Training/Workshop Title: 2026 Integrated Territorial & Urban Conservation: Urban Heritage for Sustainable Development
Venue and Dates:
30 June – 6 July 2026, Songkhla Province, Thailand
Training Language: English
Southeast Asia is a region rich in heritage diversity, where many historic cities reflect natural settings, ecosystems, cultural practices, beliefs, knowledge, layers of history, and continue to function as vital social roots of creativity, sufficiency economy, and cultural environments that support community well-being. In the part, urban heritage with its components of urban, suburban, and ecosystem, rendering the relation of people living in harmony with nature from the water communities in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Thailand, etc. While some, such as Vigan in the Philippines and Luang Prabang in Lao PDR, are recognised as World Heritage cities, many other historic districts, towns, and cities possess significant national and local heritage values.
The rapid growth of the city and urbanisation has driven extensive development, construction, and economic-based development, including large-scale infrastructure and urbanisation projects, placing increasing pressure on its historic fabric and heritage values. These pressures are compounded by broader global challenges, including disasters, climate change, and unsustainable development practices, and are often exacerbated by limited awareness among visitors and some local stakeholders. Informed by principles of the creative economy, the sustainable development of urban heritage requires careful attention to social and cultural dimensions, active institutional involvement, and integrated approaches that link heritage conservation with urban planning, risk management, and long-term development. Ensuring the continuity of heritage values is therefore essential to the long-term sustainability of historic settlements.
Drawing on discussions from the brainstorming meeting of partner organisations under the initiative Urban Heritage for Sustainable Development, as well as the long-established Integrated Territorial and Urban Conservation approach led by ICCROM, historic settlements in their territorial context are understood to encompass both tangible and intangible elements. These include buildings, monuments, gardens, streets, traditions, rituals, festivals, and other cultural and natural attributes. In this context, historic towns and cities in Southeast Asia can be recognised as urban heritage, representing a form of capital or resource for social and economic development, as they embody accumulated knowledge of urban planning, resilience, and sustainability. Through global recognition and programmes, urban heritage plays a significant role in national development and contributes to improving the well-being and the quality of life of communities.
The 2026 Integrated Territorial & Urban Conservation: Urban Heritage for Sustainable Development will be held in Songkhla Province, Thailand, a historic region with vibrant cultural and natural heritage. This capacity-building programme aims to decode the urban heritage, enhance awareness and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise in urban conservation in Southeast Asia and beyond. It promotes a holistic understanding of heritage values that supports not only conservation but also sustainable development, informed by relevant designations, programmes, and emerging concepts. Through learning-based dialogue and case studies, the programme seeks to strengthen understanding of the conservation and revitalisation of historic settlements while harnessing their potential to generate livelihood for communities, and ensure the long-term continuity of heritage values and the well-being of the people.
SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (SEAMEO SPAFA)
- IUCN Asia Regional Office (TBC)
- Songkhla Toward World Heritage Foundation (TBC)
- Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) (TBC)
- Strengthen capacity for holistic conservation and management of historic settlements by integrating urban heritage into planning, related planning, and implementation across governance levels.
- Enhance expertise in urban conservation based on traditional knowledge, creative economy, and building resilience through reducing disaster and climate risks.
- Promote urban heritage as a driver of sustainable development, ensuring culturally and naturally appropriate infrastructure upgrading to improve quality of life.
- Support local economic development by leveraging urban heritage to attract tourism, investment, and creative industries, and by applying appropriate financial and cultural tourism models.
- Promote inclusive urban governance through stronger collaboration between natural heritage and cultural heritage sectors, as well as municipalities and other development sectors, including infrastructure, tourism, etc.
The course consists of 8 modules on these key themes:
- Overview of challenges confronting urban heritage in the global and regional (southeast asian) context
- Holistic and territorial approach; cultural landscape in urban conservation for sustainable development.
- Values and attributes of living urban heritage in the context of Songkhla
- Mapping territories, exploring the links of heritage across the geographical scale
- Assessing potential impacts, risks, and opportunities of urban heritage.
- Understanding current threats and opportunities in different contexts.
- Legislation and governance for urban heritage, planning, and management.
- Develop an integrated urban heritage plan for a sustainable future.
