UNESCO Chairs Coordination Meeting
The Conventions Common Services Unit of the Culture Sector (CLT/CCS) had the pleasure to hold the first Coordination Meeting of category 2 institutes and centres (C2Cs) and UNESCO Chairs/UNITWIN Networks related to culture, on 14 December 2015, at UNESCO Headquarters. More than sixty representatives from C2Cs and UNESCO Chairs/UNITWIN Networks from all corners of the world attended the meeting.
The morning session was devoted to presenting the UNESCO strategy 2014-2021 and the role of Culture in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the emerging priorities such as the protection of the cultural heritage in the case of conflicts and disasters. The evaluation and renewal processes for C2Cs and UNESCO Chairs/UNITWIN Networks were also presented to participants. In the afternoon, two panel sessions were dedicated to the following themes: “The creation of bonds and networks” and “The leveraging of their contribution to UNESCO’s culture programme”.
The meeting provided valuable opportunities for the participants and UNESCO to meet each other, share experience and knowledge. A large number of C2Cs and Chairs commented on the timeliness and usefulness of getting together in order to improve coordination and networking, and were inspired by the presentations. Commitment was also expressed by the participants that they will work together to establish regular sharing of information among the group.
It was a successful meeting thanks to the active participation of all participants.
Conventions Common Services Unit CLT/CCS
Contact: cultureC2C@unesco.org
Source: UNESCO
As one of the speakers in the session “Creating bonds and networks for effective collaboration", Ms. Julija Matejić, coordinator of the UNESCO Chair in Studies of Interculturalism, Art and Cultural Management and Mediation in the Balkans presented the Chair and its collaborative regional and international projects and practices.
- Agenda –
Morning Session
9.00 – 9.30 a.m. Welcome coffee
9.30 – 9.45 a.m. Welcome address
Ms Mechtild Rössler, Director of the Heritage Division on behalf of the Assistant-Director General for Culture
9.45 – 11.40 a.m. UNESCO Culture Programme and emerging priorities
Moderator: Ms Vesna Vujicic-Lugassy, Chief of Conventions Common Services Unit
1. UNESCO strategy 2014-2021, Role of culture in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
Lynne Patchett, Chief Executive Office
2. UNESCO’s action for the protection of cultural heritage in the case of conflicts and disasters
Giovanni Boccardi, Chief of Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit
3. COP21: the outcomes of COP21 with regards to heritage and climate change
Richard Veillon, Project Officer, Policy and Statutory Meetings Unit
Anna Sidorenko, Project Specialist, Europe and North America Unit
11.40 – 12.30 a.m. Procedures for renewal and evaluation for C2Cs and Chairs
• UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks
Liliana Viorica Simionescu, Programme Specialist, Section of Higher Education
• Category 2 Institutes and Centres
Chihiro Nishikawa, Focal Point for C2Cs and UNESCO Chairs, CCS Unit
12.30 – 12.45 a.m. Group photo session 2
1.00 – 3.00 p.m. Networking lunch break
Afternoon Session
3.00 pm – 4.15 pm Panel Discussion: “Creating bonds and networks for increasing effective collaboration”
Moderator: Mr Peter Okebukola, Institute for African Culture and International Understanding (IACIU), Director
• UNESCO Chair Forum University and Heritage
Ms Isabel Tort Ausina, Chair holder
• The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF)
Mr Souayibou Varissou, Head of Partnership Development
• UNESCO Chair in Studies of Interculturalism, Art and Cultural Management and Mediation in the Balkans
Ms Julija Matejić, Chair coordinator
• International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (CRIHAP)
Ms Rong Xu, Director General
Q&A /discussions
-------------------------------- 4.15 pm: Coffee break 15 min --------------------------------
4.30 pm – 5.45 pm Panel Discussion: “Leveraging the contribution of the category 2 institutes and centres and UNESCO Chairs/UNITWIN Networks to UNESCO’s culture programme”
Moderator: Mr Michael Turner, UNESCO Chair in Urban Design and Conservation Studies, Chair holder and Professor
• Centre for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Latin America (CRESPIAL)
Mr Fernando Villafuerte Medina, Director
• UNESCO Chair in Culture, Tourism, Development
Ms Maria Gravari-Barbas, Chair holder
• Regional Centre for the Living Arts in Africa (CREAF)
Mr Michel Saba, Director
• UNESCO Chair in Culture, Habitat and Sustainable Development
Ms Jyoti Hosagrahar, Professor
Q&A /discussions
5.45 – 6.00 p.m. Closure
Ms Vesna Vujicic-Lugassy, Chief of CCS Unit
