Geir Atle Ersland

The purpose of the Chair shall be to promote an integrated system of research, training, information and documentation on sustainable heritage and environmental management. It will facilitate collaboration between high-level, internationally recognized researchers and teaching staff of the University and other institutions in Norway, as well as in Europe and North America, in Africa and in other regions of the world.

The specific objectives of the Chair are to:

• Develop multidisciplinary training programmes for primary and secondary schools, postgraduate programmes, and short-term programmes on sustainable heritage and environmental management for public management bodies, as well as provide training.
• Carry out, jointly with partners, multidisciplinary research and disseminate results widely.
• Design and implement activities aimed at raising public awareness on sustainable heritage and environmental management.
• Serve as a platform for networking and the sharing of knowledge and good practices, notably through the production and dissemination of publications and the organization of annual, regional and global multidisciplinary seminars.
• Promote North-South academic cooperation in all the activities of the Chair.
• Cooperate closely with UNESCO and other programmes and activities, the Man and Biosphere programme, as well as the existing UNESCO Chairs working in the fields of sustainable heritage and environmental management.