About

The Urban-rural Heritage Conservation in Higher Education Institutions Network (UHC-HEI) was designed as a platform to strengthen cooperation with and among Universities and Higher Education Institutions that have recognized urban heritage conservation and design for sustainable development as a key subject of their teaching, research, and action plans to bridge the competency gap in the area of heritage conservation but also in the area of urban-rural development design and regeneration approaches, where the dichotomy between conservation and development still prevails.

History

The UHC-HEI Network was established in Shanghai, China, on 27 September 2023 at the International Conference on Urban Heritage Conservation and Design for Sustainable Development and International Network for Urban Heritage Conservation in Higher Education Institutions (UHC-HEI) initiated by the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and Pacific Region, Shanghai Centre (WHITR-AP Shanghai) and the College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP), Tongji University. Its principles were set forth in the Shanghai Initiative on Urban Heritage Conservation and Design for Sustainable Development and Roadmap for Urban Heritage Conservation in Higher Education Institutions adopted by the participants who agreed on the relevance of setting up an international network.

Mission and objectives

The mission of the UHC-HEI Network is to act as a platform fostering the exchange and promote the development of experiences on Education, Research and Action of urban-rural heritage conservation and design for sustainable development
The UHC-HEI Network aims to contribute to rethinking:

• - How Network partners teach (pedagogy & curriculum),
• - What Network partners teach (subject matters), and
• - For whom Network partners teach (future professionals and researchers),

The UHC-HEI Network’s purpose is to:

• - Contribute to the international debate on the role of heritage in development processes, as a means to address priority areas such as climate change, economic development, social cohesion and inclusiveness, acknowledging traditional knowledge systems;
• - Contribute to reshaping the notion of conservation to advance a new development culture by further considering heritage as a solution for reaching sustainability;
• - Stimulate and enhance initiatives led by their members to make heritage-led sustainable development an essential component of their academic approach, notably through partnerships among other universities and urban conservation-related stakeholders；
• - Innovate in academic exchange and broaden opportunities in the academic and professional future for teachers, researchers and students;
• - Improve the quality of teaching, research and action, enhancing the academic and professional future of students;
• - Prioritize capacity building and life-long learning by facilitating cooperation with non-academic stakeholders such as local communities, local and national governments, and traditional knowledge holders.

Who

The UHC-HEI Network reunites a wide consortium of over 40 full members and affiliated partners -- such as UNESCO, ICOMOS international and its Scientific Committees, IFLA which represent a variety of high level institutions around the world who cover different disciplines and fields of analysis: safeguarding and preservation; crafts and traditional knowledge; new technologies; dissemination and communication; knowledge; planning and management.

How it works

A joint ad hoc UHC-HEI Network Secretariat is supported by WHITR-AP Shanghai and the CAUP of Tongji University to set up and manage the Network, enable contact between members, coordinate project development and assist the UHC-HEI Network Steering Committee. The Secretariat is located in the WHITR-AP Shanghai premises, Wenyuan Building, 3rd Floor, Tongji University Campus, 1239 Siping Road, 200092, Shanghai, China.
The UHC-HEI Network is governed by a Steering Committee, composed of representatives of the Network. It determines the Network’s objectives and programme, and decides upon the incorporation of new Network members.