The Vice-Rector of the University of Sopron Holds Talks in Finland

During his visit, Prof. Dr. Lakatos met with the Head of the Department of Forest Sciences at the University of Helsinki and with the Director for Customer Relations and International Affairs at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). He also held discussions with the Head of the Forestry Department at Tampere University of Technology, where they reviewed potential areas of collaboration between the two universities.

The Vice-Rector participated in the “Tree Dialogue” forestry conference, organized jointly by the Embassy of Hungary in Helsinki, the Embassy of Iceland in Helsinki, and the European Forest Institute (EFI). In his presentation, he highlighted the importance of resilient forests in maintaining biodiversity and species well-being and provided an overview of the current situation of European forests.

According to Ambassador Klára Breuer, the Finnish partners expressed "great openness toward exploring specific cooperation opportunities with the University of Sopron, including high-tech applications, forest ecosystem research, and joint academic mobility programs for students and faculty. She emphasized that forestry is a strategically important sector in Finland, supported by a strong research background and a well-established higher education network.
The European Forest Institute, headquartered in Joensuu, eastern Finland, counts the University of Sopron among its associate members. Prof. Dr. Lakatos also took part in a meeting in Budapest between Robert Mavsar, Director of EFI, and Péter Zambó, State Secretary for Forests and Land Affairs at Hungary’s Ministry of Agriculture, where Hungary’s accession to the institute was discussed. Ambassador Breuer noted that Hungary’s membership would further strengthen the professional presence of Hungarian forestry and expand international research and innovation collaborations." She added that both she and Anett Pintér, Commercial Attaché, who assisted in organizing the visit, remain available to support future initiatives.

The University of Helsinki is Finland’s largest and oldest university, with approximately 30,000 students and 8,000 staff members, and hosts 20 forestry research groups engaged in technological, ecological, and business-oriented projects.

“During my discussion with Prof. Markus Holopainen, Head of the Department of Forest Sciences at the University of Helsinki, we reviewed possible avenues for future cooperation,” said Prof. Dr. Ferenc Lakatos, Vice-Rector of the University of Sopron. “We explored opportunities for student and faculty mobility programs and joint research projects. The University of Helsinki’s Hyytiälä Research Station offers excellent field practice opportunities for our students. We highlighted key areas for closer collaboration, such as artificial intelligence, data science, automation, remote sensing, and the study of forest pests, particularly bark beetles. Another interesting point of connection is the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada, which maintains a dual degree program with the University of Helsinki and where, following the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, many Sopron students and lecturers found a new home—thus maintaining a historical link between our institutions.”

The Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) is a state research institute under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Its mission is to promote competitive business activities based on the sustainable use of renewable natural resources and to support the well-being and vitality of rural areas. During the meeting, both parties identified potential areas for cooperation within the Horizon Europe framework, including timber construction, bio-based adhesives, forest monitoring, and biodiversity research.

At Tampere University of Technology, discussions also covered the development of exchange programs and the exploration of cooperation in forest pedagogy and design.