BSc Forestry Syllabus -Tribhuvan University Institute of Forestry

Tribhuvan University Institute of Forestry (TU IoF),  Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal Course Catalogue / Syllabus / Curriculum of  Bachelor of Science in Forestry (B. Sc. Forestry): The mission of the Institute of Forestry (IOF) is to develop human resources based on the existing and emerging needs of the country in the area of forestry and natural resources subject areas. The long-term objective of IOF is to develop itself as a center of excellence in forestry and natural resources education and research. Unlike traditional forestry, the purpose of forestry education is to produce skilled technical and professional human resources to address local, national, and international issues. Given the socio-economic conditions of the country's inhabitants and geographical conditions consisting of hilly and mountainous rugged terrain, the forests of Nepal deserve prime importance in terms of conservation and management. Destruction of forest resources invites various kinds of environmental hazards threatening the life of every entity, as a result, the list of endangered species has been longer and longer. 

To conserve and manage forest resources, and maintain bio-diversity and ecological balance, the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (MOFSC) has been constantly revising its forest policy and legislation. As MOFSC is the major government organization providing employment to IOF graduates, IOF has been interacting with MOFSC and various other institutions and organizations to get feedback to train its graduates as per the need and policy of the government. Accordingly, considering Nepal's socio-political and environmental changes, IOF has also tried to address these changes and has constantly revised its curricula. Curriculum development is a continuous process and as per the policy of Tribhuvan University, IOF has developed a four-year forestry curriculum. The courses and subjects proposed by the Subject Committees were critically discussed and modified by the Faculty Board of IOF.             

This course curriculum is the outcome of several formal and informal discussions, meetings and workshops. Many individuals and institutions have contributed directly and indirectly to bring this curriculum to this shape. I like to express my sincere thanks to the members of the Subject Matter Committees and the Faculty Board, and organizations for their kind co-operation and contributions. I like to extend my special thanks to the Academic Council of Tribhuvan University for approving this curriculum. Special thanks also go to Mr. Bishnu Hari Wagle, Lecturer, IOF for compiling and editing this curriculum and bringing it to this shape and to Prof. Mohan Krishna Balla for final editing/ formatting the course catalog. I am grateful to CARE Nepal/Hariyo Ban Program, Kathmandu for financial support for refining the curriculum. 

Mission of the Institute of Forestry

Institute of Forestry (IOF) is one of the five technical institutes under Tribhuvan University. The mission of IOF is to develop technically sound and competent, and socially compatible human resources in the areas of Forestry and Natural Resource Management.  

Objectives of IOF

• To design and implement educational programs that can address the current needs and interest of the civil society in the country in the area of forestry and natural resources fields.
• To develop competent and practical-oriented professional foresters and efficient managers in the area of Natural Resource Management.
• To develop the academic environment and encourage faculty members and students to enhance their professional career.
• To encourage research activities that can address the practical problems of farmers and communities at large.
• To develop IOF as the Center of excellence in the area of forestry education and other natural resources subjects.

Brief History of Development

The Institute of Forestry (IOF) is the only national-level academic institution that has been providing training and producing grass root level and middle-level manpower in the area of Natural Resources Management in Nepal. The Institute started as the Nepal Forestry Institute at Singh Durbar in Kathmandu in 1947. It was shifted to Suping (Bhimphedi), Makwanpur in 195758. After the completion of the construction of buildings by the Indian Co-operation Mission, the Institute was moved to Hetauda in 1965. The Institute was run by the Department of Forest, Nepal until July 1972. It came under the Tribhuvan University system and amalgamated as a constituent institute in the same year as the Institute of Forestry. Until the late 1970s, it produced only technician-grade foresters (Rangers). In 1981,  IOF expanded its academic programs to a two- year Certificate Level in Hetauda Campus and Bachelor in Forestry in Pokhara Campus with better facilities developed through the technical and financial assistance from the World Bank, International Development Agencie (IDA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Educational Programs

Currently, IOF has two constitutional campuses, Pokhara and Hetauda Campus, and one affiliated campus, Kathmandu Forestry College, Kathmandu. IOF is implementing the three-level academic programs: Bachelor in Forestry,  M.Sc. in a. Forestry, b. Natural Resource Management & Rural Development, c. Watershed Management and d. Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation as well as Ph.D. in Forestry. In addition to regular academic programs, IOF has also been organizing short training courses- national and international- in various fields of forestry such as Community Forestry, Forestry Extension, Non-Timber Forest Products Management, Ecotourism, Forest Surveying, Watershed management, etc. 

