The vast steppes of Ulaanbaatar and Tuv Province, Mongolia, became a living classroom for heritage scholars, educators, and practitioners as the Asia-Pacific Higher Education Network for Intangible Cultural Heritage (APHEN-ICH) convened its 2025 International Conference and Field School from August 21 to 26, 2025. Set against Mongoliaโs sweeping cultural landscapes, the gathering brought together diverse minds, traditions, and experiences in a shared exploration of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and its vital contribution to sustainable development.
The vast steppes of Ulaanbaatar and Tuv Province, Mongolia, became a living classroom for heritage scholars, educators, and practitioners as the Asia-Pacific Higher Education Network for Intangible Cultural Heritage (APHEN-ICH) convened its 2025 International Conference and Field School from August 21 to 26, 2025. Set against Mongoliaโs sweeping cultural landscapes, the gathering brought together diverse minds, traditions, and experiences in a shared exploration of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and its vital contribution to sustainable development.
The regional gathering was organized by APHEN-ICH, through its Secretariat at the University of Santo Tomas Graduate SchoolโCenter for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics (USTGS-CCCPET), in partnership with the Mongolian National University of Arts and Culture (MNUAC). It was supported by the International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (ICHCAP), together with the Government of Mongoliaโs Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth, the Culture and Arts Authority and Implementing Agency, and the City Department of Culture and Arts. Through this collective effort, APHEN-ICH provided a dynamic regional platform for learning, dialogue, and exchange grounded in local traditions and strengthened by international cooperation.
Guided by the theme โIn the Context of Sustainable Development and Mongolian Cultural Heritage,โ the program combined field-based learning with academic dialogue. It highlighted the dual role of intangible cultural heritage as both a guardian of tradition and a source of creativity, resilience, and innovation.
Established in 2018 under the patronage of ICHCAP and the UNESCO Bangkok Office, APHEN-ICH continues to advance collaboration among higher education institutions committed to safeguarding living heritage. The 2025 Field School carried this mission forward by bringing together representatives from 23 universities across the Asia-Pacific region for an immersive exploration of Mongoliaโs living cultural heritage.
The program opened with an international academic conference featuring distinguished speakers from the host university and the APHEN-ICH network. Among them was Assoc. Prof. Eric B. Zerrudo, Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Head of the APHEN-ICH Secretariat. Presentations and discussions explored the global significance of Mongolian intangible cultural heritage, the responsibilities of higher education institutions, and the ethical challenges involved in safeguarding living traditions. These exchanges established the foundation for a week of meaningful dialogue, experiential learning, cultural encounter, and renewed regional cooperation.
More than an academic gathering, the 2025 International Conference and Field School demonstrated APHEN-ICHโs essential role in connecting universities, communities, cultural practitioners, and heritage institutions across the Asia-Pacific. Through sustained collaboration and field-based engagement, the network continues to build a stronger regional community dedicated to ensuring that living heritage remains meaningful, resilient, and relevant for future generations.