Paris, France · 7 July 2025
Twenty-five young professionals from around the world convened at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from 1 to 8 July 2025 for the World Heritage Young Professionals Forum, an integral part of the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee. Organised within the framework of the UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme and supported by the Republic of Bulgaria, the forum focused on the theme "World Heritage in an Interconnected World: Leveraging Digital Technologies and Innovative Approaches."
The forum culminated on 6 July 2025 with the drafting of a Youth Declaration, which was formally presented to the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee on 7 July 2025. The declaration represents the collective voice and recommendations of the selected young professionals regarding the future of World Heritage management in an increasingly digital and interconnected global landscape.
Exploring Digital Innovation in Heritage Conservation
A central objective of the 2025 forum was to explore how emerging technologies can be used to revolutionise heritage conservation and public engagement. Participants discussed and examined the application of:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) for predictive modelling and automated site monitoring
- Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) for immersive visitor experiences and remote site access
- Digital mapping for documenting and preserving spatial data of heritage sites
- Drones for aerial surveying and damage assessment of remote or inaccessible locations
- 3D modelling for creating accurate digital replicas of monuments and artefacts
These technologies are increasingly seen as essential tools for heritage professionals facing challenges such as climate change, urbanisation, armed conflict, and insufficient documentation of cultural sites.
Capacity Building and Intercultural Exchange
Beyond the technological focus, the forum served as a capacity-building platform, enhancing the expertise of participants in the protection, preservation, and promotion of cultural and natural World Heritage. The programme included presentations, workshops, and site visits designed to strengthen participants' practical skills and theoretical understanding of the World Heritage framework.
The forum also facilitated intercultural exchange and networking between young experts, members of the World Heritage Committee, and representatives of UNESCO's Advisory Bodies—the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).
The Youth Declaration
The Youth Declaration, drafted on 6 July 2025, was the primary outcome of the forum. It was presented to the World Heritage Committee on 7 July, marking the formal conclusion of the forum's core activities. The declaration addresses the role of digital technologies in heritage conservation and offers recommendations from the next generation of heritage professionals on how international frameworks and national policies should adapt to an increasingly digital world.
This process of engaging young professionals in the formal deliberations of the World Heritage Committee is part of UNESCO's broader strategy to ensure that heritage conservation benefits from intergenerational dialogue and that young people are positioned as active stakeholders in the governance of cultural and natural heritage.
Context: The World Heritage Education Programme
The World Heritage Young Professionals Forum is a recurring activity under UNESCO's World Heritage Education Programme, which was launched in 1994 to raise awareness among young people about the importance of preserving World Heritage. The programme has organised forums in conjunction with World Heritage Committee sessions for over two decades, building a global network of young heritage professionals.
The 2025 forum's focus on digital technologies builds on previous themes that have addressed community engagement, sustainable tourism, and climate resilience. By positioning digital tools as central to the future of heritage management, UNESCO is signalling that technological literacy will be a core competency for the next generation of conservation professionals.
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre, "Call for Applications: World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2025," 2 April 2025, whc.unesco.org/en/news/2765/
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/47COM/
- Global South Opportunities, "World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2025," 3 April 2025
- Youth Opportunities, "World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2025 in Paris, France," April 2025
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