The VIMAS project continues to move forward by combining the research of its doctoral candidates with collective training and networking activities. Training School 2 took place in Finland from August 25 to September 5, 2025, bringing together all doctoral candidates and professors for ten intensive days in Helsinki and Joensuu.
The first part of the programme, hosted by the University of Helsinki, focused on the planning and governance of recreation areas in urban environments. Sessions and discussions examined how recreation spaces are planned, how visitor pressure is managed, and which challenges arise in balancing conservation and local use. Participants explored practical examples and data sources, including digital platforms such as VisitFinland, and visited the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE) to learn about its practices.
The second part of the training school was hosted by the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu. Here VIMAS partners met to review the project’s progress, aims, and coordinate upcoming activities such as the next training school and conferences. The workshops guided doctoral candidates through the process of structuring scientific papers, selecting journals, and understanding the peer-review process. Karolina Taczanowska, Co-Editor of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, shared her experience on the entire research article publication process, from submission to final publication.
To connect theory with practice, field trips were arranged to Nuuksio National Park and Koli National Park, providing first-hand experience in nature-based tourism and outdoor recreation. During the program, professors from VIMAS partner universities, including Henna Konu, Tuuli Toivonen, Øystein Aas, Hans Skov-Petersen, and Peter Fredman, contributed their expertise and lively discussions.
Ilker Gül, a doctoral candidate at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, participated in the sessions, continuing his research and expanding international collaborations. Training School 2 thus successfully combined advanced learning, practical experiences, and network building, reinforcing VIMAS project.
The project "Visitor monitoring and management in protected and recreational areas: new challenges, novel solutions for the Anthropocene (VIMAS) has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
