Workshop-Chairs:

• Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Christa Reicher, UNESCO Chair for Cultural Heritage and Urbanism, RWTH Aachen University, Germany

• Dr.-Ing. Javier Ostos Prieto, UNESCO Chair for Cultural Heritage and Urbanism, RWTH Aachen University, Germany

Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Christa Reicher is Professor for Urban Design and Director of the Institute for Urban Design and European Urbanism at the Faculty of Architecture at the RWTH Aachen University since 2018. From 2002 to 2018 she was the head of the department of Urban Design and Land Use Planning in the School for Spatial Planning at TU Dortmund University. After studying architecture at RWTH Aachen University and ETH Zurich, she worked in various international planning offices and founded the planning office RHA REICHER HAASE ASSOZIIERTE in 1993, based in Aachen, Dortmund and Vianden (Luxembourg), which is active internationally. From 2010 to 2016 she was chairperson of the Scientific Board of the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development. Since 2014 she has been speaker of the Graduate School "Energy Efficiency in the Quarter", an interdisciplinary PhD college in which more than 20 doctoral students conduct research on creative, technical and social topics relating to the future of the city and the neighbourhood. She is a member of the International Building Exhibition (IBA)-Expert Council of the Federal Ministry and Co-chair of the Sustainable Building Commission (KNBau) of the Federal Environment Agency. Since 2020, she is shaping the spatial transformation process of the lignite region Rhenish Revier.  Her research focuses on sustainable urban development, urban design, transformation processes, and spatial planning. She advises numerous municipalities and institutions on urban development and planning culture. Her work combines academic excellence with practice-oriented planning strategies for livable cities.

Dr.-Ing. Javier Ostos Prieto, Architect (2017) by Seville University. Master in Architecture and Historical Heritage (2018) and Master in Urbanism, Planning and Urban Design (2020) by Seville University. Doctor in Architecture by Seville University and Doktor der Ingenieurwissenschaften by RWTH Aachen University (2024). Joint Thesis Agreement between the University of Seville and the RWTH Aachen University. Currently Research Associate of the Chair of Urban Design and Institute for Urban Design and European Urbanism at the Faculty of Architecture of the RWTH Aachen University, Germany; member of the teaching and coordination team of the Master Transforming City Regions and coordinator of the UNESCO Chair Cultural Heritage and Urbanism (2024-present).  He is working at the project 'Built and Lived Environment' at the RWTH Aachen University. He has also been part of the team of the project "Identification of Values and Heritage Impact Assessment in the surroundings of the Monumental Complex of the Alhambra and the Generalife in Granada" for the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife (2022). Research stay at the RWTH Aachen University, Germany, at the Chair of Urban Design and Institute for Urban Design and European Urbanism (2021-2023) with a DAAD Scholarship by the Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst. He has also participated in numerous conferences and articles in journals related to his research. It is focused on the study of the monastic system from an architectural, heritage and urban planning perspective across Andalusia, North-Rhine Westphalia and Europe.

Abstract

Cities and regions around the world are facing comprehensive transformation processes that must be managed in a way that balances change and continuity. The multiple crises – pandemics, floods, wars, etc. – and their consequences increase the need for a change of perspective in urban planning. Adapting to climate change, preventing rural exodus, managing resources and co-producing urban landscapes are among the key challenges in terms of resilient and inclusive spatial development. This can only be successful, if we manage to preserve the specific cultural heritage and the identity of places, cities and regions

The following questions will be discussed with reference to international concepts and projects: 

• Which planning and management strategies lead to sustainable spatial development, and what can we learn from this?

• Which stakeholders need to be involved in the planning process, and in what form?

• What does an effective combination of formal and informal planning instruments look like?

• How can we resolve the conflict between preserving existing structures that create identity and the necessary transformation and innovation?

Workshop-Chairs:

• Dr. Pinar Pamukcu Albers, UNESCO Chair in Human-Water-Systems, University of Bonn

• Prof. Dr. Mingfang Zhang, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

• Prof. Dr. Mariele Evers, UNESCO Chair in Human-Water-Systems, University of Bonn 

Dr. Pinar Pamukcu Albers is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bonn, working on ecohydrological systems with a focus on feedbacks between biophysical and hydrological processes, forest hydrology, ecosystem services, and hydro-meteorological extremes. She coordinates the UNESCO Chair in Human-Water-Systems. In addition, she serves as a UNFCCC Technical Review Expert specializing in greenhouse gas inventories in the LULUCF sector.

