Sustainable Heritage Management Course

Overview

The current pandemic and other pressures such as climate change, economic slowdown, and conflicts require rethinking approaches to heritage management. At the same time, as the definition of cultural heritage becomes broader, the challenges encountered are also more complicated. Beyond conservation-related objectives, cultural heritage managers are now also grappling with mobilizing heritage for sustainable development, as defined by the Sustainable Development Goals.

Confronted by these new realities, the heritage profession in the Asia-Pacific region is increasingly under pressure to adapt itself, by upskilling and reskilling to meet these new demands. In response, UNESCO has developed the Competence Framework for Cultural Heritage Management in order to establish professional standards that are holistic, interdisciplinary and multidimensional.

The inaugural “Sustainable Heritage Management Foundation Course” is organized by UNESCO Bangkok in cooperation with Think City Institute and the Asian Academy for Heritage Management network. This course will offer participants exposure to fundamental principles, innovative tools, good practices and on-the-ground case studies for sustainable cultural heritage management.

The Course is divided into five modules which will focus on the five Core Competences defined under UNESCO’s new Competence Framework. Each module is led by a leading university in the Asia-Pacific region in the area of cultural heritage management:

• University of Hong Kong on “Sustainable development”
• National University of Singapore on “Heritage policies, principles, processes and ethics”
• Southeast University on “Applying laws and regulations”
• Deakin University on “Community, rights and knowledge”
• Ahmedabad University on “Heritage education and interpretation”

Participants in this course will strengthen their competences to respond intelligently and effectively to real-world demands in sustainable heritage management.

WHO SHOULD APPLY FOR THIS COURSE?

Professionals experienced in heritage management (more than 8 years) who are looking to improve skills and knowledge in a practical manner will benefit most from this course.

• World Heritage or Tentative List site managers
• Local stewards at heritage sites
• Managers and technical specialists in heritage-related institutions
• Technical specialists in other disciplines who work in heritage-related fields
• Individuals teaching/training in cultural heritage management (will be invited to join special Training-of-Trainers sessions at the end of each module)

The course requires no formal education in cultural heritage management, but working experience in the heritage field will be valued. Professionals working mainly in other fields, such as urban management, whose work is related to heritage, will also benefit from this course.

WHAT WILL THIS COURSE DO FOR YOU?

Using UNESCO’s newly-developed Competence Framework as a reference, this Foundation Course aims to strengthen the Core Competencies of cultural heritage professionals in South-East Asia, which will benefit not only individual practitioners but also contribute to strengthening their home organizations as well.

In this course, you will:

• Assess yourself and identify individual gaps in core skills and knowledge required to sustainably manage cultural heritage
• Gain additional skills and knowledge related to the Core Competencies
• Undertake a practical exercise in applying these Core Competences in the context of your heritage site and home organization
• For trainers and educators: gain exposure to pedagogical insights in teaching this material