Preserving Intangible Heritage (11.2.6)

Projects recording or preserving local intangible heritage such as folklore, language, and traditions.

Introduction:

Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU) demonstrates a deep commitment to safeguarding Jordan’s intangible cultural heritage including folklore, oral history, local traditions, storytelling, cultural crafts, traditional architecture, and community identity—through targeted academic programs, public workshops, cultural documentation projects, and community-engagement activities.

Guided by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Support Policy and AAU’s strategic orientation toward cultural sustainability, the university integrates intangible-heritage preservation into teaching, design studios, research projects, community partnerships, and public art events.

AAU actively supports student initiatives and academic outputs that document traditional Jordanian narratives, architectural identity, local crafts, indigenous design styles, women’s cultural contributions, and community-based knowledge systems.
Through field visits, cultural workshops, heritage research, and public exhibitions, AAU strengthens the transmission of intangible heritage to younger generations and contributes to SDG 11’s global mandate to protect cultural identity and promote sustainable communities.

Centers and Departments:

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1. Faculty of Architecture & Design

Specializes in documenting traditional Jordanian architectural identity, cultural patterns, urban memory, and vernacular design as part of preserving intangible heritage.

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2. Global Engagement Center (GEC)

Facilitates cultural exchange programs, multilingual storytelling events, and collaborations that preserve oral histories and traditional expressions.

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3. Language Center (LC)

Promotes the preservation of local language expressions, oral traditions, and cultural literacy through public workshops, language-awareness programs, and community storytelling activities.

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4. Teaching and Learning Center (TLC)

Hosts cultural-knowledge workshops, reflective-learning activities, and heritage-focused educational programs that help transfer intangible cultural skills to students and local communities.

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5. Sustainability and International Ranking Center (SIRC)

Oversees the documentation, reporting, and policy alignment of intangible-heritage preservation activities with SDG11, ensuring that cultural-preservation initiatives are publicly accessible and sustainably managed.

Activities:

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1. Field Visits to Cultural Heritage Sites (Jerash, Jabal Al-Qala’a, Al-Muwaqqar)

These visits helped students observe, document, and study traditional stories, rituals, architectural identity, and heritage narratives connected to these historic sites.

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2. Women on the Green Path – National Cultural Workshop

Included oral storytelling, traditional environmental practices, community narratives, and women's cultural contributions to sustainability and heritage.

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3. Creative Workshops on AI-Based Cultural Design

Workshops enabled students to blend traditional Jordanian cultural patterns with modern AI design tools preserving visual heritage through new digital techniques.

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4. Public Exhibition on Furniture Heritage & Traditional Crafts – AI in Furniture Design

This exhibition preserved cultural craftsmanship by reinterpreting traditional Jordanian furniture motifs and artisanal design through AI-driven creativity.

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5. Participation in National Housing Study (Culturally Appropriate Housing)

AAU contributed to research on culturally suitable housing standards in Jordan, preserving traditional living patterns, family structures, and community values.

Impact Evaluation & Development Plan

A . Performance Evaluation

Structured Assessment Tools

AAU uses structured cultural-preservation tools including: • heritage documentation rubrics,
• oral-history interview checklists,
• cultural-pattern analysis frameworks,
• project-based community heritage evaluations,
• reflective heritage-learning assessments.

Annual Assessment Cycles

Evaluations measure: • student engagement in cultural projects,
• documentation of traditional practices,
• public participation in heritage workshops,
• integration of intangible culture in design curricula,
• preservation outputs (sketches, recordings, models).

Quantitative & Qualitative Indicators

Indicators include: • number of cultural workshops organized annually,
• heritage-documentation projects completed,
• community participants involved,
• qualitative narratives collected,
• student portfolios documenting traditional heritage.

Integration with Curriculum

Intangible-heritage preservation is embedded in: • architecture & interior design studios,
• urban-heritage research modules,
• cultural design courses,
• capstone projects documenting traditional narratives.

Transparency and Public Reporting

All data are published through:
• AAU Sustainability Portal
• SDG11 Executive Report
• Sustainability Report 2024–2025
ensuring public access and transparency.

B. Development Actions

Action 1: Oral Heritage Documentation Project

Launch a university-led initiative to document local traditional stories, dialects, and narratives. Target: Archive 100 stories by 2027.

Action 2: Traditional Craft Revival Program

Host public workshops on traditional crafts such as weaving, furniture-making, and handcraft design. Target: 6 community workshops annually.

Action 3: Digital Intangible Heritage Archive

Create an online platform showcasing oral histories, traditional cultural patterns, and heritage-based design projects. Target: Operational by 2026.

Action 4: Community Heritage Learning Circles

Conduct monthly cultural discussions in partnership with local communities. Target: 12 activities per year.

Action 5: Municipal Cultural Collaboration

Partner with municipalities to document local cultural practices and integrate them into urban planning.
Target: 3 joint cultural-preservation projects annually.

C. Benchmarking & Best Practice

AAU benchmarks its intangible-heritage framework against leading universities: • University of Cambridge – Cultural Memory & Heritage
• University of British Columbia – Indigenous Cultural Preservation
• University of Melbourne – Urban Cultural Identity
• University of Gothenburg – Folklore Documentation

Best Practices Adopted

oral tradition archiving• digital preservation of cultural knowledge
• community engagement in heritage protection
• culturally appropriate design methods
• public-access cultural programs

Localization to Jordan’s Context

Aligned with: • Ministry of Culture intangible heritage frameworks
• National cultural identity preservation strategies
• AAU Arts & Cultural Heritage Support Policy
• Public Arts Events Procedure

Future Goal (by 2028)

Establish the AAU Intangible Heritage Documentation Center, dedicated to recording, archiving, and showcasing Jordanian cultural memory, folklore, and traditional craftsmanship.

Institutional Integration Summary

Through coordinated efforts among the Faculty of Architecture & Design, GEC, LC, TLC, and SIRC, AAU ensures that intangible cultural heritage is actively recorded, preserved, and shared with both academic and public audiences.
These initiatives strengthen AAU’s contribution to SDG11 by safeguarding cultural identity, honoring community traditions, and promoting cultural sustainability in Jordan and the region.