The UNESCO Chair for Culture Heritage Management and Sustainabilityin Kőszeg, the Institute of Advanced Studies (iASK) and the Institute of Social and European Studies (ISES) Foundation, in cooperation with the University of Pannonia, are organising the 5th UNESCO MOST Winter School. The main objective of the event is to provide a framework for the exchange of ideas between representatives of the cultural, scientific and political worlds, with the participation of the widest possible audience.
Traditionally held in Kőszeg, this year’s event will add to the rich programme of the European Capital of Culture: Veszprém. More than a hundred participants and speakers from more than 45 countries are expected to participate in a hybrid format.
The opening ceremony will take place in the Hangvilla on Monday 20 February at 10 a.m., while the press conference will be held at 11.15 a.m. The rest of the program will take place in the central building of the University of Pannonia.
The speakers at the Winter University will attempt to confront current issues facing Europe and the world. Central issues will be the analysis of the impact of the Ukrainian-Russian war on world history, its long-term consequences and the rethinking of the concept of human security as opposed to military security.
The panel discussions will tackle other important issues such as environmental crisis, the complex problem of migration, the applicability of digital technologies, the impact of social media, the future of artificial intelligence, the analysis of inclusive spaces and virtual spaces as new forms of social interaction, and the long-term impact of trauma. Renowned speakers and participants will also attempt to redefine the notion of diverse and changing cultural identities.
The first day will feature a panel of eminent figures from academia and higher education, diplomats and experts from UNESCO and United Nations University.
Miklós Réthelyi, President of the Hungarian National Commission for UNESCO, will deliver the opening keynote speech, and the meeting will be welcomed by a video message from Shen Xiaomeng, Vice-Rector of the UNU-EHS. Speakers include András Gelencsér, Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Rector of the University of Pannonia, Sir Richard Shirreff, military expert and retired Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Headquarters in Europe, author of the highly successful book War with Russia, Ambassador Emil Brix, Director of the Vienna Diplomatic Academy, and Ernesto Ottone-Ramirez, Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO. Ferenc Miszlivetz, Director of the FTI-iASK, will talk about the spill-over effects of the war and its possible outcomes.
András Szöllősi-Nagy, Scientific Adviser at the FTI-iASK, will lead the round table discussion on this complex issue.
During the one-week programme, guests of the 5th UNESCO MOST Winter School will participate in the cultural events of the Veszprém EKF 2023, listen to a lecture on music and cultural history at the Tihany Abbey and attend a piano recital by Károly Binder in the University of Pannonia’s auditorium on 22 February.
The conference can be followed online at:
https://www.youtube.com/live/7nV-ibpLvZA?feature=share