Paper Title
Using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to Study Taiwan’s Forestry Education Program

Abstract
In this study, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed. The courses taught at Taiwan’s forestry-related academic departments were examined and indicators for 3 dimensions – forest plantation, timber harvest and primary processing, and wood product design – were studied. Academic scholars and government agency staffs were invited to answer the questionnaire on the indicators of 3 dimensions. After that, the weights given by experts were analyzed and the research results were presented to Taiwan’s forestry education programs for reference. As far as forest plantation and system construction are concerned, the weights given by academic departments are listed in a descending order as follows: learning regulations prior to managing forest, forest management planning and method, forest stand volume, while the weights given by government agency are listed in a descending order as follows: forest management planning and methods, forest survey with emphasis on forestry station’s natural environment, learning regulations prior to managing forest. As to timber harvest and primary timber-processing industries, both groups believed that the top priority was to learn safety-related knowledge and regulations before the thinning process begins. However, academic departments believed that, before thinning process begins, preparation-for-harvest has priority over learning the loading, transporting and storage of timber, while government agencies believed that, before thinning process begins, it is more important to learn how to load, transport and store timber than learning how to prepare harvest. As to wood product design and quantification, academic departments believed the top priority was to learn basic product design methods and drawing, followed by learning the knowledge about product design planning and processing planning, while government agencies believed that the top priority was to learn factory safety, machinery operation and administration, followed by the knowledge about processing and product design planning. Both groups work in different areas and therefore gave different weights to same indicators. Moreover, both groups have exhibited an insignificant difference for the priority indicators, which indicates that both groups unanimously agree to the priority of Taiwan’s forestry education program. Keywords - AHP, Taiwan’s Forestry Education, Forest Plantation Management, ForestHarvesting, Wood Product Design