Beyond the preservation of traditions, heritage is a practice of dialogue and an arena where cultural memory is negotiated. As technologies transform the way traditions are archived, performed, and circulated, new opportunities and risks emerge: heritage becomes a site of diplomacy and soft power, but also of contestation. Educational institutions are in a position to mediate the tensions between the monopolisation of digital memory and the need for pluralistic datasets and inclusive participation of diverse groups. Through research and education, universities can contribute towards ethical datasets and interpretations, as well as foster the next generation of digital humanists and social scientists capable of managing the rapid technological turn. This panel explores how digital futures and shared memory can open pathways for inclusivity, transnational dialogue, and social justice.
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