Participants should:
- be preferably mid-career professionals (approximately 5–15 years of experience) from Southeast Asia, Asia, and other regions who are engaged in urban heritage conservation and/or the management of historic cities, settlements, villages, and related urban areas. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, architects, landscape architects, archaeologists, engineers, urban planners, heritage site managers, and policy makers.
- Applicants should be in a position to effectively apply the outcomes of the training upon returning to their home countries. Professionals with the potential to work in the heritage field, including those affiliated with heritage authorities, heritage management agencies, urban development institutions, planning and development departments, or infrastructure development organisations, may also be considered;
- be proficient in English to allow discussion, exchanges, and presentations;
- attend the entire programme and actively participate in the onsite training;
- be in good health and able to participate and complete the programme;
- submit all of the required documents by the stated deadlines; and
- be in a position to continue to exchange information and interact with the organiser after returning to their home countries.
The maximum number of participants will be limited to 20. Priority will be given to applicants from SEAMEO member states (See https://www.seameo.org/Main_about/415), while applications from beyond Southeast Asia are also welcome.
750 USD*
(*Please note that this is the estimated cost for self-paid participants.)
The fee covers airport transfer, local transportation for course activities, refreshments during the breaks, and accommodation (8 nights on a twin-sharing basis) during the duration of the training workshop. However, the participants are expected to cover their own meals.
The fee should be paid directly to SEAMEO SPAFA prior to the start of the training workshop. The payment method will be informed once the participant selection is completed.
Participants will be responsible for their round-trip travel costs to and from Songkhla Province, Thailand.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek financial support from sources such as governmental institutions, employers, and funding agencies, and inform the organizer of any funding secured or in the process of application. It is noted that one participant from each SEAMEO member country will get a scholarship to cover traveling costs from their home capital city to Songkhla Province, Thailand, accommodation, and meals by SEAMEO SPAFA.
This training workshop is designed as a professional learning programme. To ensure a focused, inclusive, and well-organised learning experience, particularly during site visits, non-selected participants are not allowed.
Participants are expected to actively and fully engage in group work and practical exercises, which are designed to encourage peer-to-peer exchange and to foster a safe, respectful, and collaborative learning environment.
Please fill out the application form, which can be downloaded from the following link (https://forms.gle/SkPQ1tjPoGZ5YoE59).
Note: Your personal statement in the application form is a fundamental requirement.
In the Personal Statement section, you are expected to write:
- Your motivation for attending this training workshop: Please indicate the relevance of this course to your work in urban heritage, including historic cities, settlements, towns, and related urban areas. Also, provide a file with information about “Urban Heritage” you have been engaged with (Maximum 300 words).
- Your current professional roles in the field of Urban Heritage: Please describe your current professional roles and responsibilities related to urban heritage, including your work in historic cities, settlements, towns, or other significant urban areas. (Maximum 300 words)
- Case Study of the Urban Heritage from your country: Please present a case study of an urban heritage site from your country. The case study should briefly describe the heritage values, key issues, and relevant management or conservation challenges. (1–3 pages; maximum 1,000 words, including figures)
To finalise the application, the following must be included with the application form. All the documentation must be submitted in English.
- Portrait photograph (acceptable formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, TIF, TIFF; maximum file size: 3 MB)
- Professional curriculum vitae (acceptable formats: PDF, DOC, DOCX; maximum file size: 5 MB)
- Endorsement letter – a letter confirming that your organisation or affiliated institution acknowledges and supports your application, including confirmation of the dates and duration of the on-site training. This document is preferred for applicants from governmental organisations (acceptable formats: PDF, DOC, DOCX, JPG, JPEG, PNG, TIF, TIFF; maximum file size: 5 MB)
Following the application deadline, all submissions will undergo a formal review. The selection committee’s decision is final. Successful applicants will be notified of the next steps by or no later than 31 March 2026. Please consider your application unsuccessful if you have not received an update by this date.
Application and Selection Process Timeline
| Course Announcement | 12 February 2026 |
| Application | 12 February – 31 March 2026 |
| Notice of Selection | 20 April 2026 |
| Training Workshop | 30 June to 6 July 2026 |
For more information, please contact: uh4sd@seameo-spafa.org
