The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is deeply saddened by the passing away of Prof. Marie-Teres Albert, former Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in Heritage Studies at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg.

Prof. Albert’s work was distinguished by a holistic and human-centered understanding of heritage, emphasizing its protection, interpretation, and sustainable use as essential to human development. As Director of the Institute of Heritage Studies at the International Akademie Berlin, she advanced this approach through the Master’s programme in World Heritage Studies as well as the PhD programme in Heritage Studies at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg.

During her tenure as Chairholder, Prof. Albert launched several initiatives that continue to shape the field today, including "Our World Heritage – Mining Cultural Landscape Erzgebirge/Krušnohori" (2017–2019) and "Transboundary European World Heritage – a Topic for UNESCO Associated Schools" (from 2019). She actively contributed to the 50th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention through a number of initiatives, including the "International Conference on the Future of the World Heritage Convention", bringing together a broad spectrum of stakeholders. Her extensive publications in the field of World Heritage and heritage studies more broadly remain a cornerstone for scholars and practitioners alike.

UNESCO expresses its heartfelt gratitude for Prof. Albert’s invaluable contribution to the field and extends its deepest condolences to her family and colleagues.