Our cross-national study examined the views of forestry students from Brazil, China and Finland on the highly
debated issue of forestry education. Altogether, views from 584 Bachelor students from three programmes
in the three countries were collected. Students' perceptions of importance of subject-specific and generic
competencies and experiences, preferred area of work, and willingness to do a Master's degree were asked
through a questionnaire in the respective national language. Quantitative analyses included comparisons
across universities and study years, as well as influence of gender, grades, and satisfaction. Great similarities
across the countries regarding the students' views on subject-specific competencies and experiences, as well
as on the preferred areas of work were found. The students highly valued field experiences as well as areas
such as environmental protection. Upon graduation a majority wished to work in the management of public
forests, followed by industries in the case of Brazil and Finland and research in the case of China. Changes
across the study years, such as the increasing importance given to oral and writing skills by students of
later years, were observed. These and other results and their implications are discussed in consideration of
cultural, curricular and institutional factors.