University of Helsinki
To give you a sense of what it’s like to study in our Forest Sciences and Business Master’s Programme, Yijing Zhang shares her insights and experiences on studies and life in Helsinki!
What are your reasons for choosing the Department of Forest Sciences?
I chose Finland because it is a country full of forests (forests cover as much as 73% of the landmass) and because it has advanced techniques and knowledge in forest management and forest-related industry. University of Helsinki, as the world leading university in forest sciences and research, was definitely the first choice when I decided to come to Finland.
As we know, more and more young professionals are needed to work in the increasingly challenging and global forestry sector. What are your goals?
Well, as scientific research is my main interest, I chose to continue for PhD study after I graduated from the MScFB program. My goal is to work as a researcher, a teacher or a consultant in the forestry sector in the future. I try to contribute with the professional and valuable knowledge I gained in here.
What is your opinion about employment opportunities in Finland?
I think employment opportunities in Finland are now quite limited – maybe caused by the global economic recession. It will very much depend on your major and Finnish language skills. I hope Finnish companies could provide more opportunities for international students in the future, as we also possess the professional knowledge and excellent skills.
What about the Finnish language? Is it hard to learn?
The Finnish language is indeed a very hard language in terms of grammar. However, I think if you really invest time in it, it is not a mission impossible.
What do you think about the Finnish education system so far and does it give you the work skills you need?
I personally like the Finnish education system very much. I think it is quite flexible and efficient. Students can easily access the knowledge they are interested in. Meanwhile, in the class, students are more than listeners; they are participators, leaders, or even teachers. I think these roles have significantly improved my skills in communication, presentation, debating and so on.
What’s your next project?
I will concentrate on my PhD work in the next two years and each paper seems to be a new “project” to me at this stage. After that, I think I will apply for a job; a consultant position in a forest industry company is my goal.