Research Program

Apart from teaching-learning activities, faculty members and students have been involved in research projects through Tribhuvan University grants and small grants provided by bilateral forestry projects in Nepal. Funds are seeked from National and International organizations on a competitive basis. Additionally, some funding has been made available from the NORHEDNorway and SIFOR-DANIDA-Denmark Projects for faculty and students’ research. Research activities are co-coordinated through the IOF Research Committee, which is headed by the Dean and Research Director. The committee also seeks funding from various donor agencies to support faculty and students’ research proposals. Manuscripts based on results of the IOF-funded research activities are published in national and international journals including the Forestry Journal of the Institute of Forestry. 

Extra-Curricular Activities

Apart from regular academic activities, IOF Campus administration, Teacher's Association, Student's union, and students' Selfhelp Group organize various activities such as sports, plantation, poetry, cultural, and talk programs on various occasions. Such extracurricular activities have provided opportunities to faculty members, students, and staff for socialization and team-building process.

PHYSICAL FACILITIES

 Classrooms and Laboratories

In order to enhance the efficiency of the teaching and learning process, IOF has modern classroom facilities equipped with all necessary audio-video teaching aids. Faculty and students have the opportunity to enhance their teaching-learning process at their best physical comfort. Both of the IOF Campuses have laboratories with modest facilities to provide practical training as prescribed in the course curriculum. Some sophisticated laboratory facilities in the Government research stations and other academic institutes located nearby the IOF campuses are also utilized in the teaching-learning process and research.

Library and Documentation Center

Both the campuses of IOF have a good library facility having quite large collections of books, journals, Master's and Ph.D. Theses in forestry and natural resource management. Currently, all the accessions are under the process of computerization. It also has TREE-CD database, which includes abstracts of Agroforestry, Forestry and Forest Products. Computer entry of all accessions have made easy for the students and researchers in searching relevant books and research journals. IOF Library with computers and Internet facility is linked with information super highway.

A Museum and Library-cum Documentation complex at Hetauda Campus is another attractive facility. The complex has several sections ranging from newspapers and magazines to exhibits of forestry and other allied subject areas. After completion of the documentation works, it will be a model teaching, research and extension resource center in the country as a whole. 

Computer Center

In order to facilitate the teaching and learning process of teachers and students, IOF has established separate computer laboratories for faculty and students. It also has latest version of GIS software and hardware. Computer facilities are provided to the final year students to work on their project papers and theses.

Research Nursery and Sites

Institute of Forestry has many forests as research sites located at different ecological zones ranging from plain (Inner-Terai) to Mid-hills. Some of them are plantations of different species including exotic ones such as Ipil- Ipil (Leucaena spp.) and some sites having natural forests of indigenous species of Sal (Shorea robusta). IOF also has research nurseries in both campuses. These nurseries are used for practical training of students. Hetauda campus has very nice forest arboreta, which have collections of number of pine species and other forest species. The matured Sal (Shorea robusta) forest with dense ground vegetation at Hetauda Campus has provided a very nice habitat for spotted deers. Hence, faculty and students can conduct their research works on a wide range of subjects. 

Students' Housing and Campus Cafeteria

The Institute provides boarding facility to all interested students (male and female) at nominal costs at both campuses in separate hostels for boys and girls. It has helped students to access the library and computer facilities, and also, provided opportunities to interact with teachers and their supervisors. Both campuses have cafeteria, which serve meals and snacks at reasonable prices. The cafeteria are run by interested individuals and firms selected by respective campus administration through competative bidding under the rules and regulations set forth by the campus.

Faculty and Staff Housing

IOF is staffed with more than 80 teaching faculty members and enough administrative staffs. Almost all the faculty members and most of the administrative staffs reside on-campus in different categories of apartments. The Campus administration charges the tenants a nominal rent for their occupancy.

Transportation and Communication

To conduct the educational tours, field training and excursions, The Campus administration manages bus and jeep as per the necessity. The Campus also maintains a pool of vehicles for transportation. There is a regular bus service for local staff, teachers and students to-and-from the city center. All the faculty, staffs and students have access to communication facilities like telephone, facsimile and electronic mail service for a nominal fee to cover the expenses. 

