21 May 2025 – On the occasion of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, we want to present the TRANSITION project commitment to promote peace, inclusivity, and sustainable development through the protection and education on Cultural Heritage of Minorities (CHM) in conflict-affected regions.
Working across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Yemen, the TRANSITION project aims at reinforcing the role of higher education institutions in protecting both tangible and intangible cultural heritage of minority communities. In areas deeply affected by decades of conflict, instability, and marginalisation, the preservation of minority cultures is more than a symbolic gesture—it is a powerful tool for reconciliation, resilience, and development.
As the world marks the World Day for Cultural Diversity, the TRANSITION project stands as a tangible example of how higher education and awareness can act as catalysts for peace. Through its activities, the project not only supports the “right to enjoy one’s culture” as outlined in the 1992 UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, but also strengthens institutional strategies to protect and preserve cultural heritage during and after conflict.
Coordinated by the University of Duhok and by engaging other five universities and namely: University of Sulaimani, University of Zakho, Soran University in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and University of Aden and University of Taiz in Yemen the project seeks to empower academic institutions through Capacity Building and training of trainers, with the collaboration of European partners of the consortium, Sapienza University of Rome, Evora University and UNIMED. It aims to assess, review and update curricula on Cultural Heritage of Minorities, by strengthening key competences and skills of the academic staff to develop context-sensitive educational materials, and by fostering cross-cultural dialogue among students, teachers, local community and civil society.
At its core, TRANSITION promotes understanding of diversity as an added value and a meaningful resource. By introducing students to the rich cultural legacies of minority groups within their countries, the project aims to break cycles of ignorance and division, while cultivating a new generation of future leaders committed to guarantee inclusivity and mutual respect.
Moreover, through workshops and public awareness campaigns, the project goes further and will act beyond academia to influence local decision-makers and civil society associations. It emphasizes that the safeguarding of cultural heritage is not only about preservation but about building shared narratives that contribute to sustainable economic growth.
The TRANSITION project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.
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