Master’s Prgm in Conservation Mgmt of Cultural Heritage kicks off

The Programme is being implemented in collaboration between the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property) and the University of Sharjah, under the generous patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. 

The ICCROM Master's Programme in Conservation Management of Cultural Heritage is an important initiative that aims to develop and preserve cultural heritage in the Arab region to face the significant challenges that the area is witnessing. The programme aims to impart knowledge and enable a new generation of heritage specialists, providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to support efforts to preserve, present, and benefit from heritage in their countries. 

On the first day of the Programme, the team presented an overview of the ICCROM and its Regional Centre in Sharjah, focusing on its mission, programmes, and activities that aim to preserve cultural heritage in the Arab region. The presentation also focused on the training opportunities provided by the centre. 

At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Nasir Al Darmaki, Deputy Director of the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah, stressed the importance of the Master's Programme, which represents one of the essential activities implemented by the ICCROM Centre In Sharjah within the framework of the cooperation agreement signed with the University of Sharjah. He also spoke about the Programme's objectives, which seek through its research, academic, and practical activities to contribute to qualifying national cadres to support the preservation of cultural heritage in the Arab region and enhance scholarly research. He also praised the role of the Emirate of Sharjah in hosting the center and its Master's Programme.  

Architect Anwar Sabik, Programme Officer (Training and Field Projects) at the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah, spoke about the ICCROM center's contribution to the Master's Programme through the ongoing designing and developing the training programme in cooperation with university professors and providing international and regional experts/teachers as visiting lecturers within the Programme, whether from the ICCROM staff or its network of global experts.  

He also highlighted the contribution of the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah, which provides scholarships to several students to join the Programme as part of a disciplined selection process among competing students from the Arab region. This year, (4) students obtained this scholarship (out of 70 competing students) from Bahrain, Tunisia, Egypt, and Palestine. 

Dr Monther Jamhawi, the programme coordinator at the University of Sharjah, spoke about the importance of the cooperation programme that combines the research and applied expertise of the ICCROM Centre with the university's academic expertise. He also referred to the diversity of scientific backgrounds of the participating students and the importance of representing several Arab countries in this Programme. He closed by wishing the students would make valuable academic and research contributions.  

Since its launch in 2019, the ICCROM Master's Programme in Conservation Management of Cultural Heritage has witnessed remarkable local and regional participation. The number of students enrolled in the Programme has reached 108 from all over the Arab region. In this season (2024-2025), the Programme holds (15) students, including (9) students from the United Arab Emirates and a student from Bahrain, Egypt, Tunisia, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.
  
Through 10 training courses implemented over one year, students will learn the most important knowledge, skills, and principles of cultural heritage conservation management. They will be hosted at the training halls provided by ICCROM and the Sharjah Heritage Institute of Heritage at the International Organisations Building in the Emirate of Sharjah. The following year, students will return to their countries to work on their graduation projects.