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The Mongolia Heritage Program (MHP) was established as collaboration between Mongolia University of Arts and Culture (MNUAC), Mongolia Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth (MOCSTY), Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, to address the significant gap in heritage expertise in Mongolia, with an aging cohort of heritage professionals and a younger generation that lacks the necessary skills and knowledge to address evolving challenges in the heritage sector. This pioneering initiative aims at strengthening Mongolia's capacity for heritage management in a sustainable and holistic manner, with a view for MHP to be mainstreamed into a higher education program in the future. 

An expert meeting took place on 24-25 February 2025 as the MHP’s inaugural event, bringing together national and international heritage experts to discuss and design a comprehensive curriculum for the MHP’s first cohort. 

The meeting was opened with remarks from Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia; Mr. Davaatseren B, Director of the Department for the Coordination of Cultural Heritage Policy Implementation at MOCSTY; and Dr. Erkhemtugs J, Prorector of MNUAC. This was followed by an introduction to the MHP initiative by Dr. Duong Bich Hanh, Head of Unit and Programme Specialist for Culture at the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia.

National experts provided insights into Mongolia’s cultural heritage context. Mr. Davaatseren B from MOCSTY outlined the legal regulations for heritage protection, while Mr. Chimedochir B, a world natural heritage expert, discussed the management of special protected areas in Mongolia. Dr. Urtnasan N, Lead Professor of the Professorial Team of Cultural Studies at MNUAC, highlighted challenges related to Mongolia’s world cultural heritage sites and their management. Dr. Munkhbadral B, Head of the Department at the School of Culture, MNUAC, presented an overview of existing cultural heritage programs at Mongolian universities. Meanwhile, Ms. Gerelmaa E, a lecturer at MNUAC, shared findings on the capacity-building needs of the first cohort of 23 MHP participants, who have been recruited through an open call in late 2024. 

The second half of the first day featured contributions from international experts on heritage management. Dr. Liu Mingqian, Consultant at the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, presented the mapping of international and regional heritage management programmes. Dr. Montira Unakul, National Professional Officer at UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, introduced the UNESCO Competence Framework for Cultural Heritage Management and its application in higher education. The day concluded with case studies on heritage management education and its evolution, presented by Dr. Nobuko Inaba from the University of Tsukuba, Mr. Michel John Venne from BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Dr. Desmond Hui from Hang Seng University, and Dr. Neel Kamal Chapagain from Ahmedabad University. 

The second day of the meeting focused on designing a holistic curriculum for Mongolia’s heritage management sector. Experts engaged in plenary discussions and group work to define core competencies for heritage professionals while examining curriculum structure, teaching methodologies, and implementation strategies. Discussions emphasized the need to balance technical conservation skills with broader economic, social, and environmental considerations. Participants also explored ways to integrate interdisciplinary approaches, ensuring collaboration with fields such as tourism and environmental science. Additionally, accessibility was a key concern, with a focus on making the program inclusive for professionals. Sustainable monitoring and evaluation mechanisms were also highlighted as essential for assessing the long-term impact of the program. Experts stressed the importance of incorporating hands-on learning experiences, such as case studies and field projects, to ensure future professionals gain both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise. 

As the concept of heritage management continues to evolve globally, the MHP initiative represents a significant step forward in safeguarding Mongolia’s cultural and natural heritage. Experts and stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to developing a robust curriculum, training future generations of heritage professionals, and strengthening Mongolia’s capacity for sustainable heritage management.