Dr. Mingfang Zhang graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Science. She is a full professor, and head of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. She studies ecohydrology with a focus on forest hydrological processes, ecohydrological modelling, water-carbon couplings, remote sensing hydrology, and forest landscape restoration and management.

Prof. Dr. Mariele Evers is a full professor and head of the Ecohydrology and Water Resources Management Research Group at the University of Bonn. Since 2021, she has held the UNESCO Chair on Human-Water-Systems. Her research focuses on water resources management, hydrological extremes, disaster risk reduction, and climate–water–food interactions. Through the UNESCO Chair, she advances participatory approaches to basin management.

Presentations: 

• Dr. Yiping Hou, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, “Effects of Climate‑Induced Forest Disturbance on Hydrology”

• Prof. Dr. Mingfang Zhang, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, “Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Relationships between Forest Water Storage and Carbon Sequestration in recent 20 years in Southwest China”

• Dr. Yong Wang, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, "Sustainable Forest Monitoring via Multi-band PoISAR: Mitigating Topographic Effects in Long-wavelength Observations”

• Prof. Dr. Mariele Evers, UNESCO Chair in Human-Water-Systems, University of Bonn, “Usage of inter- and transdisciplinary approaches in Human-Water-System Research" 

• Dr. Pınar Pamukçu Albers, UNESCO Chair in Human-Water-Systems, University of Bonn, “Human–Forest–Water Interactions: Linking Ecosystem Services, Risks and Resilience”

Abstract

This joint workshop of the UNESCO Chair in Human-Water-Systems and the IUFRO Task Force on the Forest-Water-Livelihood-Governance Nexus will examine the dynamic linkages between forests, water, and human societies under accelerating environmental change. The workshop will explore how forest ecosystems regulate water quality and quantity, influence hydrological processes, and shape local and regional climate conditions, as well as how these biophysical interactions affect livelihoods, wellbeing, and socio-ecological resilience. 

A central focus is the integration of scientific research with participatory approaches and local knowledge to better understand forest–water–human systems. Discussions will address how governance arrangements, land-use practices, and community perspectives interact with ecological processes; how adaptive strategies can be strengthened under increasing climate variability; and how forest–water research can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those addressing water security, ecosystem health, and climate resilience. 

The workshop will address the following key research questions: (1) How do forest ecosystems influence water quality and quantity, water regulation, and climate, and how do these interactions affect human wellbeing? (2) How can participatory approaches and local knowledge improve understanding and management of forest–water–human systems? (3) How can research and practice on these linkages support progress toward the SDGs and strengthen climate resilience, especially regarding water security? 

By bringing together researchers and practitioners, the workshop aims to identify key knowledge gaps, methodological advances, and opportunities for collaboration across regions and disciplines. The outcomes will inform future joint activities, such as policy-oriented outputs and coordinated research efforts.

Workshop-Chairs:

• Prof. Dr. Silja Klepp, UNESCO Chair for Integrated Marine Science, Kiel University

• Prof. Dr. Julius Heinicke, UNESCO Chair in Cultural Policies for the Arts and Transformation, University of Hildesheim

Prof. Dr. Silja Klepp is a professor of human geography at Kiel University. She  holds the UNESCO co-chair for Integrated Marine Science. Her research group focuses on human-environment relations in the Anthropocene, and her current research on climate change adaptation, coastal erosion, and disaster governance integrates postcolonial perspectives and critical social theories. Silja’s field research experience includes working in countries such as Cabo Verde, Kiribati, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Italy, Libya, Malta, and Zambia. She founded the transdisciplinary environmental justice network EnJust (www.enjust.net) together with colleagues. To achieve inclusive and creative ways of doing science, she  incorporates transdisciplinary approaches and artistic research into her work.

