Planning for Sustainable Management: Perspectives from Kaiping and Macao SAR

Join participants and instructors from the University of Victoria and the Architectural Conservation Program at the University of Hong Kong (http://acp.arch.hku.hk/) to consider approaches to planning for the sustainable conservation and management of the remarkable heritage resources of Kaiping Diaolou and surrounding villages in China's Guangdong Province, and in Macao SAR. This is a unique opportunity to focus on and discuss the process of World Heritage Site nomination as local officials in Kaiping finalize a four-year planning and application process.

While this collaborative course on planning for sustainable heritage management focuses on the challenges presented by planning for conservation in both Kaiping and Macao SAR, it relates these concepts to your own heritage resources and helps develop your ability to:

• analyze the values and the social, economic and environmental dynamics that create a context for site stewardship, both in China and in your own community
• assess both the opportunities and challenges that sites face in balancing conservation goals with service to their communities
• consider the logistical requirements involved with planning for site stewardship, conservation and adaptive reuse of heritage resources
• develop site management plans that stress sustainability and community engagement

The course begins with a three-day workshop at the University of Hong Kong in which core principles on planning for sustainable management are discussed in conjunction with a number of relevant site visits. From there, you travel to Kaiping to study the heritage resources in a number of villages and to meet with community members and heritage officials to develop your understanding of the ways in which they are working to build a viable management plan. As you return to Hong Kong SAR, a side trip to Macao SAR provides you with a fascinating look at the challenges of managing a World Heritage Site.

Faculty members from three universities coordinate these studies and work with you to explore the ways in which the insights you gain apply within the context of your own work. You will meet distinguished specialists in heritage conservation from the PRC and develop an international network of colleagues.

Working language: English

Contact:       Lisa Mort-Putland
                   Program Coordinator
                   Cultural Resource Management Program
                   Division of Continuing Studies
                   University of Victoria
                   PO Box 3030 STN CSC
                   Victoria, BC
                   V8W 3N6

Email: lmort-putland@uvcs.uvic.ca

Application Deadline:  May 1 2007