«University Museums as actors for Sustainable Development»

Annual Meeting of ICOM-UMAC

Science and Technology Museum of the University of Patras, Greece October 12^th to 16^th, 2026       

 

See the programme here UMAC_2026_Conference_Programme_29-07-2026-4

 

UMAC is pleased to announce that nominations for the UMAC Award 2026 are now open.

The UMAC Award of Excellence recognises outstanding and innovative projects and initiatives developed by university museums and collections around the world. The award celebrates excellence, creativity, transferability of ideas, and impact on universities, communities, and society.

Projects and initiatives active between 2024 and 2026 are eligible for nomination, regardless of the size, type, or location of the institution. Nominations must be submitted by two UMAC members in good standing.

The deadline for the submission of nominations is 30 July 2026 at 23:59 (CET).

We encourage university museums and collections worldwide to showcase their achievements and share inspiring practices with the international UMAC community.

For full eligibility criteria, award rules, and nomination forms, please visit the UMAC Award webpage.

 

Update (15 June 2026): Following the Ordinary General Meeting held on 10 June 2026, UMAC members selected the University of São Paulo (Brazil) as the host institution for the 2027 ICOM–UMAC Annual Conference. We thank both candidate institutions for their excellent proposals and their commitment to the UMAC community.

 

UMAC members are invited to attend an online Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) that will take place on 10 June 2026 from 12:00 to 13:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST).

The purpose of this meeting is to select the host institution for the 2027 ICOM-UMAC Annual Conference. Two candidatures have been submitted and will be presented during the meeting:

• The Chinese University of Hong Kong, represented by Prof. Josh Yiu, Director of the Art Museum.
• The University of São Paulo (Brazil), represented by Dr Mauricio Candido da Silva, Director of the Veterinary Anatomy Museum of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science and Coordinator of the Brazilian Network of Collections and University Museums.

The selection of hosts for UMAC annual conferences held outside ICOM General Conferences is the responsibility of the UMAC General Assembly, in accordance with the UMAC By-Laws.

Agenda

1. Presentation of the proposal submitted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
2. Presentation of the proposal submitted by the University of São Paulo.
3. Vote to determine the host location of the 2027 ICOM-UMAC Annual Conference.

Meeting link

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/361472858316061?p=u7cjMHrG0w1O7MYJL0

Meeting ID: 361 472 858 316 061

Passcode: gi2jt9me

Voting procedure

Voting will take place during the online meeting only and will be conducted by electronic ballot.

To be eligible to vote, participants must:

• Hold an active UMAC membership (membership fees for the current year must be fully paid).
• Have UMAC registered as their first International Committee.
• Provide their ICOM membership number during the voting process for verification purposes.

Each eligible member is entitled to vote according to the provisions established in the UMAC By-Laws.

We encourage all eligible members to participate in this important decision regarding the future location of the 2027 UMAC Annual Conference.

Registrations to participate in the UMAC AGM “University Museums as Actors for Sustainable Development”, held within the ICOM-UMAC Annual Conference 2026 at the University of Patras, Greece, from 12–16 October 2026, are now open:

https://umac2026.gr/forms/5

Travel Grants for the ICOM-UMAC Annual Conference 2026

ICOM-UMAC, ICOM Greece and ICOM-SAREC are pleased to offer seven travel grants to support the participation of young professionals and PhD students in the ICOM-UMAC Annual Conference 2026, which will take place at the University of Patras, Greece, from 12–16 October 2026.

Special Travel Grants

Four special travel grants of €1,500 each will be offered by UMAC and ICOM Greece, with the support of the University of Patras, for young professionals from ICOM country categories 3–5, especially from Africa.

Eligibility criteria:

• Young professionals under 40 years old working with university museums or collections
• Applicants must be ICOM members during the year of application

ICOM-SAREC Travel Grants

Three additional travel grants of €400 each, funded by ICOM-SAREC, will be awarded to young professionals or PhD students to facilitate their attendance at the conference.

Eligibility criteria:

• Young professionals or PhD students under 40 years old
• Applicants must be ICOM members during the year of application

Application Deadline

27 May 2026

Please note that all expenses must initially be covered by the applicants and will be reimbursed after the conference upon submission of original supporting documents and credit card receipts to the UMAC Treasurer.

Further information, including the online application form, is available on the conference website.

For questions or additional information, please contact:
umac2026.greece@gmail.com

 

NEW: Submission papers – Submission: https://umac2026.gr/ 

 

«University Museums as actors for Sustainable Development»

Annual Meeting of ICOM-UMAC

Science and Technology Museum of the University of Patras, Greece October 12^th to 16^th, 2026       

From October 12^th to 16^th, 2026, ICOM-UMAC, the International Council of Museums’ Committee for University Museums and Collections,will hold its annual meeting hosted by ICOM-Greece and the Science and Technology Museum of the University of Patras, at the Science and Technology Museum of the University of Patras, Greece.

Supported by the National Committees ICOM-France, ICOM Burkina Fasso, ICOM South Africa, the regional Alliances ICOM-Europe and  ICOM-Africa and ICOFOM the Conference, will be held on-site and online.

The Conference languages are: English, French and Greek.

Universities play a crucial role in advancing United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by integrating them into their teaching, research and operational practices. They act as knowledge generators, leaders and drivers of cross-sectoral leadership, contributing to the pursuit of Sustainable Development.

University museums and collections can align with the Sustainable Development objectives of Universities and also play a crucial role through their collections and museum practice. The integration of the SDGs into U-Museums and collections presents both challenges and opportunities and may affect their everyday life practice.

University Museums and collections are valuable functions in the University and society. They may facilitate people’s access to and understanding of the University’s cultural, scientific, technological and environmental heritage while constituting important resources for education, lifelong learning and research. They can serve as valuable learning environments for University students, school students, teachers (Resolution 4 Empowering Museums in Achieving the SDGs through Youth, ICOM Dubai 2025) and the public providing hands-on experience fostering a deeper understanding of sustainable development issues. Through exhibitions and outreach programs focusing on museum education, they can approach, inform and engage different audiences in climate action, wellbeing and prosperity, human rights, inclusion and peace-related activities, building partnerships, promoting sustainable practices and behaviors, enhancing the effectiveness and implementation of the SDGs, and contributing to changing lifestyles.

Can University Museums become actors enhancing the role of universities for Sustainable Development? UMAC 2026 Conference will explore university museums’ & collections’ worldwide efforts to become powerful actors for Sustainable Development by serving as crucial sites for education, research, community engagement and showcasing university sustainability efforts, bridging academic knowledge with public understanding and action on issues like climate change, social justice, risk management and cultural heritage preservation, thereby enhancing the university’s broader societal role.

 

Sub-topics

1.The value of University collections in integrating the SDGs

2.University Museums and collections engaging in the educational community and the public for the SDGs

3.University Museums and collections at the forefront of the University’s strategy on Sustainable Development

4.University Museums’ contribution to educating on sustainable development in contexts facing security, environmental risks and climate challenges

5.North-South cooperation to strengthen the contribution of University Museums to the implementation of the SDG

 

PAPER AND POSTER PROPOSALS

MORE INFORMATION

WORKSHOP

To be announced

EXCURSION

To be announced

TRAVEL GRANTS

To be announced

ICOM-UMAC offer a limited number of travel grants for conference participants from countries 3-5 categories

Questions regarding the event may be addressed to:
umac2026.greece@gmail.com