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2026 Annual Conference

SILVA Network Annual Conference 2026

Topic: Co-operation in higher forest education – from open educational materials to joint curricula and degrees

May 18 - 20, 2026
at the HAFL in Zollikofen (Switzerland)

Safe the date and draft your abstract!

Topic of the Conference: Co-operation in higher forest education – from open educational materials to joint curricula and degrees

About the topic:

Higher education in forestry is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven by global sustainability challenges, changing labour market demands and the growing interdisciplinary nature of forest-related professions. In response to demands for climate-smart forestry, biodiversity conservation, bioeconomy development and digital innovation, universities are recognising the importance of deeper cooperation in teaching across institutions. Such collaborative approaches facilitate the sharing of expertise, the development of complementary strengths, and the creation of learning pathways that better prepare graduates to tackle complex, transboundary issues.

New developments in higher education such as European Degrees, joint degrees, microcredentials, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are reshaping the academic landscape in Europe. European and joint degrees strengthen cross-border collaboration and enhance student mobility, fostering a more integrated European Higher Education Area. Microcredentials and MOOCs, in turn, support more flexible, modular, and lifelong learning opportunities beyond traditional degree structures. Moreover, Open Educational Resources (OER) have recently emerged as powerful as a powerful foundation for collaboration. By promoting transparency, accessibility, and adaptability, OER facilitate the co-creation of teaching resources, reduce duplication of effort, and support harmonised quality standards across programmes. Building on these open resources, universities are increasingly exploring joint curriculum development and establishing shared or double degrees that offer students richer and more diverse academic experiences. Together, these innovations are expected to significantly influence the structures and processes of higher education in Europe by promoting greater flexibility, internationalization, and accessibility.

Thus, the SILVA Network Annual Conference 2026 brings together educators, researchers, and institutional leaders to explore new pathways for collaboration in teaching in higher forest education. The event focuses on strengthening cooperation through open educational resources, innovative teaching practices, and the development of joint curricula and degree programs.

We look forward to contributions from students, teachers, and administrative staff regarding:

Success stories, challenges, and future perspectives of horizontal and/or vertical collaborative forest education
Designing, using, and sharing open educational materials in forestry and related fields
Cross-institutional teaching models and digital learning environments
Strategies for co-creating joint curricula, courses, micro-credentials and MOOCs
Governance, accreditation, and quality assurance in joint degree programs

Submit your Abstract!

Participants are invited to submit their abstract by February 2^nd, 2026

Please e-mail your abstract (max 300 words) to Miriam Hug (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). The SILVA board will decide on contributions (oral presentations / posters) and all applicants will be informed as soon as possible after the deadline. Confirmed abstracts will be published in the Conference proceedings (SILVA Network Publications).

Venue

The conference will be hosted by the Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL at Länggasse 85, 3052 Zollikofen (near Bern), Switzerland. The campus is located near the city of Bern but is situated among fields and forests. Here, you’ll find general information about Bern and its surroundings: https://bern.com/en/home.

Travel Arrangements

Participants make their own travel arrangements at their own cost. You can reach the campus of HAFL in Zollikofen via Bern (see above). There are several possibilities to get to Bern.

By train to Bern train station. For more information about train tickets and connections see: https://www.sbb.ch/en. For more information about special train tickets for tourists see here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/tickets/guests-abroad.html.
By car directly to Bern and then to the campus of HAFL in Zollikofen (see above).
By plane to EuroAirport Basel (euroairport.com/en), Zurich airport (www.flughafen-zuerich.ch/en/passengers) or Geneva airport (https://www.gva.ch/en/). From the airport take the train to Bern and then public transport to the campus of HAFL (see above).

Fees

The early bird registration fee is €200; this applies up until March 20^th, 2026 after which, a fee of €250 applies. There is a student rate of €150. Registration includes coffee, lunches, the conference dinner, and the field trip. Registration must be paid in advance (details to follow in coming days).