Universitas Hasanuddin Announces International Masterclass on Critical Heritage Studies and Digital Heritage
MAKASSAR, 19 May 2026 — The Department of Archaeology, Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas), in partnership with the Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences research group (ARCHES) at the University of Antwerp and the Pusat Kolaborasi Riset (PKR) Arkeologi Sulawesi (BRIN), with support from Yayasan Arsari, is pleased to announce an international masterclass on Critical Heritage Studies and Digital Heritage, to be held 14–16 July 2026 at Unhas Hotel, Makassar.
The three-day intensive programme — titled “Critical Perspectives and Digital Approaches to Cultural Heritage Management in Indonesia” — brings together international scholars and Indonesian heritage professionals for an immersive capacity-building experience. Applications are now open and will close on 20 June 2026.
About the Programme
Heritage management in Indonesia stands at a pivotal moment. The establishment of the Indonesian Heritage Agency (IHA/BLU), the expansion of the Data Pokok Kebudayaan (DAPOBUD), and growing community engagement with heritage sites are reshaping how practitioners, researchers, and policymakers engage with the past. At the same time, digital tools are opening new possibilities for documentation, participation, and interpretation.
The masterclass offers a focused response to this context. Over three days, participants engage with current theoretical frameworks in Critical Heritage Studies, explore participatory and digital methodologies, and apply these perspectives during a guided field excursion to Fort Rotterdam and the Makassar Old Town heritage precinct. Each participant leaves the programme with a heritage project concept note: a concrete, actionable design they can develop within their home institution.
Programme Overview
| Hari / Tanggal | Tema | Materi Utama |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 — 14 July 2026 | Critical Heritage Studies | Authorised Heritage Discourse, community heritage, heritage and power. Lectures and workshop facilitated by Prof. Suzie Thomas. |
| Day 2 — 15 July 2026 | Digital Heritage | Digital digital tools for cultural heritage. Lectures and workshop facilitated by Prof. Piraye Hacıgüzeller. |
| Day 3 — 16 July 2026 | Applied Field Excursion | Guided visit to Fort Rotterdam and the Makassar Old Town heritage precinct. Critical and digital heritage perspectives applied in context. |
Guest Lecturers
Prof. Suzie Thomas
(Day 1: Critical Heritage Studies)
A professor at ARCHES, University of Antwerp, specialising in participatory methodologies, contested heritage, and heritage crime. Her scholarship critically examines how diverse communities interact with the material past.
Prof. Piraye Hacıgüzeller
(Day 2: Digital Heritage)
a professor at ARCHES, University of Antwerp, with expertise in Digital Humanities. Her work interrogates the semantic models and data ethics underpinning archaeological and heritage information systems.
"This masterclass reflects our commitment to building genuine capacity in critical and digital heritage practice across Indonesia. We are proud to bring together scholarship from Antwerp with the rich heritage context of South Sulawesi and the broader Indonesian archipelago."
— Dr. Yadi Mulyadi, Programme Director, Masterclass 2026
Who Can Apply
The masterclass is open to 25–30 participants from across Indonesia, designed for postgraduate researchers and mid-career heritage professionals. Eligible applicants include archaeologists, historians, architects, heritage practitioners, museum professionals, urban planners, NGO workers, and early-career researchers working in cultural heritage contexts.
There is no participation fee. Hotel accommodation for the programme dates will be provided to confirmed participants travelling from outside South Sulawesi.
Key Dates
| Milestone | Tanggal |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 20 May 2026 |
| Application deadline | 20 June 2026, 23:59 WITA |
| Results announced | 30 June 2026 |
| Masterclass | 14–16 July 2026, Unhas Hotel, Makassar |
Applications are submitted through an online form (Microsoft Forms). The link will be announced through official Archaeology Unhas channels when applications open on 20 May 2026.
About the Organising Partners
- Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas) is one of Indonesia’s leading public universities, located in Makassar, South Sulawesi. The Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, is the lead organising unit.
- Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES), University of Antwerp is an internationally recognised research group in critical heritage theory, digital heritage, and interdisciplinary heritage methodologies. ARCHES provides the academic leadership and both visiting lecturers.
- Pusat Kolaborasi Riset (PKR) Arkeologi Sulawesi, BRIN is a collaborative research centre under the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), focused on archaeological and heritage research in Sulawesi.
- Yayasan Arsari Djojohadikusumo provides the financial support that makes this masterclass possible.