic concepts of gender equality, diversity and inclusion.
Week 2 will present worldwide casestudies of barriers faced by women and disadvantaged groups.
Week 3 offers practical tools for dealing with gender equality and diversity issues in forestry-related sectors.

Learn more about how you can make forestry more equal, diverse and inclusive by signing up for the course on 8 April!