ADMISSION, EVALUATION, AND AWARD OF DEGREE

Admission Requirements

Students who have passed securing a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate in I.Sc., Diploma in Forestry, +2 Science, A- level or equivalent are eligible to apply for admission in the Bachelor Level program. All interested students must appear in the entrance examination administered by the Examination Section of IOF, and are selected based on their merit score for admission.

Evaluation and Examination System             

Students are externally evaluated based on theory and practical examinations at the end of each semester. To pass the examination, students must secure 40% marks in final theory, internal assessment, practical examinations and field training seperately. A statement of marks is issued to each student after the result is published for that particular semester. Students who do not pass in the regular semester examination can appear in the make-up examination.

Attendance Requirement

A student must attend at least 70% of classes in each subject. Failure to fulfill the attendance requirement by a student may be subject to disqualification to appear in the final examination. 

Award of Degree and Transcript of Academic Records

After the successful completion of all the requirements prescribed by the course curriculum, a student will be eligible for the award of a B.Sc. degree in Forestry. An academic transcript is issued by the Controller of Examination of Tribhuvan University to an individual student who has fulfilled all requirements. The academic standard of an individual student will be based on the cumulative percentage of marks secured in all examinations. The grading is as follows:

COURSE CURRICULUM

Design and Delivery of Curriculum

Considering the changing context of the government forest policy and legislation of the country, IOF has been constantly revising its curricula to make its graduates work successfully in forestry and natural resources management. While designing and revising curricula, each of the six Subject Committees of IOF proposes and designs the draft curriculum in their repective subjects.

The Faculty Board at IOF then critically discusses and modifies the contents wherever necessary. After critical discussion and approval of the Faculty Board, the curriculum is submitted to the Academic Council of Tribhuvan University for final approval. Approved course curriculum is then implemented through the Departments at each campus.

Course Code

The course code listed in this curriculum has a short text of the Subject Matter Committee, number, and the text in parenthesis. The abbreviated text that appears in the beginning of the course code stands for the respective Subject Committee that the course falls under. The courses are given 300s to 600s course numbers in the Bachelor’s level. The meaning of the course code is further illustrated as follows:

BSH                Basic Science and Humanities

FPE                 Forest Products and Engineering

PWM               Park Recreation and Wildlife Management

SFB                 Silviculture and Forest Biology

SFM                 Social Forestry & Forest management

WME              Watershed Management and Environmental Science

Credit Hours

Each course is assigned a certain weightage in terms of Full Marks. Again the Full Mark is divided into Theory only or Theory and Practical classes (with practical). One credit hour carries 20 marks.

Core Course

Students enrolled in B.Sc. program in Forestry are expected to pass all the subjects prescribed in the course curriculum. Core courses are major subjects related to Forestry, Soil Conservation and Wildlife. 

Elective Course

Elective courses are designed and delivered to expose more in certain areas of Forestry. Students in their Fourth year First semester will have an opportunity to select courses offered by the departments as the elective courses as per their interest. Concerned Department will announce elective courses offered at the beginning of the academic year (session). Students must meet all requirements as prescribed in the curriculum. 

Project Paper and Student's Seminar

To develop knowledge and skills in research works, students in their Fourth year Second semester are required to work on their project papers based on his/her interest and specialization. Students are encouraged to conduct original research works on the burning issues in forestry and natural resource management aspects. Each student will be assigned an advisor to guide his/her study. The advisor will guide and advise and assign an appropriate grade to the student as an internal examiner of the project paper. The project paper is also evaluated by an external expert of that subject matter. After the completion of the project work, students are expected to present his/her works in the pre-scheduled seminar. Students’ research projects are supported by various national and international organizations. A few students who do not get outside funding are also supported by IOF.

Field Training and Educational Tours

In order to provide field exposure and hands-on experience, students are frequently taken to outside camping for field training. Students visit various research stations, educational institutions, and experimental and demonstration plots.

SEMESTER-WISE COURSE BREAKDOWN YEAR 1 SEMESTER I COURSES 

 YEAR 1 SEMESTER II COURSES 

YEAR 2 SEMESTER I COURSES 

  YEAR 2 SEMESTER II COURSES 

 YEAR 3 SEMESTER I COURSES 

 YEAR 3 SEMESTER II COURSES 

 YEAR 4 SEMESTER I COURSES 

* Elective Subjects: Select 2 subjects from Elective Subjects

YEAR 4 SEMESTER II COURSES 

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BSc Forestry Syllabus /Curriculum -TU IoF