Centre for Heritage and International Coalition of Sites of Conscience
Part of a university-wide strategic partnership dedicated to memory work and practical knowledge in the realms of global equality and justice.
In November 2021, Newcastle University launched a university-wide strategic partnership with the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, a global network of historic sites, museums and memory initiatives that connects past struggles to today's movements for human rights and social and environmental justice.
The Centre for Heritage plays a key role in promoting the partnership, which aims to further realize the two institutions’ social and environmental justice ambitions.
The International Coalition of Sites of Conscience
The ICSC was founded in 1999. The coalition:
- is the only worldwide network of Sites of Conscience
- provides spaces to remember and preserve even the most traumatic memories
- enables visitors and communities to make connections between past and present human rights challenges
Based on these core principles, member sites include:
- an international youth-led peacebuilding organisation which envisions a peaceful world of empowered individuals and sustainable societies
- a former detention centre in Argentina that highlights repression of free speech now
- a 240-year-old slavery site in Africa that sparks action to help the 40 million people who are currently enslaved
There are two major initiatives currently underway:
Workshops
A series of workshops exploring ways academic research can be community-based, not extractive.
- These workshops were open to Newcastle academics and students.
- Three workshops have been held since 2022.
- These images show the results of the Unsettling Methods workshops.
Internships
- Since 2021 we have run a series of internships. Students from Newcastle University have worked with members of the Coalition at sites all over the world, including:
- The War Childhood Museum in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Act for the Disappeared in Lebanon
- Constitution Hill in South Africa
- Ulster Museum in Northern Ireland
- Youth for Peace in Cambodia
- Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Croatia
- Lilliesleaf Trust in The UK
- The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) in Georgia
2024 internships
- Applications are now CLOSED for summer 2024 internships. Check back soon for the latest details of this year's exciting student internships.
- The internships are paid and are open to students of all academic backgrounds.
- Undergraduate students (who have completed at least 2 years before the commencement of the internship), Master's and PhD students are eligible to apply.
- See the 2024 Brochure for further details: ICSC Internships Brochure 2024.
During their time on placement, students collaborate on a range of projects centred around the following themes:
- heritage and memory
- truth and justice
- hate speech
- economic sustainability
- gender equality and more
To read more about our past and current internships, check out our intern spotlights below.
