Last weekend, the Center of Social Sciences and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) held a forum on “Heritage: Theory and Practice.” The forum was held to encourage people to consider cultural heritage as part of its wider promotion in society.

More than 30 experts and scholars from well-known universities at home and abroad gathered at SUSTech to discuss the definition, protection and development of cultural heritage and its incorporation into people’s daily life.

China celebrates Cultural and National Heritage Day on the 2^nd Saturday of June every year, and June 8^th was the 14^th such occurrence. Since the establishment of the Institute of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences at SUSTech, they have considered research into cultural heritage of critical importance.

The forum discussed significant topics such as heritage protection, the definition of cultural heritage, and cultural heritage development, all from different perspectives. The forum resolved to build a consensus around integrated interdisciplinary research to further strengthen the academic research community of scientific cultural heritage.

Honorary Faculty member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Liu Kuili spoke at the forum. Other speaks included UNESCO chair for critical heritage studies and the safeguarding of intangible heritage Marc Jacobs, Professor Ogino Masahiro from Kwansei Gakuin University, and Professor Jiang Fan from Liaoning University.