Prof. Dr. Julius Heinicke is Professor of Cultural Policy and holds the UNESCO Chair in Cultural Policies for the Arts and Transformation. Since April 2025, he has served as Dean of the Faculty. Julius Heinicke is a Visiting Professor at the University of Toronto in Canada and the University of Arts in Belgrade, Serbia. He is currently leading several work packages in Horizon Europe research projects (IN SITU, D@rts, Intracomp) and, together with Wolfgang Schröer, the BMBF-funded project “Kulturelle Selbstversorgung: Das Recht junger Menschen auf kulturelle (Selbst)Bildung” (“Cultural Self-Provision: Young People’s Right to Cultural (Self-)Education”). From 2017 to 2020, he was Professor of “Applied Cultural Studies” at Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, where he also headed the Center for Science and Culture. Before that, he conducted research and taught at the Institute for Theatre Studies at Freie Universität Berlin. After studying Cultural and Theatre Studies / Cultural Communication, he completed his doctorate at Humboldt University of Berlin on theatre, art, and politics in Zimbabwe, supported by a scholarship from the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

Abstract

As normative guidelines for greater sustainability, the SDGs have developed a global appeal. However, they were negotiated for a period ending in 2030. So what comes after that? The international meeting of the UNESCO Chair Network Germany 2026 in Dortmund is an appropriate venue for negotiating possible new SDGs in an inclusive manner based on diverse cultural worldviews. How can the SDGs contribute even more to socio-ecological justice? How could the often-criticised indicator system be aligned even more closely with a diverse global society characterised by inequality? Is an 18th SDG „Culture" needed as discussed on the work conference on cultural policy Mondiacult in Barcelona this year? The workshop will discuss how the SDGs can become even more inclusive and equitable and develop concrete proposals for what new SDGs for 2050 could look like.

Dieser Workshop wird am 1. Oktober fortgesetzt.

Workshop-Chairs:

• Prof. Hongjie Chen, Director of China Doctoral Education Research Center, Peking University, PR China 

• Prof. Dr. Junmin Li, Vocational Education with a Focus on Empirical VET Research, Osnabrück University; formerly UNESCO Chair on TVET and Competence Development for the Future of Work, TU Dortmund University (until 30.06.2026)

Prof. Hongjie Chen Prof. is a distinguished professor at Peking University in China and chef-editor of the international journal Vocation. Technology. Education. His research field includes higher education in China and Germany. He has made many publications in German and Chinese higher education, vocational and applied education. In recent years, he has initiated the research on industrial technological culture and vocational education.

Dr. Junmin Li is a senior researcher at the UNESCO-Chair on TVET and Competence Development for the Future of Work at TU Dortmund University in Germany. She has extensive research experience in the field of international comparative vocational education and training, with a focus on Asia, Europe and the Anglo-Saxon regions. Her particular interests lie in the areas of policy transfer, design-based research, teaching and learning, and work-related learning.

Presentations: 

• Prof. UNEVOC Centre Coordinator, Petri Nokelainen, Tampere University, Finland, Work‑Based Learning in Finnish VET: Workplace Learning Environments and Sustainable Competence Development

• Prof. Hongjie Chen, Peking University, China, “Industrial Technical Culture and Application-Oriented Higher Education”

• Prof. Head of UNEVOC Centre, Volker Wedekind, University of Nottingham, UK, “Bridging the gap: sustainability and misalignment in the skills system”

• Prof. Futao Huang, Hiroshima University, Japan, "Rethinking International Cooperation in Higher Education and TVET"

Abstract

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone for fostering both social equity and technological advancement in the pursuit of UNESCO sustainable development goals (Unesco-Unevoc, 2025).

The integration of sustainability principles into TVET curricula and institutional practices not only addresses pressing environmental challenges but also promotes social inclusion, gender equity, and access to quality education and employment opportunities. The contributions of this workshop bridge the gap between education and industry, individuals and communities to become active agents of change, fostering both social cohesion and technological progress.

Workshop-Chair:

• Dr. Friedrich Hübler, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC, Bonn, Germany 

Presentations: 

• Kenny Muscat, Programme Officer, UNESCO-UNEVOC, „Practical AI guide: overview“

• Dr. Wenxi Wu, Research Fellow, UNESCO Chair on Digitalization in TVET, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, China, „Practical AI guide: Domains of institutional practice“

• Michael Schwarz, Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), „Practices from Germany“

• Agus Setiawan, Indonesia University of Education (UPI), „Developing a GenAI-TPACK Framework for TVET Teachers: A UNESCO AI Competency Approach“

• Maryam Dastyar, TU Dortmund University, „Analysing Institutional Readiness for Responsible AI Integration in Iran’s TVET System: A Preliminary Indicator Framework“

