UNESCO Chair Programme on Cultural Heritage and Risk Management
International Training Course (ITC) on Disaster Risk Management of Cultural Heritage 2021, 15th year, Ritsumeikan University [Online]
1. Dates
Dates: 23rd of August to 7th of October 2021 (Two online sessions of 120-150 minutes each will be held on Mondays and Thursdays of every week for 7 weeks)
Time: 8:30-10:30 (CET/Summer), 15:30-17:30 (JST)
2. Background and Objectives of the Course
The International Training Course on Disaster Risk Management of Cultural Heritage is a follow-up of the recommendations adopted at the Special Thematic Session on Risk Management for Cultural Heritage held at UN-WCDR (World Conference on Disaster Reduction) in January 2005 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. One of these recommendations advocated the need for the academic community to develop scientific research, education and training programs incorporating cultural heritage, in both its tangible and intangible manifestations, into disaster risk management. The importance of strengthening knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of disaster prevention at WH properties was reiterated by the World Heritage Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, Lithuania, July 2006). 152 professionals from 62 countries have been trained through this annual course.
The main objective of the course is to provide theoretical and practical knowledge on the various aspects of disaster risk management of cultural heritage.
Please refer to the ITC Core Programme page.
3. Subtheme of ITC 2021
Disaster Risk Management of Cultural Heritage: Learning from the Japanese Experiences
Japan is home to a variety of frequently occurring disasters, which can cause wide-ranging damage to its cultural resources. For this reason, the country has taken specialized measures for mitigation, preparedness, emergency response, and post-disaster recovery of cultural heritage as part of a disaster risk management system.
These measures, developed in response to Japan’s special circumstances, will be introduced to the participants during this interdisciplinary training.
4. Methodology
1) The course will be conducted over 7 weeks. Each week there will be two online sessions for a total of 150 minutes each week. The first session of each week will be an interactive online session conducted by resource persons whose lecture videos will be provided to the participants beforehand. The second session of each week will be an online workshop on the subject covered in the previous session.
2) Virtual site visit videos on relevant topics will be shared with the participants during the course.
3) Besides the formal sessions, there will be opportunities for informal discussions with ITC team members to talk about their case study projects and prepare for the final presentation by the participant.
4)The participants will select one cultural heritage site or institution from their respective countries and will develop disaster risk management plans during the course, which will be presented during the final session.
5) Our resource persons, made up of internationally recognised experts in their respective fields, will evaluate these plans. At the conclusion of the programme, the selected participants will receive special awards.
5. Participants
The participants will be made up of 12 professionals from all parts of the world, working in cultural heritage conservation and disaster risk management.
6. Working Language
English
7. What Participants Receive after Successful Completion of the Course?
- Course completion certificate
- Papers based on the DRM plans of a case study project prepared during the course will be published in the proceedings of ITC 2021
- Posters based on DRM plans of case study projects prepared during the course will be uploaded on the website of R-DMUCH and ICCROM
- Based on the evaluation of the final presentations, selected participants will be invited to Japan to present at the international symposium conducted as part of ITC 2022
8. Application Requirements
Please check the whole contents from the Application form (PDF) in advance and answer on the following Google form.
Google Form (Submit here)
9. Application Deadline
May 17 Monday, 2021 (JST)
The submission date extended to June 4th Friday, 2021 (JST)
10. Contact Address
r-itc@st.ritsumei.ac.jp
11. Previous Courses
For more details of past year’s International Training Courses, please visit the following website: