Education and Professionalization for Heritage Conservation in the Arab Region: Review of Current Status and Strategic Directions

Abstract

This paper discusses strategic needs for professional education programmes as a means for the protection of tangible cultural heritage assets in the Arab Region, with special reference to the Gulf States. Based on analyses of the state of conservation of heritage properties, rigorous needs assessments, stakeholders’ meetings conducted by inter-governmental organizations, and ongoing regional programmes, the paper offers an overview of the status quo and strategic directions for professionalization in this field. The paper argues that a comprehensive understanding is crucial for the sustainability of existing and emerging educational programmes and initiatives, particularly, in this part of the world.Advancing heritage conservation in the Arab region is related to the limitations of available professional skills and guidance for the various levels of heritage conservation and management. In addition, there is insufficient general public awareness in relation to cultural heritage issues in the greate­r area. This limitation is primarily driven by the inadequate definition of subject areas that respond to conservation training or educational priority needs at training and higher education institutions, which have emerged in the last decade. It is therefore important to enhance clarity in effective training requirements and education methods at various levels, and to encourage interdisciplinary conservation work in the training and education processes