• Prof. Dr. Lai Chee Sern, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), „Digital Transformation and AI Integration in TVET:  Building Future-Ready Ecosystem“

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries worldwide. The global education sector has responded to AI’s rise with growing policy attention and guidance. UNESCO has been at the forefront of this dialogue through the Beijing Consensus on Artificial Intelligence and Education (2019), the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021), Guidance for Generative AI in Education and Research (2023), and AI Competency Frameworks for Teachers and Students (2024). These frameworks provide valuable direction for integrating AI into teaching and learning. However, TVET faces challenges that are distinct in nature and scale from those in general education. Recognizing this critical gap, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, and UNESCO-UNEVOC have developed a Practical Guide on the Integration of AI in TVET to help the TVET sector navigate its unique challenges. The guide is designed for a global audience of TVET policymakers, institutional leaders, and educators. It provides principles and practices for integrating AI across the various dimensions of TVET institutions, from curriculum development and pedagogical innovation to institutional management and industry partnership. This workshop will introduce the guide, offer participants an opportunity to discuss the proposed principles, and highlight innovative and promising practices on the integration of AI in TVET.

Workshop-Chairs:

• Prof. Dr. Christos Kalloniatis, Department of Cultural Technology and Communication, University of the Aegean 

• Prof. Dr. Alexandra Bounia, Department of Cultural Technology and Communication, University of the Aegean 

• Dr. Meike Schmidt-Gleim, UNESCO Chair for TVET and competence development for the future of work, TU Dortmund University

Prof. Dr. Christos Kalloniatis is a Professor and former Head of the Department of Cultural Technology and Communication at the University of the Aegean, and Director of the Privacy Engineering and Social Informatics (PrivaSI) laboratory. He is also the Managing Director and Board Member at Company for the Management and Exploitation of Assets of the University of the Aegean.  He holds a PhD in Cultural Technology and Communication, an MSc in Computer Science from the University of Essex, and a BSc in Informatics. He serves as a member of the Board of the Hellenic Data Protection Authority and has previously held a board position at the Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy. His research focuses on the analysis and modeling of privacy and security requirements in AI, cloud-based, and cultural information systems, with special emphasis on forensic-enabled systems and Privacy Enhancing Technologies. He is an author of several refereed papers in international scientific journals and conferences and has served as a visiting professor in many European Institutions. Prior to his academic career he has served at various places on the Greek public sector including the North Aegean Region and Ministry of Interior, Decentraliastion and e-Governance. He has served as a member of various development and research projects.

Prof. Dr. Alexandra Bounia is Professor of Museology at the University of the Aegean (Greece). Her research interests focus on the history, theory and management of collections, museum ethics, museum and cultural heritage sustainability, the role of museums in dealing with difficult and political issues. She has published in Greek and international journals and participates in national and international research projects. Among her most recent publications are: The Political Museum: Power, Conflict and Identity in Cyprus (co-authored with Theopisti Stylianou-Lambert) (2016, Routledge); Museum Media(ting): Emerging Technologies and Difficult Heritage (co-edited with Theopisti Stylianou-Lambert and Antigone Heraclidou) (2022, Berghahn), and Emerging Technologies and Cultural Heritage (co-edited with Despina Catapoti) (2021, Alexandria Publications, Athens, in Greek). Her edited volume entitled The Ethics of Collecting Trauma was published in 2025 by Routledge (co-edited with Andrea Witcomb). She has served as the Chair of ICOM Greece, and the Secretary of the Board for COMCOL (ICOM Committee on Contemporary Collecting).

Dr. Meike Schmidt-Gleim, is a Senior Researcher at TU-Dortmund University, with expertise in political philosophy, human rights, sustainability, ecosystemic and environmental thinking. She has over 20 years of experience in research, innovation and sustainability. She has contributed in key roles to European projects, including positions in several EU-funded projects, among them three Erasmus+ projects. She is also co-founder and artistic coordinator of Science of Singularities, a laboratory for artistic research. In the context of 3D-CIRCULAR, Meike Schmidt-Gleim teaches on the political, social and legal stakes of circular economy in a global context.

