International Conference: The Future of UNESCO Chapters: Cultural Memory, Remembrance and Intercultural Resilience. The 4th Edition – 6 November 2026

de admin | sept. 3, 2026 | Actualitate, Anunturi, Conferences, Conferinte, UNESCO Chaire

The Future of UNESCO Chapters: Cultural Memory, Remembrance and Intercultural Resilience

The 4th Edition

6 November 2026

Concept and CfP

Organized under the aegis of the UNESCO Chair in Interculturality, Good Governance and Sustainable Development, at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, the annual international conference The Future of UNESCO Chapters: Cultural Memory, Remembrance and Intercultural Resilience engages multidisciplinary academic communities and practitioners to reflect on how philosophical insights inform and develop leadership, governance, and sustainable development in increasingly diverse organizational contexts.

The UNESCO Chair, active since 1999 and running internationally-oriented MA programmes in Intercultural Management, Communication and Business Administration, fosters a nexus between interculturality, philosophical grounding, and governance. Responding to UNESCO’s UNITWIN and SDG agendas, this event invites contributions that explore identity not merely as a personal or cultural signifier, but as a strategic and ethical dimension within leadership and organizational change.

This year’s edition is inspired by the broader context of the 70th anniversary of Romania’s accession to UNESCO (27 July 1956). Throughout 2026, the Romanian National Commission for UNESCO is running an extensive anniversary programme under the motto “Celebrating the Past, Building the Future Together.” It is our belief that this celebration must be embraced also by our UNESCO Chair, which has devoted the fourth edition of this annual conference to a special topic, Cultural Memory, Remembrance and Intercultural Resilience. The present conference joins this anniversary agenda, reflecting on how cultural memory, remembrance, and intercultural resilience connect seven decades of Romanian engagement with UNESCO to the collaborative governance of the future.

We welcome theoretical, empirical, and practice-based papers, including those offering rigorous philosophical analysis. Participants who submit papers for evaluation are kindly asked to consider one of the following panels:

Panel 1 · Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Cultural Memory: Challenges and Ethical Limits

Digital reconstructions of cultural heritage and collective memory
Virtual museums, digital archives, and “digital witnesses” of memory
Algorithmic bias and distortions of AI-generated historical narratives
Intellectual property, authenticity, and misinformation in digital representations of the past
Ethical governance of emerging technologies in memory preservation

Panel 2 · Intercultural Resilience in Geopolitical and Biopolitical Contexts

Migration, forced displacement, and the (re)construction of cultural identity
Conflict, post-conflict settings, and memorial reconciliation
Security, sovereignty, and the governance of cultural diversity
Biopolitical narratives of resilience among transnational minorities

Panel 3 · Educational Challenges in Memory Studies

Pedagogy of memory in academic intercultural environments
Human rights education and the memory of collective trauma
Training educators for diversity and interculturality
Digitalization of memorial education and accessibility
The role of universities and UNESCO Chairs in transmitting cultural memory

Panel 4 · Intercultural Resilience in Business Environments

Intercultural leadership and the management of organizational diversity
Resilience challenges within corporate governance frameworks
Intercultural communication and negotiation in global business
Corporate social responsibility and organizational memory
Organizational resilience in the face of intercultural crises

Panel 5 · Seventy Years of Romania in UNESCO: Legacies, Commemoration, and Future Trajectories

Romania’s accession to UNESCO and its evolving role within the organization
Institutional memory: archives, commemorative practices, and the politics of anniversary-making
UNESCO Chairs and national commissions as custodians and producers of cultural memory
From commemoration to strategy: lessons from seven decades for future governance and intercultural cooperation
Romanian contributions to UNESCO’s global agendas (heritage, education, sciences, culture) and their intercultural significance

Submission Guidelines

Interested participants are invited to submit, in a single document, the following:

Paper title and full affiliation
An abstract of the proposal
A short professional narrative CV

Please indicate the panel for which you are submitting.

Submissions should be sent to: oana.serban@filosofie.unibuc.ro

Key Dates

Submission deadline	1 October — title, abstract, and short professional narrative CV
Announcement of results	6 October
Conference date	6 November
Submission email	oana.serban@filosofie.unibuc.ro

We look forward to your proposals and warmly invite you to contribute to this multidisciplinary reflection on cultural memory, remembrance, and intercultural resilience.

