School for Land Administration Studies Established

International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) and the Netherlands Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency (‘Kadaster’) signed an agreement to cooperate in the establishment of a School for Land Administration Studies at ITC.

The issue of land and land administration is increasingly claiming the attention of the international community. In a recent interview in ITC News magazine Professor Hans van Ginkel, rector of the United Nations University of which ITC is an Associated Institution, said: “We have to start work and find solutions that are fair and humane to all parties involved. Zimbabwe has attracted the attention of the international media, but in many countries there is a problem as to who owns the land and how it is registered. Redistribution is a touchy subject. It is in the collective interest to reassign functions to land in both urban and rural areas but with adequate government compensation. And this is a major issue in Europe too. For example: once land is known to be eligible for urban expansion, the price rises. It should be possible to set a price on such plots early on and so reduce the element of speculation. This is a problem shared by developed and developing countries.”

The School will deliver land administration education and research within ITC, and will manage and execute a joint land administration programme with the United Nations University. This programme consists of a series of seminars, short courses, and networking. ITC’s rector, Prof.dr.ir. Martien Molenaar, said: “ITC is very much dedicated to good governance issues of which administration of land is an important part. As ITC students are mid-career professionals, ITC is fully aware that they are not only interested in academic knowledge, but also in organisational and institutional issues.” Therefore he welcomed the cooperation with the Dutch Kadaster, as a prerequisite for good education and research in land administration.

Mr. Godfried Barnasconi, member of the Executive Board represented the Kadaster in the signing ceremony. Mr. Barnasconi said: “the Dutch Kadaster’s organisational strategy is to enhance its performance by use of modern management approaches and by the application of advanced information technology. The organisation is aware that-in order to eradicate poverty and sustainable development- knowledge and expertise of how to create a good working land registry and cadastre is necessary and the organisation is prepared to share its knowledge with other countries.” Mr. Barnasconi is convinced that the School is a very appropriate channel to the developing world.