Representation of Universities in the Unesco World Heritage List

Abstract

The body of the article outlines the place and role of universities included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, both as separate objects of nomination and as constituent parts of nomination files of historical centers of cities. It determines the impact of these educational institutions as peculiar representatives of their countries on the development of culture in general, education and science in particular. By means of general scientific methods of analysis, synthesis and generalization the authors reveal the essence and significance of universities as UNESCO World Heritage based on their symbiosis between the UNESCO monument and the student Alma-mater. In February 2023, the UNESCO list (after holding a special session of the UNESCO Council of Europe in January) included 1,157 objects of cultural, natural and mixed heritage. Among the unique objects that declared heritage of humanity sites in different years, seven individual university architectural complexes take the prominent place: Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville (the USA, 1987); Botanical Garden of the University of Padua (Italy, 1997); University and Historic District of Alcara de Henares (Spain, 1998); University of Caracas (Venezuela, 2000); National Autonomous University of Mexico (Mexico, 2007); Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans – Yuriy Fedkovich Chernivtsi National University (Ukraine, 2011); University of Coimbra (Portugal, 2013, changes in 2019). These objects’ special feature is that they are designed to perform a double function: on the one hand, they are educational and scientific institutions, and on the other hand, they are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Thus, Yuriy Fedkovich Chernivtsi National University is the center of education, science and spirituality of Bukovyna region, and Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The research is based on the principles of objectivity and historicism, which involves examination of separate cases in the context of their development and connection with relevant domestic and international institutions. The authors’ personal involvement into the preparation of the nomination file of Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans (Yuriy Fedkovich Chernivtsi National University) for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011 and their subsequent activity in its protection and preservation made it possible to analyze the merits of the mentioned nominations.