THE UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas has been elected to lead the Secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Higher Education Network for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (APHEN-ICH).

The announcement was made during the Intangible Cultural Heritage International Conference held in Nepal last month.

Through its Graduate School Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment (USTGS-CCCPET), UST will serve a two-year term.

Assoc. Prof. Eric B. Zerrudo will serve as Head of the Secretariat, while Ms. Beverly Macayan-Bautista will serve as International Coordinator of the network.

“In this role, USTGS-CCCPET will be instrumental in orchestrating the activities and programs of the network, ensuring its seamless operation and effective mission execution,” UST said.

“The election of USTGS-CCCPET was grounded on its successful hosting of the Intangible Cultural Heritage International Conference and APHEN-ICH Field School in the Philippines, alongside the City Government of Mabalacat and other LGU partners in Pampanga province in 2023,” the university added.

The APHEN-ICH Secretariat comprises four member universities: UST as the lead, alongside University of Dhaka in Bangladesh for South Asia, Vietnam National University-Hanoi for Southeast Asia, and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea for East/North Asia.

Established in September 2018 in partnership with UNESCO’s ICHCAP, APHEN-ICH is dedicated to preserving intangible cultural heritage across the Asia-Pacific. Aligned with the 2003 UNESCO Convention, the network promotes cultural preservation through joint programs and activities. By 2024, it will include 23 member universities across the region.