As a crucial component of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee and as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme, the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India, is set to organize the World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2024.

This event will take place from July 14 to July 23, 2024, at the Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology, located in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The primary aim of the Forum is to bolster the skills and capabilities of young professionals in the preservation, conservation, and promotion of our natural and cultural World Heritage sites. Serving as pivotal figures within their respective local communities, participants will collectively explore avenues to implement the World Heritage Convention in the modern era. They will engage in discussions and gain comprehensive insights into global World Heritage and Sustainable Development principles, while also immersing themselves in the rich heritage of India and its management practices.

At the conclusion of the Forum, the young professionals will present their Declaration to the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee, encapsulating their collective perspectives and recommendations.

Context

Among the premier initiatives of the World Heritage Education Programme are the World Heritage Young Professionals Fora, which bring together diverse groups of people to promote intercultural learning and interaction.

Young people and international heritage specialists to explore new career paths in heritage preservation. They give the young professionals the chance to meet with members of the World Heritage Committee and its Advisory Bodies to discuss the 1972 Convention and its implementation in greater detail, as well as to gain firsthand knowledge of local perspectives on heritage management through site visits to World Heritage properties and the host country's experience. For additional details regarding the prior World Heritage Young Professionals Forums

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

When choosing the participants, the following factors will be taken into account in addition to general eligibility:
• Ability to share knowledge gained in the nation or institution of origin; • Knowledge and experience in the management procedures for World Heritage sites; • Gender equality; • Diversity of professional backgrounds;

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is 30 April 2024 at 23:59 CET.