I. Summary

On September 17, in Saudi Arabia, "The Next 50 Years, World Heritage Education for the Future" side event of 45 Session of WH Com organized by World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (WHITRAP) was held at At-Turaif Room of Faisaliyah center in Riyadh. The side event included the award ceremony of the 2023 "Global Awards for World Heritage Education Innovation Cases" (AWHEIC) and an international sharing forum on WH education.

The side event focused on the model innovation of WH education and made some creative exploration in form, which got high praise from attendees. The side event is a great success and led to a new stage of WHITRAP and AWHEIC, followed by the cooperation with World Heritage Center and African World Heritage Fund etc.

Main Venue of the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee

II. Opening Remarks

The side event was moderated by Dr. Xin LI, Deputy Secretary-General of WHITRAP. Mr. Jin YANG, Chinese Ambassador to UNESCO, Ms. Ying CUI, Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, Ambassadors of Venezuela and other countries to UNESCO, a number of UNESCO World Heritage category 2 centers, representatives of the 45th World Heritage Committee, and several prizewinners attended the side event.

Mr. Jin YANG, Chinese Ambassador to UNESCO, delivering an opening speech

III. Winners of 2023 Global WH Education Innovative Cases (AWHEIC)

Dr. Xin LI introduced the objective of AWHEIC and showed the promotional video, pointing out that the mission of AWHEIC is to jointly build an international ecological network for heritage education innovation by scientific, innovative and transboundary cooperation.

Introductory Video of AWHEIC

The competition for AWHEIC 2023 was more intense than ever, with a total of 30 cases selected from nearly 100 cases worldwide. Three international guests unveiled the winners of 2023 "Global Awards for World Heritage Education Innovation Case"(AWHEIC).

Ms. Laura De Miguel, General Director of Cultural Heritage and Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture and Sports of Spain, announced 10 winners of "Stars of Outstanding". Ms. Ying CUI, Deputy Secretary General of Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, announced 10 winners of "Stars of Discovery". Dr. Albino Jopela, Head of Programs at African World Heritage Fund, announced 10 winners of "Stars of the Future".

Please click to watch the Promotional Video of the 2023 Winners of AWHEIC.

Promotional Video of the 2023 Winners of AWHEIC (click)

1. Star of Outstanding

Ms. Laura De Miguel, General Director of Cultural Heritage and Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture and Sports of Spain, announced 10 winners of "Stars of Outstanding".

Evaluation: The cases successfully set innovative model of global outstanding demonstrative significance.

• The First "Trans-dimensional Participatory Museum" - the Digital Mogao Caves at Dunhuang
• A Graceful Night Tour in the Humble Administrator's Garden and Suzhou Museum
• Oriental Museum City Research Campsite in Luoyang
• WHV - Lanna: stamp on the heritage from past to present (Thailand)
• The Xuanzang Road - Exploring a new education model of the Silk Road by sport events
• “Accompanying Panda Go Home”: Wild Release of Pandas Education in Daxiangling
• Amma Rewa: Ecological Education and Green School Building in Sanjiangyuan Heritage
• The Sound of Heaven from Remote mountains: the protection of Dong songs and its community
• “WHV Together in TRaCe-ing” - A Conceptual Model to empower strategic collaborations and linkages to Tropical Rainforest Biodiversity (Malaysia)
• The Grand Canal “Imperial Inspector: Canal Mystery”, a Game-Based Educational Experience Project

2. Star of Discovery

Ms. Ying CUI, Deputy Secretary General of Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, announced 10 winners of "Stars of Discovery".

Evaluation: The cases are committed to deep value exploration, achieving innovative education model, which is of global demonstrative significance.

• Oaxaca Para Ti! (Mexico)
• Echoes within Ancient Walls
• China's Architectural Heritage Trilogy
• The Revival and Popularization of NanYin: “China’s Living Fossil” in Music - Sustainable Development and Mass Appeal of Quanzhou Nan Yin
• Zijin Grass International Peace School in Nanjing: Guarding World Cultural Heritage and Promoting Peace-Themed Education
• “Bring Every Brick Home” Public Participation and Education in the Protection and Activation of Nanjing City Wall Heritage
• World Heritage China Tea - Sustainable Heritage Education System of Local Communities in Jingmai Mountain
• The "Heart of China Series" program
• Digital Cloud Platform for the Grand Canal National Cultural Park
• Collecting the Voices of Historic Districts: “Guardians of the Historical and Cultural City” In Guangzhou

3. Star of the Future

Dr. Albino Jopela, Head of Programs at African World Heritage Fund, announced 10 winners of "Stars of the Future".

