On 1 October 2026, representatives of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), Seoul National University (SNU), and the École Pratique des Hautes Études – Paris Sciences et Lettres University (EPHE-PSL) gathered at Valabre, France, to sign a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) — marking a new chapter for the Forest Fire Management in Asia (FFMA) Initiative.
Since its launch, the FFMA Initiative has focused on building the technical skills of frontline forest fire practitioners across AFoCO Member Countries. With this new MOU, the Initiative is reaching further still, opening a path to graduate-level education for the next generation of forest fire professionals in the region.
Under the agreement, selected students will take part in a 1+1 dual-degree program, spending one year at Seoul National University and one year at EPHE-PSL. Those who complete the two-year course of study in forest environmental science and forest fire management will graduate with two master’s degrees, one from each institution.
For AFoCO Member Countries, the new scholarship marks a shift in how the FFMA Initiative supports its partners — moving beyond short-term training and capacity-building to invest in long-term academic expertise. The first cohort of FFMA scholarship recipients is expected to be selected in early 2027, taking the Initiative one step closer to its goal of cultivating a lasting network of forest fire specialists across Asia.
Submitted by Kiwon Kim, Program Officer, Policy Division