Organizing Institutions

Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, Romania

The UNESCO Chair in Interculturality, Good Governance and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania

CCIIF — The Research Center for the History and Circulation of Philosophical Ideas, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania

Organizing Committee

Prof. PhD. Viorel Vizureanu, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, Romania

PhD. Lecturer Oana Șerban, member YAE – Young Academy of Europe, Director of the Research Center for the History and Circulation of Philosophical Ideas, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, Romania

PhD. Lilian Ciachir, Coordinator of the UNESCO Chair, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, Romania

PhD. Candidate Victoria Tarnovschi, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, Romania

Financial Information

Coffee breaks and lunch will be provided by the organizers. Participants are encouraged to apply to their institutions for mobility grants, including costs of accommodation. On request, we can provide a limited number of rooms at the Hotel Academica, the Guest House of the University of Bucharest, offered at a preferential fee for the participants of the conference.

__________________

This conference is an annual event organized under the framework of SMOC – Sustainable Management in Cultural Organizations (SMOC), Grant Agreement No. 10508/25.10.2024, funded through the Research and Development Project Fund “Grants for Enhancing Institutional Performance and Competences in Priority Areas” at the University of Bucharest, and is financed for Romanian participants exclusively by FSS GRANTS (University of Bucharest & Ministry of Education). Additionally, the two first panels are supported by the program BIOART – PN-IV-P2-2.1-TE-2023-0636, Biopolitical Art in the Post-Holocaust Age: Philosophical Perspectives on Aestheticized Testimonies, Politicized Aesthetics, and Bare Life, financed by UEFISCDI.

International Conference „Multiculturality, Morality, and Public Affairs in the Digital Age” – June 15-16, 2026

de admin | mai 28, 2026 | Actualitate, Anunturi, Conferences, Conferinte, Interacțiune cu societatea, SMOC, UNESCO Chaire

International Conference "Multiculturality, Morality, and Public Affairs in the Digital Age"

June 15-16, 2026

The Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Bucharest will host, on 15 and 16 June 2026, the International Conference „Multiculturality, Morality and Public Affairs in the Digital Age”. The event brings together researchers, philosophers, and specialists from across the world to explore the intersection of multiculturality, morality, and the public sphere in the digital era.

Organizers & Auspices

The conference is held under the auspices of the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy (CRVP), based in Washington, D.C., and is organized at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Bucharest with the support of the UNESCO Chair in Interculturality, Good Governance and Sustainable Development, and under the program SMOC – Sustainable Management in Cultural Organizations.

The principal organizers of the conference are:

Professor Emeritus Mihaela Pop – Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest
Lecturer Dr. Oana Șerban – Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest
Gabriela Nistor
PhD Candidate Romanița Vrânceanu

Opening Ceremony

The official opening of the conference will take place in the presence of the distinguished guests Dr. Bill Barbieri, Dr. João Vila-Chã and Dr. Hu Yeping, on behalf of the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy (CRVP), Washington, D.C., who will deliver the Welcome Address and officially inaugurate the proceedings, next to the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Prof. Dr. Viorel Vizureanu, and the organizers, Professor Emeritus Mihaela Pop and PhD Lecturer Oana Șerban.

Programme & Themes

Spanning two days, the conference features four plenary sessions alongside dedicated panels for junior researchers and doctoral students, addressing the following themes:

Moral Pluralism and Interculturality in the Digital Age – Democracy 2.0 and Its Axiological Discontents
Religion and Multiculturalism – Spirituality, Recognition, and Faith
The Challenges of AI in a Multicultural World – Uprootedness, Disconnectedness, and the Public Sphere
The Future of Philosophy in the Age of AI – Identity, Critical Thinking, and Sensitivity
Cosmopolitanism and Globalization – Plural Identities, Social Atomization, and Cultural Approaches
A Multicultural Social Contract – Soft Power, Resilience, and Creativity

The conference unites academic voices from the United States, Italy, Denmark, India, Egypt, Greece, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Nigeria, Romania, and beyond, offering a platform for genuine intercultural dialogue.

Cultural Programme

Following the closing ceremony, participants are invited to a two-and-a-half-hour guided walking tour along Victory Avenue (Calea Victoriei), with visits to the Coral Temple, Stavropoleos Monastery, the Royal Palace of Bucharest, and the Romanian Athenaeum.

Contact & Information

Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest

Amphitheatre Mircea Florian, First Floor

Organizers: Prof. Emeritus Mihaela Pop mihaela.pop@filosofie.unibuc.ro | Lecturer Dr. Oana Șerban oana.serban@filosofie.unibuc.ro

Under the auspices of: Council for Research in Values and Philosophy (CRVP), Washington, D.C.

