The Global Wood Academy (GWA) is a comprehensive five module course in Nordic Wood Industries. The first four modules are conducted remotely and they consist of reading, videos, exercises and tests. In the fifth module students from all around the world travel to Finland for lectures and to visit forest operation sites, sawmills and other related industrial sites. This qualification is recognised globally across the timber industry.
This year, our second cohort of students attended the GWA. For the first time, we extended applications to all staff with over two years of service. Interested employees were asked to submit a 500 word statement explaining why they should be selected and the benefits it would bring to their professional development. Through this process, David Diss, Purchasing Manager, and Lyndsey Harkin, Sales Manager, successfully secured the two sought after positions.
Alongside their daily duties David and Lyndsey worked through the various modules and exams - covering a range of topics from ‘learning the difference between forest zones and sustainable forest management’ to 'global trade main markets, phases from order to delivery, routes and documents’.
Once completed they travelled to Finland to put their learned knowledge into practice, across a jam packed 5 days.
David and Lyndsey kicked off the week presenting to the group about CTH, as well as our countries forest industry, with a brief overview on population, country area, forest area and then a more in depth look at the forest industry, domestic uses and imports & exports.
We spoke to David and Lyndsey about the course and their experience of it and this is what they said:
David said "It was a really interesting diploma and I'm pleased I had the opportunity to do it, I particularly enjoyed networking with different people from the industry. The coursework was manageable and the trip to Finland was my biggest takeaway, it gave context to the work they do and gave us first hand experience of the process - allowing me to understand this in a more technical way. I would absolutely recommend this course."
Lyndsey said "The course was brilliant, I feel more knowledgeable having completed it which helps a lot when talking to customers. I really enjoyed some of the stand out lectures from some of the architects. It was fascinating to see some of the processes taking place at the mills and the forests. The country in general was lovely, a particular highlight for me was attending the FC Lahti v Inter Turku match. We received such generous hospitality and I would recommend this course to everyone."
