On July 8th local time, the 47th World Heritage Conference held a themed side event on "Future oriented World Heritage Education - Global Innovation Cooperation Network and Capacity Building" in Hall 7 of the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The conference is jointly organized by our center (WHITR-AP) and the World Federation of UNESCO Associations (WFUCA). Nearly 100 people attended the conference, including representatives from international heritage protection organizations such as the World Heritage Center, ICCROM, ICOMOS, UNESCO category 2 centers such as AWHF, WHIPIC, HIST, relevant international partners, experts, and some award winners.
On site border meeting
The attending representatives highly praised the continuous hosting of heritage education side events by the center. During the roundtable dialogue, in-depth discussions were held on how to innovate heritage education models, promote global innovation cooperation networks and capacity building, and actively build a global heritage education platform. At the conference, the winners of the 2025 "AWHEIC Global Heritage Education Innovation Case Award" were announced, and excellent heritage education cases were shared globally.
The opening ceremony
The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Shao Yong, the Secretary General of our center.
Professor Shao Yong presides over the opening ceremony (first from the right)
Ms. Jylotl HOSAGRAHAR, Deputy Director of the World Heritage Center, pointed out in her speech the important contributions made by the Asia Pacific Heritage Center in the field of heritage education: what kind of education can lead us towards the future. I am very pleased and honored to participate in the discussion organized by WHITR-AP on this important topic. Since the launch of the Global Case Award at the 44th Heritage Conference in 2021, over a hundred heritage sites have made the Case Award a platform for showcasing creativity and innovation in heritage education. We are laying the foundation for a more inclusive, interconnected, and innovative future, and that is education. Here, I wish everyone fruitful results and success in their work.
Speech by Deputy Director Jylotl HOSAGRAHAR (middle)
Mr. Qin Changwei, Secretary General of the National Committee of China for UNESCO, pointed out that China hosted the Heritage Education Side Event for the first time at the 44th World Heritage Conference in 2021 and established the Global Case Award. With strong support from all parties, it has become one of the important international exchange mechanisms and platforms in the field of World Heritage education. He hopes that the Asia Pacific Heritage Center will play a greater role in the future of World Heritage education.
Qin Changwei, Secretary General of the National Commission for UNESCO of China (third from left)
Mr. Bolat Akchulakov (represented by Mr. David Grosso), President and Secretary General of the World Federation of UNESCO Associations (WFUCA), expressed his willingness to contribute to the international development of the World Heritage Education Network, especially the Case Award.
Mr. Bolat Akchulakov, Secretary General of WFUCA (represented by Mr. David Grosso) (second from the right)
Ms. Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, Director General of the International Centre for the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM), pointed out that we have signed a new memorandum of cooperation with WHITR-AP Shanghai, which lays the foundation for a more coordinated and flexible response in world heritage protection. We are pleased to see the new development of WHITR-AP in heritage education network construction, which will help achieve our common goals in heritage protection.
Subsequently, witnessed by international guests in attendance, Professor Shao Yong and Ms. Gujral, Director General of ICCROM, jointly signed a memorandum of cooperation between ICCROM and WHITR-AP Shanghai Branch, marking a new stage of development in their long-term partnership since 2008. Professor Shao Yong presented the Chinese version of the World Heritage Impact Assessment Guidelines and Working Manual to Ms. Gujral to promote the global application of this tool.
Both parties sign a memorandum of understanding
Award Announcement
2025 Global World Heritage Education Innovation Case Award
As the overall planner of the "Global World Heritage Education Innovation Case Award", Dr. Li Xin, Deputy Secretary General of our center, introduced the development history of the Global Case Award since its establishment at the 44th Heritage Conference in 2021 under the title of "Opening up the Heritage Universe: The Mission of the Global Heritage Education Innovation Case Award". Currently, a global heritage education innovation ecological network has been preliminarily constructed, and a series of innovative demonstration projects will be carried out in the future to promote the strategic upgrade of the Global Case Award from a "spring flower" to an "incubator".
Dr. Li Xin introduces the development history and future plans of the Global Case Award
The competition for the 2025 Global Case Award is becoming increasingly fierce, with a total of 30 cases standing out from approximately 150 cases. Dr. Li Xin invited three international judges for the Global Case Award: Ms. Nicole Franceschini, Head of ICCROM Heritage Panorama Project, Dr. Albino Jopela, Executive Director of the African World Heritage Foundation, and Mr. Carlos Augusto, Director of the World Heritage Center in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, to announce the winners of the 2025 Global World Heritage Education Innovation Case Award on site. Afterwards, a promotional video of the award-winning cases was played and an award ceremony was held.
Excellence Star Award
Innovative adoption of effective cross-border models
Create replicable experiences
Has outstanding global innovation demonstration significance
1. Art of Life - Immersive Digital Exhibition of Han Dynasty Culture in Mawangdui (China, USA)
2. Grand Canal (Beijing section) Cultural Map Crowddrawing Project (China)
3. Monastery Landscape: Ali ó ja Monastery Discovery Tour (Spain)
4. Mount Wuyi Path: Oriental Cultural Symbiosis Plan - Walking Oriental Heritage Lecture Hall (China)
5. Community x Heritage: Ayutthaya WHV 2024 (Thailand)
6. Azike Plan (China)
7. From Ashes to Stories: The Rebirth of Xiyou Temple and Innovation in Heritage Education (Australia)
8. Fax World Written by Autistic Students - Ten Thousand Solar Art and Craft Projects (China)
9. 2024 European Heritage Volunteer Program: Informal Heritage Education Based on Practice and Global Participation (Germany, etc.)