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International Conference

Multiculturality, Morality, and Public Affairs in the Digital Age

June 15-16, 2026 Bucharest, Romania

Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest
The UNESCO Chair in Interculturality, Good Governance and Sustainable Development

Thematic Description

Multiculturality can be understood as a phenomenon that positively values the presence of diverse cultures within a state or region, attributing significance to a type of pluralism that prevents the dominance of certain cultures over others. In this context, multiculturality serves as an alternative to the homogenization tendencies induced by globalization. As a concept, multiculturalism allows for the exploration of various social groups’ cultures (such as women, linguistic minorities, youth subcultures, religious confessions, etc.) as well as of the cultures of immigration and ethnic minorities, thereby facilitating a better expression of their identities based on the principle of mutual social acceptance.

Morality pertains to a framework of thoughts and actions that guide individual and group life. It can be a code of norms, or a list of values, or a particular vision of nature, or a justification for certain frameworks. Morality concerns about what is considered good or bad. In terms of religious understanding, for instance, biblical norms for Christians are moral. While ethical theories constitute concepts, propositions, principles of moral attitudes that have been developed throughout the human history.

Public affairs involve efforts to manage relationships among public institutions so as to influence public policy and shape public perception. This includes governmental relationships, media communications, and the building of bridges to foster mutual understanding in the broader public and political landscape. Its primary goal is to influence public policies, public opinions, legal and media organizations through proper communication in order to promote general interest and the common good.

Contemporary society has been shaped by diverse cultural traditions, religions, and various political and socio-economic systems, etc. These elements have significantly contributed to the transmission of ideas, enriching the multicultural aspect of contemporary life and fostering mutual understanding among diverse communities. Through history, multicultural dialogue enhanced by scientific and philosophical ideas has enabled significant progresses in fields of mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and technology across the world. In recent decades, digital advancements have not only increased the speed of communication but also revolutionized all aspects of human life.

This pluralistic and interdisciplinary forum aims at exploring questions regarding how philosophical ideas, shaped by local contexts, transcend cultural, linguistic, and geographical boundaries. It intends (1) to understand how philosophical concepts or schools of thought can influence societies in the process of social progress; (2) to highlight the new paths generated by scientific discoveries and technological innovation; (3) to comprehend the meaning of morality in culture and public life; (4) to tackle the challenges that are brought about by the digital age.

Our contemporary digital age requires new ideas and insights to better understand the dynamic and challenges of new socio-political, moral, cultural, and religious situations. The constructive contributions of multiculturalism, morality, and public life can strengthen the social fabric and create a more inclusive future society. People may ask: What challenges does the digital age bring to these areas of interest? How has scientific progress changed the way people think and act? What are the fundamental ideas that govern our life and society? Can the digital age change these ideas? What are the similarities and differences in terms of mentalities, attitudes, or values throughout various transformative periods in human history?

This forum would like to invite scholars and thinkers who are interested in the following themes:

– Dialogue among cultures and religions in the transmission of philosophical ideas and ethical theories.

– Morality as a framework of values and norms that shape individuals and communities.

– New challenges generated by the 20th-century scientific progress and the 21st-century technological revolution.

– Socio-political issues arising from new scientific discoveries and information explosions.

– The impact of media and technology on the dissemination of philosophical ideas and education.

Abstract

Participants are kindly asked to submit their abstract of 300-500 words and a brief professional bio (in Microsoft Word or PDF) via the following form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gYe4pclqTZr48l9U0sVzmtBiP5LCcHWj0I9V9pLp3Gk/edit by April 30, 2026. Questions and clarifications can be addressed to Prof. Dr. Mihaela Pop (mihaela.pop@filosofie.unibuc.ro; pop.mihaela.a@gmail.com) and Dr. Oana Serban (oana.serban@filosofie.unibuc.ro), as well as (cua-rvp@cua.edu).

The results of the evaluation will be known by May 15, 2026. The conference will be held in English. Well-developed, qualitative papers will be published by the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy in its publication series “Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Changes.”

Logistics

There will be no registration fee. Conference participants will cover their own costs of travels. For accommodation costs and additional information, please contact local organizers.

