Local heritage networks for ASEAN connectivity

Abstract

Cultural diversity is not merely the existence of different cultures occupying a single space, but also a dynamic engagement between cultures, their values, beliefs, and ways of knowing. In other words, cultural diversity consists of social and cultural interaction and understanding among peoples of the world. Heritage collections of institutions reflect the cultures, religion and languages of each community and these need not only be preserved and protected through the equal distribution of resources and an equitable rendering of concrete services to all communities but also promoted and disseminated for purposes of research, scholarship and documentation. ASEAN institutions of higher learning have organized heritage collections and established networks among themselves not only to preserve but also to disseminate for greater understanding and connectivity among themselves. This paper aims to present existing heritage collections networks as well as collections of institutional repositories which contain scholarly works on aspects of culture, governance and political development of countries in the ASEAN Region.