Paris, 30 September {No. 96-167} - About 200 university professors, students and conservation specialists will meet at a UNESCO-organized seminar that begins Wednesday in Valencia, Spain to establish a network of universities to protect cultural heritage.

The goal of Forum UNESCO/University and Heritage, to be held 2-6 October, is for university professors and students throughout the world to share their expertise in disciplines related to heritage: archaeology, architecture, urban development, the fine arts and computer technology. The five-day seminar is organized jointly with the Polytechnic University of Valencia.

“One of UNESCO’s major tasks, as an institution with an intellectual and ethical vocation, is to ensure the conservation and protection of works which people have bequeathed to history,” UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor said. “By joining forces in a desire to co-operate on joint projects for the protection of heritage and the environment, universities can play their legitimate role in giving new impetus to the forces of development.”

During the five-day seminar, participants will seek to mobilise universities to work jointly to promote and protect cultural heritage. They will lay the groundwork for setting up local, national and international networks. This will begin establishing databases, with inventories, dissertations and other information on monuments, sites, museums and issues related to cultural property. Participating universities will eventually establish hubs of students and teachers to act as focal points to co-ordinate and implement joint activities.

Representatives from the International Council of Museums, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and the Restoration of Cultural Property and other organizations will participate in the seminar.