Activities

Regional development
The county council plays an important part in regional development within the following areas:

• Regional planning in co-operation with municipalities, inter-municipal bodies and the state sector. The county plan for 2004-2007 sets out goals and strategies for the development of the county within three topics:land-use and transport planning, skills and economic development, and community health.
  
• Strategic planning within areas such as cultural heritage, environment protection, land-use, shopping centres andwater resources. The county council has devolved powers for the protection of listed buildings and the archaeological heritage.
  
• Contributes financially to public, school and disabledtransport and is responsible for allocating resources to the planning,construction and maintenance of main roads.
  
• Promotes economic development within the region, including initiatives for innovation, cooperation between business and research institutions, and for marketing the region internationally.
  
• The promotion of cultural activitiesand cultural productions; withintopics such as music, drama, visual arts, libraries, museums and information centres.
  
• Contributes financially to voluntary organizations, within areas such as children and youths, outdoor leisure.
• Distributes lottery funds for the construction and refurbishment of sports facilities.

Education
Akershus County Council is responsible for the upper-secondary education of 16-19 year olds, vocational training (apprenticeship system), adult education, and the pedagogical and psychological service/ monitoring service. The county council also runs two folk high schools and a primary and secondary school for pupils in social or medical institutions.

• The Quality Project - Mapping Quality