UEXT–International Summer Course 2025 – Cultural Heritage and Pluralism, and Combating Antiquities Trafficking
📍 Universidad Externado de Colombia, Bogotá 🗓️ June 3–13, 2025 | 🕘 Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 m 📘 Course taught in English
Preserving Our Shared Past
Preserving cultural heritage is not just about protecting objects—it’s about defending identity, history, and the shared values that unite humanity. This summer, the Universidad Externado de Colombia invites students, alumni, professionals and international participants to join the UEXT–International Summer Course: Cultural Heritage and Pluralism, and Combating Antiquities Trafficking, a unique and timely academic experience.
From June 3 to 13, participants will explore how the illicit trafficking of antiquities threatens not only the preservation of human history but also fuels global criminal networks. Through engaging lectures, case studies, and open discussions, this course will offer insight into the frameworks, technologies, and global cooperation efforts needed to combat this issue—while promoting pluralism and respect for diverse cultures.
The course will be led by Shaaban Ahmed Abdelgawad Hassanien, a renowned Egyptologist and expert in the repatriation of cultural property, who brings decades of field and policy-level experience from Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities.
Whether you’re a student, recent graduate, or cultural heritage professional, this course provides an exceptional opportunity to engage with international perspectives, deepen your knowledge, and become part of a growing network of heritage defenders.
🗓️ Draft Course Schedule
Day 1 – Introduction to Ancient Egyptian History
Day 2 – Role of International Organizations in Protecting Cultural Heritage
Day 3 – Bilateral Agreements and International Cooperation
Day 4 – Introduction to Cultural Heritage
Day 5 – Antiquities and Illicit Trafficking
Day 6 – International Laws and Agreements
Day 7 – The Role of Local Communities in Heritage Protection
Day 8 – Technology and its Role in Heritage Preservation
Day 9 – Cultural Heritage in Conflict Zones
Day 10 – Open Discussions and Course Wrap-Up
💼 Costs and Scholarship Information
- Full Course Cost (free movers): COP $1.000.000
- Externadistas (undergraduate students, graduate students and alumni): Only pay administrative fee: COP 120.000 (includes certificate issued by the Externado).
- Affiliated students (Asociación de Universidades – Colombia Challenge Your Knowledge, RCI, ASCUN, bilateral agreements): (COP $500.000). Certificate included.
- Ministeries and district entities: (COP $500.000). Certificate included.
🎓 Credit Transfer: Ask your academic program about options for credit recognition or homologation of this course.
🌐 Language & Participation
- Taught in English.
- No language test required, though a high-intermediate level is recommended.
- Open to undergraduate and graduate students, recent graduates, and professionals in heritage, law, archaeology, international relations, and related fields.
👉 UEXT Summer Course 2025 – Formato de inscripción and be part of a global community committed to protecting cultural heritage and promoting diversity.
For more information or to begin your application process, please contact:
Universidad Externado de Colombia, Calle 12 No. 1-17 Este
+57 (601) 353 7000 – Ext 4049
dirinternational@uexternado.edu.co
👤 Visiting Professor Profile
Shaaban Ahmed Abdelgawad Hassanien
General Supervisor of the Repatriation of Antiquities Department, Ministry of Antiquities – Egypt
Visiting Professor, Cairo University
Shaaban Ahmed Abdelgawad Hassanien is a distinguished Egyptologist and one of the leading voices in the fight against illicit antiquities trafficking. He currently serves as the General Supervisor of the Repatriation of Antiquities Department at Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities, a position he has held since 2016.
Prof. Hassanien earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Archaeology from Cairo University in 1993, followed by postgraduate studies in tourist guiding and art history. He obtained his Master’s Degree in Egyptology in 2012 and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Cairo University. In 2019, he also earned a Postgraduate Certificate in Art Crime and Cultural Heritage Protection from ARCA (Association for Research into Crimes Against Art) in Rome, Italy.
Throughout his career, he has held numerous leadership roles, including General Director of Egyptology and Museums, Technical Advisor to the Minister of Antiquities, and Coordinator for the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities at the Administrative Control Authority, focusing on anti-corruption strategies.
He is also Egypt’s official contact point for the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the prohibition and prevention of illicit cultural property transfers and a member of several national and international committees, such as the National Committee for the Recovery of Antiquities Smuggled Abroad, the UNESCO National Committee, and the «Memory of the World» initiative.
Under his leadership, Egypt has successfully repatriated over 30,000 artifacts from various countries, setting a global example in the protection of cultural heritage.