Evaluation: New initiation contains infinite potential and possibility of heritage education model innovation, with representing the future.

• “Beijing Cultural Heritage Map” Crowdsourcing Open Data
• AI Bnb Butler: Renovating the World Heritage Ancient Houses in Quanzhou, Creating Innovative Heritage Education Practices
• Ravages caused by floods and inundation (India)
• The Role of Maasai Culture, Music & Dance, Traditions and Customs in Preserving the Game Reserves in East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania)
• Heritage Education from the Inside Out: The Rebirth of the First Baptist Church in Phoenix (USA)
• Huotang Plan: Dong Building Technology-Heritage Education Program
• Transformation and Dissemination of Heritage Resources in Contemporary Music Museum under the Perspective of Transboundary Innovation
• Association for the study of the ruins of The Great Wall - A model of heritage education in non-core/non-tourist open areas of the Great Wall
• Lotus Shining From Yunzhong: Public education and practical exploration of Yungang dance
• Education of Important Agricultural Heritage: Ningxia Goji Berry Agricultural Cultural Heritage Digital Museum

Ms. Ying CUI, Deputy Secretary General of Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, presented the “Star of Outstanding” Award to “WHV Together in TRaCe-ing” - A Conceptual Model to empower strategic collaborations and linkages to Tropical Rainforest Biodiversity (representatives: Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Mohamad Faiz Bin Mohd Amin and Dr. Muhammad Firdaus Bin Abdul Karim from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan).

Dr. Albino Jopela, Head of Programs at African World Heritage Fund, presented the “Star of Discovery” Award to Collecting the Voices of Historic Districts: “Guardians of the Historical and Cultural City” In Guangzhou (representative: Ms. Lin QIU, Chief Economist of Guangzhou Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau).

V. International Sharing of Excellent WH Education Innovative Cases

1. The Xuanzang Road - Exploring a new education model of the Silk Road by sport events
Speaker: Ms. Doudou JIN, Senior Partner & Director of the Experience Institute, Xingzhi Exploring Group

2. “WHV Together in TRaCe-ing” - A Conceptual Model to empower strategic collaborations and linkages to Tropical Rainforest Biodiversity
Speakers: Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Mohamad Faiz Bin Mohd Amin and Dr. Muhammad Firdaus Bin Abdul Karim from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan.

3. Overall Planning and Research of MEMORY of GUANGZHOU
Speaker: Ms. Lin QIU, Chief Economist of Guangzhou Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau

4. WHV - Lanna: stamp on the heritage from past to present (Thailand)
Speaker: Jarinya Krittikan, Director of Volunteer Spirit Association: VSA Thailand

5. Oaxaca Para Ti! (Mexico)
Speaker: Ángel Osorio Morales, Minister of Tourism Promotion of the Oaxaca de Juárez City Hall

6. The Role of the Maasai Culture, traditions, customs and Music in preserving the Game Reserves in Kenya and Tanzania (Kenya and Tanzania)
Speaker: Linus Omondi, Founder& International Programme Coordinator KVSO Kenya, Africa Regional Coordinator to The Royal Commonwealth Society

Dr. Xin LI introduced the plan of the pilot project between China and Mexico supported by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation and made a summary of the side event. The side event and the 2023 Award Ceremony of AWHEIC is a success, providing strong momentum for the internalization of WHITRAP and AHWEIC.

This is the first time of WHITRAP to host a side event in WH Com and based on the success of the side event, WHITRAP and WHC have reached a preliminary cooperation intention that the Award Ceremony of AWHEIC may become a regular part of the session in the future.

Thank you for your attention. We will provide in-depth report of the side event soon and please stay tuned for updates!

Al Faisaliah Center, Riyadh

At-Turaif District, venue of the side event

Dr. Xin LI and guests in front of the exhibition boards

Ambassador Jin YANG and Director of WHIPIC in South Korea