Contact

Prof. Dr. Mihaela Pop
Professor Emerita
Faculty of Philosophy
University of Bucharest
mihaela.pop@filosofie.unibuc.ro; pop.mihaela.a@gmail.com

and

Dr. Oana Serban
Lecturer
Faculty of Philosophy
University of Bucharest
oana.serban@filosofie.unibuc.ro

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Oana Șerban Featured in International Dialogue on Cultural Heritage, Refugee Inclusion and Social Innovation within the CIVIS VERIS Project

de admin | mai 22, 2026 | Actualitate, Anunturi, Call for papers, Conferences, Conferinte, UNESCO Chaire

Oana Șerban Featured in International Dialogue on Cultural Heritage, Refugee Inclusion and Social Innovation within the CIVIS VERIS Project

Lect. Dr. Oana Șerban, representing the Faculty of Philosophy and the UNESCO Chair in Interculturality, Good Governance and Sustainable Development at the University of Bucharest, is featured in a new international podcast dedicated to the outcomes and reflections of the European project VERIS – Voices of Palmyra: Engaging in Tangible Memorial Heritage in Social Innovation for Refugee Inclusion, developed within the framework of CIVIS Open Lab.

Together with Patrick M. Michel (University of Lausanne) and Brittnee Leysen (University of Glasgow), Oana Șerban reflects on the interdisciplinary collaboration underpinning the VERIS project and explores how endangered cultural heritage can become a catalyst for social innovation, refugee inclusion, and cultural resilience.

The discussion addresses one of the project’s central questions:

How can digital reconstructions of destroyed or endangered heritage sites become pathways toward recovering intangible heritage — memories, identities, narratives, and lived cultural practices?

Drawing on experiences of co-creation with displaced communities, the conversation examines ethical and methodological challenges related to trauma-sensitive engagement, participatory research, and the role of digital technologies in preserving cultural memory.

The participation of Oana Șerban highlights the Faculty of Philosophy’s continued involvement in international research initiatives situated at the intersection of heritage studies, intercultural dialogue, refugee inclusion, sustainability, and civic engagement, reinforcing the contribution of the University of Bucharest within the CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance.

The VERIS collaboration brings together three partner institutions:

University of Lausanne – represented by Patrick M. Michel
University of Bucharest – represented by Oana Șerban
University of Glasgow – represented by Brittnee Leysen

The full episode is available here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/unesco/podcast/episodes/#d.en.1266873

Facultatea de Filosofie și Catedra UNESCO participă la dialogul internațional privind patrimoniul cultural, incluziunea refugiaților și reziliența socială în cadrul proiectului european VERIS – CIVIS Open Lab

de admin | mai 18, 2026 | Actualitate, Anunturi, Call for papers, Conferences, Conferinte, UNESCO Chaire

Facultatea de Filosofie și Catedra UNESCO participă la workshopul internațional organizat de Universitatea din Lausanne

prezentând un raport privind rolul patrimoniului cultural imaterial în consolidarea coeziunii sociale și integrarea refugiaților din Orientul Mijlociu.

Proiectul european VERIS – CIVIS Open Lab

În perioada 18–19 mai 2026, Facultatea de Filosofie a Universității din București, prin Catedra UNESCO pentru Interculturalitate, Bună Guvernanță și Dezvoltare Durabilă, este reprezentată la workshopul internațional „Workshops on the Importance of Culture and Heritage for Refugees. Resilience and Higher Education”, organizat la Universitatea din Lausanne, în cadrul proiectului european VERIS – Voices of Palmyra, CIVIS Open Lab.

Evenimentul reunește cercetători, experți internaționali și instituții academice preocupate de relația dintre patrimoniul cultural, educație, incluziune și reziliență în contexte marcate de migrație forțată, vulnerabilitate socială și provocări privind coeziunea comunitară.

Raportul „UNESCO Report on Intangible Cultural Heritage as a Tool for Social Cohesion and Integration of Middle Eastern Refugees”, elaborat de lect. univ. dr. Oana Șerban și dr. Lilian Ciachir, va fi prezentat în cadrul workshopului și explorează modul în care patrimoniul cultural imaterial poate deveni un instrument pentru consolidarea coeziunii sociale, reconstruirea sentimentului de apartenență și susținerea incluziunii refugiaților.

Pornind de la rezultatele proiectului VERIS, raportul propune o schimbare de perspectivă: de la simpla recunoaștere simbolică a patrimoniului cultural al comunităților vulnerabile către modele participative de justiție culturală, în care refugiații devin actori ai proceselor de definire, transmitere și guvernanță a patrimoniului.

Analiza evidențiază faptul că deplasarea forțată afectează nu doar securitatea materială, ci și memoria colectivă, practicile culturale și continuitatea identitară a comunităților. În acest context, patrimoniul cultural imaterial — tradiții, ritualuri, narațiuni și forme de expresie — poate contribui la reconstruirea rezilienței, consolidarea apartenenței sociale și dezvoltarea unor mecanisme sustenabile de incluziune.

