Higher forestry education in Germany: students’ and graduates’ perspectives on study content, skill acquisition and career preparedness

This study investigates students’ and graduates’ perspectives on bachelor-level forestry programs in Germany. Based on 440 survey responses from nine universities and universities of applied sciences, the results showed that forest management, plant knowledge, and ecology are the most valued subjects among students. However, many participants perceived a mismatch between their interests and the actual curricular coverage – particularly in areas such as leadership or forest management. The survey indicated gender-based differences: women more often favoured topics relating to ecology, plant knowledge and social skills, while men preferred traditional forestry subjects such as forest management, hunting and engineering. Male respondents reported a higher sense of career preparedness. Furthermore, differences occurred between universities and universities of applied sciences. The findings underscore the need to better align forestry curricula with student expectations and labor market demands, e.g. by enhancing the integration of soft skills and ensuring a balanced coverage of both traditional and emerging content areas.