Youth from 31 ASEM countries attend 17th ASEF University

Forty-one students and young professionals from 31 member countries of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) are in Penang, Malaysia for the 17^th ASEF University , an annual two-week programme that aims to promote cross-cultural exchanges among youth from the two regions. From 20 June to 1 July 2011, these young people will engage in theoretical and hands-on learning on cultural heritage as part of this programme, co-organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation and the Universiti Sains Malaysia. The participants will also collaborate to create a photographic exhibition on shared heritage, scheduled to open at the Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, Universiti Sains Malaysia on 30 June 2011. The participants of the 17^th ASEF University were selected on the basis of their interest and experience in issues related to heritage, through an open call across ASEM member countries. The educational background and professional experience of the selected participants cover a wide variety of fields closely connected with heritage: from museum studies, anthropology and art history to arts management and sustainable development. The photo gallery below presents the selected participants of the 17^th ASEF University – Cultural Heritage: Challenges and Opportunities and highlights their points of view on heritage and youth, as articulated in their application essays. [gallery link="file" columns="2" ids="11269,11270,11271,11272,11274,11275,11276,11277,11278,11279,11280,11281,11282,11283,11284,11285,11286,11287,11288,11289,11290,11291,11292,11293,11294,11295,11296,11297,11298,11299,11300,11301" orderby="rand"] Prior to the two weeks intensive programme in Penang, the students became members of the culture360.org community and established eight working groups in order to share their ideas and prepare for an exhibition of photographs on shared heritage. This opportunity also allowed them to organize better their work by defining their roles within the group, dividing topics to be dealt with during the programme and getting to know each other better prior to the meeting in Penang. For more information on the project, please visit 17th ASEF University at: http://www.asef.org/index.php?option=com_project&task=view&id=699