Enhancing Cooperation between Educational and Cultural Organisations, and Institutions for Maintaining Heritage and Establishing Identity

Abstract

Human and civilised societies differ and are distinguished from one another thanks to the civilisational and cultural heritage of each society that distinguishes it and corroborates its cultural identity. Transmission of “heritage” from one generation to another, across the different eras, and protecting it against any external influences are those factors, which give a society a unique attribute that grants it a cultural identity, which makes it distinguished from the other societies. Hence, heritage and identity are two sides of the same coin. This is because paying attention to heritage and maintaining its characteristics contribute, in turn, to comprehending the past with all its values, cultures, customs and traditions. Furthermore, this by far entrenches individuality and enhances the cultural identity, particularly, if an individual belongs to historically great legacies and civilisations ,which are recognised and commended by the other societies, such as the ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Coptic ,and Islamic civilisations. All such civilisations are profoundly human civilisations that we should take pride in belonging to such most influential civilisations in the world. Equally important, we must not suffice with being influenced by such heritage, and maintaining it, but we need to encourage its development it to create cultural bridges that would disseminate it locally and internationally. We should also cater for creating means of cooperation among cultural institutions and academia to strengthen the concept of identity in the light of the daunting presence of globalisation, and rapidly advancing technology. To summarise core issue of the paper we need to recognise that there is not enough cooperation between educational and cultural organisations and institutions in order to maintain heritage and confirm identity. This paper aims at shedding light on the roles to be played by some educational and cultural organisations and institutions, and how to encourage cooperation, and build cultural bridges therebetween them to maintain heritage and enhance cultural identity. The paper adopts the analytical qualitative methodology, and seeks to find new ways and mechanisms to support such cooperation

Keywords

• heritage
• identity
• establishment