In a landmark moment for Hungarian higher education, Prof. Dr. Bálint Heil, Dean of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Sopron, has been elected President of Silva Network, Europe’s leading alliance of forestry education institutions. The appointment was confirmed unanimously during the network’s 2025 scientific conference held at the Technical University in Zólyom (Zvolen, Slovakia).
With over 60 member universities across the continent, Silva Network has operated since 1987 and is one of Europe’s most recognized academic forestry platforms. Prof. Heil’s election not only reflects his personal academic achievements but also acknowledges the success of educational and institutional reforms implemented at the University of Sopron since 2020.
According to Rector Prof. Dr. Attila Fábián, the appointment is closely linked to the university’s creation of the Forestry Sectoral Knowledge Centre (EÁTK) in 2021, which supports sustainable forestry, vertical training alignment, and cooperation with Hungarian agricultural vocational centers and chambers. These developments now serve as a model within Hungarian and European higher education.
In his first remarks as president, Prof. Heil emphasized his commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships, aligning curricula and microcredentials, and enhancing international education quality assurance under the European Universities initiative. He also highlighted the symbolic significance of Selmecbánya (Banská Štiavnica) — the site of the conference’s closing event — as the birthplace of Hungarian forestry higher education in 1808, whose legacy the University of Sopron continues to uphold.
The newly elected Vice President of the Silva Network is Dr. Mika Rekola (University of Helsinki), while Sandra Liebal (Dresden University of Technology) continues as Secretary General. Together, the new leadership aims to support academic collaboration, foster innovation in sustainable forestry, and improve mobility and educational standards across Europe.
Source: University of Sopron
About the Author
