Location for 2026 has shifted to SLOVENIA! Similar course content, stunning new location!
Timing: June 17-July 1, 2026 Applications open now
This course is designed to provide deep insights into the timber circular economy of Europe, based on insights from the context of Slovenia. The course will explore the entire value chain, “from forest floor to living room floor”, including visits to forests, manufacturing operations, construction sites, and buildings. Through visits, which will include also historical, cultural, and tourist sites, the activities Europe is making to become the first carbon neutral continent, will be introduced. Specifically, the change from linear economy, where what is produced typically ends its life in a landfill, to circular economy, where products and materials are kept in circulation for as long as possible, and waste and resource use are minimized. The New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative aiming to change the way we built will be demonstrated on the case of existing building stock and new built. NEB represents the main guiding principles in decarbonization of the building sector and introduces sustainability, beauty and inclusiveness as key values to be followed.
By the end of the course, all students will gain knowledge regarding:
- Forests and forest management
- Wood use in the built environment
- Wood products manufacturing
- Circularity in the wood value chain
- Interaction among inclusiveness, beauty and sustainability in the wood value chain
- Faculty Leaders:
- Eric Hansen, Professor of Forest Products Marketing and Department Head, Wood Science & Engineering
- Coordinator: Rabeb Zghal, International Programs Outreach and Administrative Assistant. Contact Rabeb with any questions about the course, application process, funding, itinerary or other logistics.
Faculty-led programs are open to all OSU students!
College of Forestry faculty-led programs are open to every Oregon State University student — from all majors and campuses, including Corvallis, Ecampus, OSU Cascades and dual-enrolled community college students. These short-term experiences bring together a vibrant mix of learners: graduate and undergraduate students, online and in-person, from all backgrounds and walks of life. That diversity makes every trip richer — new ideas, new perspectives, and new connections that make your Oregon State experience truly global.