The Establishment of a UNESCO Chair in Underwater Cultural Heritage at Alexandria University

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January 3, 2021

The Establishment of a UNESCO Chair in Underwater Cultural Heritage at Alexandria University

Professor Abdel Aziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University
, announced the establishment of a UNESCO Chair in Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) at the Alexandria Centre for Maritime Archaeology & Underwater Cultural Heritage (CMAUCH), Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University. The Chair Holder is Professor Emad Khalil, Director of the CMAUCH and a member of the UNESCO Scientific and Technical Advisory Body (STAB) for the 2001 Convention.UNESCO chairs are considered as joint projects between higher education institutions and UNESCO in order to enhance knowledge, education, and research. They provide opportunities to exchange knowledge and experiences, and contribute to building capacities on national, regional and international levels.

The UNESCO Chair in Underwater Cultural Heritage aims to raise public awareness of UCH, especially in Arab and African countries, and to encourage countries to join the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage. It also aims to building capacity in the field of underwater archaeology through organizing regional training programs in collaboration with UNESCO, and to support introducing UCH to university curricula in Arab countries. The Chair will also provide scientific and technical advice to various stake holders in aspects of UCH. In doing so, it will collaborate with various programs and organizations concerned with Cultural Heritage such as the UNESCO UNITWIN Network for Underwater Archaeology, the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

For more information about UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme check the link below

https://en.unesco.org/themes/higher-education/unitwin