In the fifth of our series of pieces exploring the careers of graduates from Kent's MA in Heritage Management run at our Athens Centre, we talk to Julius Mwahunga to find out about his role as Deputy Programme Director for Culture and Heritage at the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO.
What is your current role and what does it involve?
I am currently the Deputy Programme Director for Culture and Heritage at the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO. I am also an independent consultant with UNESCO on the implementation of the 2003 UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The job involves providing guidance in the development and implementation of policies and legal frameworks in line with UNESCO culture and heritage standards to strengthen protection, conservation, promotion, Safeguarding and transmitting of culture and heritage for posterity. In addition, to implement UNESCO conventions, protocols and strategic Decisions in order to promote peace, national cohesion and poverty reduction for sustainable development
What is your favourite aspect of the job?
My favourite aspects of the job are to be found in the advisory aspect. Here I advise the government on best practices and approaches in the implementation of Cultural Conventions ratified by Kenya. I like the collaborative approach with other stakeholders in the culture and heritage sector where I find the exchange of ideas and information very valuable. I particularly love the dual reporting mechanisms that come with the job – first at the National level and second, reporting to UNESCO (International level) on the achievements and challenges of implementing the conventions relating to culture and heritage.
Why did you choose the Heritage Management MA offered by Kent and AUEB?
The programme was perfect for me since it complemented and strengthened my experience in development work and in particular enriching my understanding of best approaches in the management of heritage at the local and global levels. The fact that Heritage Management was taught from a business perspective was also really good.
What skills did you learn and how did this help in your career? How would you say you manage heritage in a different way because of your training?
I learnt many skills. Planning was part of it. The management of heritage requires serious planning that involves many actors or stakeholders. All these persons matter and their interests and aspirations in the management of heritage should not be ignored. I learnt skills in the management of human resources, which is the most important resource of all in the management of heritage. Understanding, preparing and interpretation of financial records and documents is a great skill that I learnt. All these skills have helped me improve on my financial reporting of budgeted programme activities and projects. The skills have also seen me preparing and executing budgets in a much effective way. The training did transform me to a better manager of heritage noting that I have skills that many other managers who underwent conventional heritage training do not possess.
What would you say to anyone considering the course?
I would definitely recommend the course to anyone interested in Heritage management. It is a course worthy of investing time and money in . It gives one a totally different perspective on heritage management that is greatly needed in this era.
What do you think the impact of the Heritage Management Organization (formerly known as the Initiative for Heritage conservation) is on heritage and possibly for your work?
The organisation is so impactful at student level since it organises very informative workshops for students as well as practical sessions where students get an opportunity to apply learnt theory. The organisation also hosts summer schools for heritage practitioners from across the globe other than sourcing for funding for small grant scholarships. This is a big contribution in the management of heritage globally.
As for my work, other than opportunities and experience I had in Elefsina and Greece in general, the organisation has not impacted on my work in Kenya yet. However, I am of course in contact with the director of the heritage organisation for potential prospects for collaboration between the Heritage Organisation and the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO in the Management of heritage. I believe this collaboration once established will have a greater impact on my work as a manager of heritage in Kenya.