Print Syllabus

Syllabus

SV0045 Sustainable Wood Supply Analysis , 15.0 Credits

Analys av hållbar virkesförsörjning

Subjects

Forestry Science

Education cycle

Master’s level

Advanced study in the main field

Second cycle, has second-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Master’s level (A1F)

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

The equivalent of

120 credits

10 credits forestry science at second-cycle level within wood science/wood technology

20 credits forestry science at second-cycle level within forest technology, including industrial supply planning and/or operations control

7,5 credits forestry science at second-cycle level within remote sensing and/or inventory

5 credits within geographic information systems (GIS)

and English 6.

Objectives

The course intends to advance student ability to develop sustainable and competitive supply strategies for the forest sector in industrial wood supply. This includes understanding the complexity of the supply chain, its large number of supply alternatives and mastering methods to handle uncertainties and unforeseen events.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• develop long term regional forest scenarios and analyze corresponding trends for wood supply
• analyze effects of uncertainty, e.g. changing climate or policy, on wood availability
• model effects of the scenarios on mill-specific supply security and competitiveness
• analyze effects of supply system development on competiveness 
• apply relevant supply scenarios for case studies of mill-specific sustainability and competitiveness
• develop and critically evaluate supply strategies for case studies to meet significant risks for both changing supply and demand conditions.

Content

Content:

The course focuses on analysis of future forest industry supply scenarios and how to respond to these with supply strategies that secure long-term raw material availability and competitiveness. This takes place through packages of exercises and theory, which also train the students' ability to evaluate the sustainability of supply strategies for a forest sector in constant development.

Implementation:

The course is divided into three parts. Initially, the course focuses on methods for simulating future supply scenarios (part 1) and analyzes of the industry's supply security and competitiveness (part 2). These methods are then applied in case studies (part 3) which form a large part of the course where the students independently analyze different path choices in supply for both existing and new industries. In the case studies, supply scenarios, supply security and competitiveness are analyzed over time in a joint forum for strategic response to changes in external factors.

The course is structured around practical exercises combined with literature seminars. Case studies are carried out in stages with periodic changes in conditions and coordination in the course's common group forum.

The course focuses on the following general competencies: Critical thinking, problem solving, oral communication, written communication, cooperation, time management.

The following elements are mandatory: Exercises, case studies and seminars.

Cooperation with the surrounding society takes place through working life/vocational connections in program/course development together with an external program council of employer representatives, as well as through guest lectures and exercise materials from the forestry industry.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

Passed oral and written reports. Passed participation in compulsory components.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

The course is part of the master's program Industrial Wood Supply Management. It builds on the previous courses in the program by synthesizing the achieved core competence in wood supply with the deep competence in digital analyses. It is the last course before the master's thesis, and constitutes the program's synthesis/capstone course where advanced analysis can be based on in-depth understanding of forest industry supply systems. The course can be completed entirely on distance. However, teaching takes place from the campus in Umeå, where infrastructure is provided for students who are physically present. The course is given together with the Department of Forest Resource Management.



The special entry requirement in wood science/wood technology can be met through the program course SV0047 Raw Material Properties and Refining Processes, the entry requirement in forest technology can be met through the program courses SV0048 Forest Industrial Supply Strategy and SV0049 Operational Management of Industrial Wood Supply, and the entry requirement in remote sensing can be met through the program course SV0065 Remote Sensing and Inventory.

Responsible department

Department of Forest Biomaterials and Technology

Cooperating departments: