KETU 2125 - The World Heritage Convention and its World Heritage Committee: challenges and solutions

The General Conference of UNESCO adopted the World Heritage Convention in 1972. It is a globally recognized instrument for conservation of natural and cultural heritage and for international cooperation. Several decades after its adoption, the Convention became a victim of its own success and the World Heritage Label has become a major source of income for States Parties to the Convention. >p This had a major impact on the implementation of the Convention, on its decision-making processes and on its objectives. The recent decision to open the door for the inscription of sites of memory associated with recent conflicts is going to have an important impact on the work of the World Heritage Committee and could become a source of tensions. The World Heritage Convention is thus facing considerable challenges that the students will identify through specific cases such as the Old City of Mostar, the City of Venice and its Lagoon and sites of memory. >p

Vera LACOEUILHE

Séminaire

English

A significant amount of research will be necessary to understand the World Heritage Convention, the functioning of the World Heritage Committee and the decision making process. >p The students will simulate the whole decision-making process for an inscription and the examination of a state of conservation. They will have to identify challenges and propose solutions. The work is based on speech delivery, negotiations, as well as written assignments >p

- A good command of oral and written English is necessary, as most of the course in bases on speech delivery and negotiations.>p - Good research capacities are also required.>p

Autumn 2024-2025

- Individual performance 50% : Written assignments 10%, oral performance and speech delivery (40%). >p - Group performance 50%: Written assignments (20%), negotiation skills (30%) Participation is absolutely essential in this course.>p

The format will include lectures, team-work and individual work. They will prepare written arguments to determine their positions, negotiate, deliver speeches, identify challenges and propose possible solution by submitting written amendments and improvements to the Basic Texts of the World Heritage Convention (Operational Guidelines of the WHC, Rules of Procedures of the World Heritage Committee and of the General Assembly of States Parties. Guest speakers will be invited to share their experience and expertise. >p