Participarea la workshopurile de la Lausanne se înscrie într-un demers mai amplu de cercetare și cooperare internațională dezvoltat în cadrul proiectului VERIS – Voices of Palmyra, orientat către explorarea relației dintre patrimoniul cultural, memorie, reziliență și incluziunea comunităților afectate de deplasare forțată.

În continuarea acestor activități, în cursul lunii iunie urmează să fie publicat volumul-album Imagining Homeland: Palmyra’s (In)Tangible Heritage and the Voices of Displacement, co-editat de lect. univ. dr. Oana Șerban și prof. univ. dr. Patrick M. Michel (Universitatea din Lausanne). Lucrarea documentează dimensiunea practică și participativă a cercetării desfășurate sub egida proiectului VERIS, reunind reflecții asupra patrimoniului cultural, memoriei, experiențelor de deplasare și mecanismelor de reziliență dezvoltate în comunități vulnerabile. Volumul evidențiază modul în care patrimoniul material și imaterial poate deveni spațiu de reconectare, apartenență și reconstrucție simbolică pentru persoanele afectate de migrație forțată. Cartea, semnată de Patrick M. Michel și Oana Șerban, apare la Editura Universității din București și documentează vocile deplasării și patrimoniul (in)tangibil al Palmirei.

Participarea Universității din București reflectă angajamentul instituțional pentru dialog intercultural, cooperare academică internațională și cercetare cu impact social, în acord cu valorile promovate de UNESCO și cu obiectivele alianței europene CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance.

Prin implicarea în inițiative internaționale dedicate patrimoniului cultural și incluziunii, precum și prin dezvoltarea unor rezultate academice și editoriale asociate proiectului VERIS, Facultatea de Filosofie și Catedra UNESCO își reafirmă preocuparea pentru promovarea dialogului intercultural, a rezilienței și a demnității umane în contexte globale complexe.

PRE-ADMISSIONS OPEN | Master’s Programs 2026

de admin | mart. 25, 2026 | Actualitate, Admitere, Anunturi, Avizier studenti, UNESCO Chaire

PRE-ADMISSIONS OPEN | Master's Programs 2026

We are pleased to announce that pre-admissions are now open for the following Master’s programs at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest:

Cognitive Science: Mind the Brain!

An advanced two-year program at the intersection of philosophy and cognitive science, covering neuroscience, cognitive psychology, cognitive linguistics, artificial intelligence, and the philosophy of mind.

Analytic Philosophy

A two-year research master designed to develop the skills required for rigorous independent intellectual work: critical thinking, precise argumentation, and systematic analysis of philosophical debates.

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

Romania’s first PPE program, jointly organized with the Faculty of Business and Administration, equips students with a unique combination of analytical tools, and prepares graduates for diverse careers in business, government, policy, and research.

Communication and Intercultural Studies

Combines intercultural communication, cultural diplomacy, and social theory, preparing graduates for careers in international organizations, media, and cultural institutions.

Intercultural Management

Integrates management, international marketing, and intercultural communication to train professionals for leadership roles in multinational and diverse organizational environments.

MBA – Business Administration

A comprehensive international MBA covering strategy, finance, leadership, and innovation, with a strong focus on ethics and global business environments.

Environmental Humanities

A transdisciplinary program combining philosophy, social sciences, and environmental studies to address climate change, sustainability, and human–environment relations.

The pre-admission period is open until May 08, 2026.

Do not miss this opportunity to take the next step in your academic journey!

For full details on admission requirements, program descriptions, and the application process, please visit: Admitere Master.

Call for Applications: Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP) on Public Space and Visual Arts with UNESCO Chair Participation

de admin | mart. 23, 2026 | Actualitate, Anunturi, Conferences, Conferinte, UNESCO Chaire

Call for Applications: Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP) on Public Space and Visual Arts with UNESCO Chair Participation

the call for applications is open until March 30, 2026

Our colleagues from the UNESCO Chair in Interculturality, Good Governance and Sustainable Development, within the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Bucharest, Véronique Parissot and Oana Șerban, will be teaching in two Blended Intensive Programmes, organized under the FORTHEM Alliance and supported by the French cultural channel Arte France.

The programmes — New Territories of Visual Arts and L’espace public comme théâtre de la démocratie — are coordinated by Véronique Parissot, professor at the University Bourgogne Europe, and the call for applications is open until March 30.

For students from universities outside the FORTHEM network, each applicant is required to check with their home institution the availability of an Erasmus mobility grant, as well as the possibility of transferring 3 ECTS credits.

Selection form https://forms.gle/F6zzCg2sMa7FFAXs5