AUB Mediterraneo Hosts Conference on the Digitalization of Cultural Heritage with Participation from 11 Universities
Pafos, Cyprus – April 7, 2025 - The American University of Beirut - Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) proudly hosted an international conference on the ‘Digitalization of Cultural Heritage’, bringing together scientists, researchers, and students from 11 partner universities across the Middle East and Germany. This high-impact event marked the culmination of a three-year initiative aimed at preserving endangered cultural heritage sites in crisis-affected regions.
The initiative, launched in collaboration with Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences and the German National Commission for UNESCO, focuses on digitally reconstructing historical and archaeological sites in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Sudan, and Cyprus.
Funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the program included training sessions in advanced photogrammetry workflows, empowering young researchers to produce high-resolution 3D digital twins of vulnerable heritage sites.
“It is a great honor for AUB Mediterraneo to serve as the host for this transformative project,” said Dr. Wassim El Hajj, rector of AUB Mediterraneo. “As a university rooted in both tradition and innovation, we are proud to support efforts that protect our shared cultural memory while equipping students with forward-looking digital tools.”
The conference attracted more than 100 participants, including local and international experts, and featured remarks from Deputy Minister of Culture Mrs. Vasiliki Kassianidou (represented by Mrs. Eftychia Zachariou), a delegate from the Ministry of Higher Education and Research of Iraq, and Dr. Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou, President of the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO.
“This initiative shows what’s possible when global collaboration meets local engagement,” noted Prof. Julia Schnitzer of Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences. “Through digital reconstruction, we are not only preserving heritage but also building academic and cultural bridges across borders.”
Mayor of Pafos, Mr. Phedon Phedonos, emphasized the transformative power of education in the region: “If we make education the dominant narrative for the decades ahead, then success is inevitable. No foreign interest or force that seeks to keep our region in conflict can stop us if we, as a society, commit to the bold decision of investing in and working hard for the education of our communities.”
Alongside the conference, a poster exhibition featured student and faculty work from the 11 collaborating universities, showcasing their digital reconstructions and the potential of photogrammetry to safeguard heritage in threatened regions.
This event reaffirmed AUB Mediterraneo’s commitment to global academic collaboration, digital innovation, and the preservation of cultural identity through education and research.
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About The American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo
The American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) in Pafos, Cyprus, is approved by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) as a branch campus of the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Beirut, Lebanon. AUB operates under a charter granted by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) which registers the university’s degree programs. All departments and programs at AUB Mediterraneo are accredited in Europe and Cyprus through the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Higher Education (CYQAA) and recognized globally. For more information, please visit
www.aubmed.ac.cy