10. Migration Without Borders, Guarding Without Borders - A Chinese Sample of the Rule of Law Solution to the "Human Bird Conflict" in World Natural Heritage Sites (China)
(Ranked in no particular order)
Dr. Albino Jopela, Executive Director of AWHF, awards for the 2024 European Volunteer Program
Discovery Star Award
Dedicated to exploring deep values and patterns
Adapting to local conditions to achieve collaborative innovation in heritage education models
Has certain global innovation demonstration significance
1. Beijing Zhoukoudian Site (Ape Man Cave) Digital Display Education Enhancement Project (China)
2. Living Riri River: A Community Centered Heritage Education Model for Water Quality and River Management (Malaysia)
3. Night Watching (Macau, China)
4. WHV2023 Sustainable Izmir Ancient City in the Future (Türkiye)
5. Storyteller of Beautiful Stories (Italy)
6. Community of Schools for Environmental Conservation that Promote and Transcend World Heritage Education (ACCE, UK)
7. Rural Eye: Exploring the Image Empowerment of Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Education (China)
8. Learning Path: Inca Trail Heritage Youth Heritage Education (Argentina)
9. Restoration of Zisu Tea Ware Tea Ceremony (China)
10. Hangzhou Urban Studies Research Project to Support World Heritage Conservation (China)
(Ranked in no particular order)
Mr. Carlos Augusto, Director of the Mexico and China US Center, presented an award for the Cultural Map Crowddrawing Project of the Grand Canal (Beijing Section)
Led by Dr. Li Guanghan, Executive Director of WHITR-AP Beijing Center
Future Star Award
New and innovative practices with young people as the main body
The infinite potential and possibilities of innovation in heritage education models
Represents the direction of the future
1. Intelligent Society Experience Hall for Ten Thousand Years of Civilization (China)
2. Neuroacoustic Resonance Program: Innovative Education Integrating Neuroneuroscience, Classical Chinese Music, and Digital Technology (China)
3. Looking at the city from a height of one meter: Child friendly heritage site community planning volunteer service project (China)
4. "Young Messenger" Heritage Decoding Plan (China)
5. C.H.A.N.G.E Sukur: Creating Heritage Awareness through the New Generation and Education (Nigeria)
6. Education Case of "Prosperous Era Wall Collection" at Shaanxi History Museum (China)
7. World Heritage Volunteer Action Camp - Heritage Ambassador Guanacaste Protected Area (Costa Rica)
8. WHV Heritage Education for the Young Generation of Viscri (Romania)
9. "Bo 'Gu' Tong Jin: Searching for the Environmental Code in Oracle Bone Script" Theme Activity (China)
10. Lushan South Plan (China)
(Ranked in no particular order)
Dr. Li Xin, Deputy Secretary General of our center, presented the award for the ACCE program at Oxford University
Heritage Education Cooperation Project and Network Construction
Secretary General Shao Yong presided over this session and invited guests to discuss: Firstly, as an important international heritage education project of our center, Ms. Marie Noel Tournoux, the project manager of WHITR-AP Shanghai Branch, introduced the "World Urban and Rural Heritage Protection University Alliance: Construction and Cooperation of Cultural Heritage Disciplines for Sustainable Development"; Ms. Adriana Careaga, a member of the ICOMOS Council, introduced the "ICOMOS University Forum" project; Ms. Nicole Franceschini, the project leader of ICCROM, introduced the mission and development history of the "Heritage Panorama Project". In the future, both parties will continue to strengthen cooperation in areas such as heritage education database construction.
During the roundtable dialogue, Ms. Ines, the head of the World Heritage Center's heritage education program, expressed appreciation for WHITR-AP's pioneering contributions in the field of international cooperation in heritage education. Subsequently, representatives from UHC-HEI, Professor Mariana Correia from Portugal, Mr. Hheng Nan Hong, Director of WHIPIC, and AWHF spoke separately, providing feasible suggestions and implementation paths for the construction of a global heritage education cooperation network on topics such as youth participation, information sharing, and global cooperation projects.
Roundtable Dialogue Scene
Global Excellent Heritage Education Innovation Case Sharing
The case sharing was hosted by Dr. Li Xin, and four representative global award winning representatives were invited to share their respective experience in model innovation:
1. 2024 European Heritage Volunteer Program - Non Formal Heritage Education (Germany):
Dr. Bert Ludwig, European Heritage Volunteer Organization
2. Grand Canal Cultural Map Crowddrawing Project (China):
Dr. Li Guanghan, Executive Director of WHITR-AP Beijing
3. Promote and surpass the community of environmental conservation colleges in World Heritage Education (UK):
Ghofrane Barhoumi et al., School of Continuing Education, Oxford University, UK
4. Oriental Nishang - One stop Innovative Integration Workshop for Intangible Cultural Heritage between China and Europe (China, Hungary, UK, etc.):
Chen Tingting, Dean of the School of Han Culture Communication Industry at Beihai University of Art and Design
Dr. Li Guanghan shares
Summary and Outlook
In recent years, our center has established various forms of cooperation with World Heritage related institutions (ICCROM, WFUCA, etc.) and projects. Currently, we have formed an innovation matrix for heritage education and communication aimed at innovative practitioners of World Heritage, students majoring in heritage protection, builders of World Heritage sites, and the general public, especially young people. With the continuous holding of heritage education side events at the World Heritage Conference, a global platform for international cooperation and exchange in heritage education is gradually taking shape.
The successful hosting of this side event at UNESCO headquarters has effectively promoted the construction of our center's international cooperation network to a new level. In the future, our center will continue to play a leading role in the field of World Heritage education, work together with numerous partners, and strive to build the Heritage Education Border Conference into an internationally influential platform for heritage education exchange, continuously contributing Chinese efforts to World Heritage education and capacity building.
group photo
