Plant pathology, the study of plant diseases, is an interdisciplinary study field comprising central aspects of field crop production and horticulture, plant sciences, microbiology and genetics. Due to its multidisciplinary character, education in plant pathology offers many career options. The quickly advancing local and international frontiers in plant pathology research produce a wealth of knowledge to be used in plant pathology education, which provides a great challenge to the few specialised teachers at the Nordic universities. A strong Nordic dimension in plant pathology education is important because the ecology, production systems, flora, pathogens and their control possess many unique features under the Nordic environment. Increased collaboration in plant pathology education within the Nordic countries would enhance possibilities to organise more educational moments of higher quality.

The directors of the University of Helsinki (Finland), the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden) and NOVA university have launched a project for co-ordinated plant pathology education (CPPE). The initial, "experimental" stage lasts five years (2002-2006). Joint courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels will be developed, different teaching models tested, possible bottlenecks and hindrances of joint teaching activities identified, and solutions to the problems sought for.

The project is affiliated at the Department of Applied Biology in Helsinki and the Department of Plant Biology in Uppsala. NOVA university functions as a platform for the arrangement, and the Nordic Council of Ministers provides funding. For further information, contact the project leader, professor Jari Valkonen (jari.valkonen@helsinki.fi or jari.valkonen@vbiol.slu.se) or the office of NOVA university.