Dean of Fahutan IPB University Called Foresters Also Need Soft Skills in the Climate Crisis Era
The role of foresters in maintaining the balance of ecosystems and reducing the impact of climate change is very important. Dr Naresworo Nugroho, Dean of the Faculty of Forestry and Environment (Fahutan) IPB University said, foresters need not only hard skills, but also soft skills.
“The role of foresters is also increasingly needed in government programs, including Indonesia Forestry and Other Land Uses (FOLU) Net-Sink 2030. The operational plan for this program requires human resources (HR) in all regions of Indonesia to achieve carbon emission reduction targets,” he said in the Online Discussion: Ngolak with Forest Digest ‘The Future of Foresters in the Era of Climate Crisis’, (31/3).
Therefore, continued Dr Naresworo, Fahutan IPB University compiled a special teaching curriculum for foresters at IPB University. With increasing environmental issues, the branding of Fahutan IPB University does not only focus on forestry. Issues related to climate change, biodiversity and others are also involved.
“Fahutan IPB University does not only direct monodisciplinary learning, but also multidisciplinary. Social awareness is one of the soft skills needed by students,” he said.
According to him, students as foresters also need to increase their communication and leadership skills, not only in forestry. Moreover, in the field, graduates will meet local communities and the various conflicts that surround them.
“Therefore, students are also required to think critically, creatively, be able to collaborate and be ready for a career,” said Dr Naresworo. He hopes that graduates of Fahutan IPB University will be involved in a wider sector, not only in the forestry sector, but also in environmental relations.
“In the era of climate crisis, foresters must have this capability, because only qualified human resources can oversee the climate mitigation process so that it runs well. One of them is the IPB University Faculty of Forestry curriculum which equips students with hard skills and soft skills so that they become graduates who are adaptive and resilient in working in forest areas,” he continued.
In this curriculum, IPB University Fahutan students are equipped with basic environmental-based science competencies that are in line with the principles of forestry science, ‘preserve the forest, protect the future’.
“Fahutan IPB University is trying to change the stigma of forestry science which is considered destructive to be sustainable. The forestry business is actually based on Sustainable Forest Management. The forestry science that is taught upholds the principles of sustainability and nature preservation,” he added.
Forestry science and business, said Dr Naresworo, upholds conservation values, namely utilization, preservation and protection as a complete package. “No forest material is redundant, everything is used as green material and carbon stock in response to the climate crisis,” he said.
He added, even though the frequency of field practice has decreased due to the pandemic, the Free Learning Campus Merdeka (MBKM) program provides a great opportunity for students to practice their knowledge outside of the study program. “Through MBKM, students can hone their soft skills and hard skills according to their interests and talents with various enrichment programs,” he concluded. (MW) (IAAS/AMR)
