Name of the Event: UNESCO World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2024
Date: 14 - 23 July 2024
Place: Delhi, India
Mode: Offline
Working language: English
Last Date of Application: 20 April 2024
Link to Apply:
As an integral part of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee and in the framework of the UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme, the Ministry of Culture through the Archaeological Survey of India, will host the World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2024 under the theme of World Heritage in the 21st Century: Building Capacities and Exploring Opportunities for Youth from 14 to 23 July 2024 in Delhi, Republic of India.
The main objective of the Forum is to enhance the expertise and capacities of young professionals in protecting, preserving, and promoting our natural and cultural World Heritage. As key actors within their local communities, they will jointly explore opportunities to operationalise the World Heritage Convention in the twenty-first century. They will discuss and gain in-depth knowledge of the global concepts of World Heritage and Sustainable Development while also having the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the local Indian heritage and its management. At the end of the Forum, the young professionals will present their Declaration to the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee.
Theme of the Forum:
The theme of the World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2024 is set as “World Heritage in the 21st Century: Building Capacities and Exploring Opportunities for Youth”. The overall aim of the Forum is to deepen the knowledge and skills of young professionals in protecting, preserving, and promoting natural and cultural heritage. Accompanied by local and international experts, and through a variety of presentations, roundtables, discussions and site visits, the young professionals will collectively explore the opportunities in managing heritage with an approach rooted in community engagement and collective participation, addressing the following sub-themes:
Understanding the achievements and challenges of the World Heritage Convention
Climate change and its impact on World Heritage sites
Integrating innovative technologies for the promotion of World Heritage
Leveraging World Heritage conservation as a participative approach alongside with communities
Strengthening sustainable tourism and development through young entrepreneurship
Provisional Programme:
With the view of supplementing the theoretical knowledge gained by the participants during the forum with practical hands-on experiences at World Heritage properties, the Forum will be held at Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh in India. In addition, the participants will also have the opportunity to visit the World Heritage sites in Delhi - Qutb Minar and its monuments, Red Fort Complex, and Humayun’s Tomb - during the Forum.
An initial outline of the Forum’s programme is available below. Updates on the programme, as well as the final programme, will be uploaded to the Forum webpage in due course.
14 July 2024: Arrival Day
15 July 2024: Opening of the Forum and Introductions
16-19 July 2024: Thematic discussions and site visits to Qutb Minar and its monuments, Red Fort Complex, and Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi
20 July 2024: Joint event with the participants of the World Heritage Site Managers Forum
21 July 2024: Drafting of the Youth Declaration
22 July 2024: Presentation of the Forum outcomes to the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee and closure of the Forum.
23 July 2024: Participation in the World Heritage Committee (optional). Departure of participants.
Application Form:
Please note that the application form must be completed only in English. Applications submitted in other languages will not be considered. In addition to education and background information, candidates are also required to submit their CV and a copy of their passport size photo. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application and Selection Procedure:
30 participants from all over the world and 20 participants from the Republic of India will be selected for the World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2024 through the Call for Applications.
Eligible Applicants:
Participants of the World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2024 are expected to be:
Aged between 23 and 32 years
Experienced in one of these fields: World Heritage, conservation, archaeology, architecture, conservation, urban planning & regeneration, restoration, art history, tourism, climate change, and digital technology
Motivated and committed to implementing the outcomes of the Forum in their respective countries
Committed to enhancing community engagement in the management of World Heritage properties
Available for the entire duration of the Forum
Proficient in English, as the Forum will be conducted entirely in English
In addition to general eligibility, the following elements will also be considered in selecting the participants:
Balanced geographical representation
Gender equality
Diversity of professional backgrounds
Ability to disseminate gained experience in the country or institution of origin
Knowledge and experience in the management practices for World Heritage sites
The deadline for submitting the applications is 30 April 2024 at 23:59 CET.
The selected applicants will be informed by email.