Call for more training in sustainability and land use
The 'Action for training in land use and sustainability' (ATLAS) project brought together experts in land use and sustainability impact assessment from leading European research, education and training institutions. Combining innovative research efforts and practical experiences, the EU-funded project partners surveyed educational and training availability and identified demands for knowledge in the relevant areas. Results revealed that there is a better situation in sustainability teaching in northern EU countries, while in southern and eastern countries there are a limited number of available educational possibilities. In addition, ATLAS team members learned that although there is heavy concentration on university courses and programmes, end users would like more opportunities for practical work and training. Another finding was that there is substantial confusion surrounding how the terms sustainability, impact assessment and sustainability impact assessment are approached in different cultural contexts and languages. On this basis, ATLAS held a final conference to present results, with recommendations being made on how the effectiveness of education and training in related areas could be improved. ATLAS also produced a web-based tool for users to search and find information on relevant literature and available education and training courses, among others.