Presentations:

• Christos Kalloniatis, Univeristy of the Aegean “Increasing Awareness in Digital Circular Economy Domain”

• Edeh Natasha, Framatome GmbH, “Human Enablers of AI Adoption in the Circular Economy”

• Alexandra Bounia, Univeristy of the Aegean, “Bridging the gap: digital skills training for heritage professionals in the transition to a circular economy”

• Julia Jäger, Economic Development Agency Dortmund, “From R-Strategies to Urban Action: Designing Circular Economy Projects in Dortmund”

• Alina Zdankina, University of Duisburg-Essen, Economic viability as a decision criterion for SMEs in implementing circular strategies in the construction sector, insights from the projects UpCement and Circular.NiederRhein"

• Erkin Kirdan, Framatome GmbH, “Open-Source Software Literacy as a Circular Economy Enabler: Overcoming Digital Obsolescence Through Code and Community”

• Jan Schwiderowski, BLOXHUB / European Green Cities, “From Circular-ish to Circular: Strategic Foresight as a Driver for the Socio-Technical Transition towards a Circular Economy”

• Kunrath Kamila, Technical University of Denmark, ""Operationalizing digital literacy and circular economy competencies through curriculum design"

Abstract

This workshop explores the vital intersection between digital literacy and circular economy, highlighting the innovation that modern technologies bring to the circular economic model leading to new upskilling and re-skilling requirements for individuals as well as key domain stakeholders. Examining the new interdisciplinary field of digital deep tech driven circular economy is the main scope of this workshop. In more detail, this workshop seeks papersfocusing on digital skills that enable circular strategies across all stages of production and consumption—product traceability, eco-design, supply chain transparency, waste management, and user behavior—and how these competencies can be cultivated across education, policy, and practice. The session emphasizes that digital literacy is notonly a technical proficiency but a transformative competency—the capacity to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information with awareness of its ethical, social, and environmental impacts.

Workshop-Chairs:

• Prof. Dr. Johannes Drerup, Chair of Philosophy of Education and Educational Theory, TU Dortmund University

• Dr. phil. Miguel Zulaica y Mugica, Chair of Philosophy of Education and Educational Theory, TU Dortmund University

Prof. Dr. Johannes Drerup is a professor of philosophy of education and educational theory at TU Dortmund, Germany and guest professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His research interests include philosophy of education/educational theory, philosophy of childhood, and social, political and moral philosophy.

Dr. Miguel Zulaica y Mugica is a Postdoctoral Researcher in General Educational Research at TU Dortmund University. His work focuses on the philosophy of education, education for sustainable development (ESD/BNE), cultures of remembrance, and social and religion-related controversies in pedagogical contexts. Drawing on affect theory and qualitative reconstructive methods, he examines how social controversies emerge, are negotiated, and become pedagogically relevant in educational settings. He led the empirical qualitative research project Islam in Controversy, which forms the foundation of his ongoing research on social controversy, and co-directs an interdisciplinary research colloquium on religion-related controversies. He also designs pre- and in-service teacher education workshops on dealing with emotionally charged social controversies in schools.

Presentations: 

• Prof. i.R. Dr. phil. Lothar Wigger, TU Dortmund, Germany, “How the Past Is addressed in Japanese Peace and History Museums”

• Univ. Prof. Dr. habil. Simona Szakács-Behling & Assoc. Prof. Mihai Stelian Rusu, Helmut Schmidt Universität/Universität der Bundeswehr Hamburg & Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania, “Anticommunism, Holocaust Education, and Their Discontents in Romanian Schoolbooks”

• Jun.-Prof. Dr. Sebastian Engelmann, PH Karlsruhe, Germany, “Educators in Exile. Untold stories and forgotten legacies”

• Angelito P. Bautista Jr., Quezon City University, Philippines, “Teaching Difficult Pasts: Memory, Education, and Historical Understanding in the Philippine Context”

Abstract

How should wars, colonialism, and imperialism be remembered in schools? What is an appropriate educational response to controversial historical monuments? How to resolve conflicts between different constructions of the past in public and academic debates about history education? What are the prospects of a universalist culture of remembrance in a world increasingly dominated by nationalist memory politics and revisionist attempts to rewrite history? These and related questions are currently discussed around the globe. How they are answered in public and academic debates depends on different sociopolitical and educational contexts as well as different memory cultures. This workshop brings together scholars who work at the intersection between history education, democratic education, and the politics of remembrance. Our discussion will focus on the contested relationships between different forms of memory politics, history education, and democratic education in (trans-)national and comparative perspectives.