Cultural heritage is diverse, but in every dimension it can be harnessed to include communities and integrate underrepresented groups in the mainstream of social life. We understand heritage to be an ongoing process of meaning-making about the past for the present, reflecting on identity and social relationships. Working with heritage enhances communities' self-understanding and engagement with everyday life.

The ambition of the conference is to create a platform for different actors and experiences of cultural heritage. We invite researchers, leaders of social enterprises and non-governmental organizations, educators of cultural institutions, employers, managers and decision-makers to have a dialogue about cultural heritage and social responsibility as a bridge for cooperation with universities. The conference is a place to meet and talk about inspiring practices, local actions as well as challenges and solutions. We welcome academic debates around the complexity of cultural heritage, its critical dimensions and controversial use.

The aim of the conference is also to indicate how higher education can more effectively use the resources of local cultural heritage from different perspectives. Universities can benefit from promoting educational and social values and to implement own mission of a socially engaged and responsible institution. The conference will raise awareness of the multifaceted nature and diversity of heritage and will strengthen the university's presence and its links with the local communities.

The conference will be the meeting place for practitioners and researchers, representatives of universities and local communities, and – in particular – local governments that manage cultural heritage. The conference will aim at dissemination of all intellectual outputs its priority will be to share knowledge and experience.