As of February 2023, there are 1,157 objects of cultural, natural and mixed heritage from 167 countries on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Among the objects included in the UNESCO List, 7 individual buildings or architectural complexes inherit a prominent place, including the Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans (Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University), Ukraine (2011).
Universities on the UNESCO list perform a double function: on the one hand, – an educational and scientific institution, and on the other – an object of world heritage of humanity. It is nice to note that the high honour of performing a double function fell to the only UNESCO object in Ukraine – the Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University. Since 2011 – the time of inclusion in the UNESCO List – the university, using the new status, has significantly expanded the framework of inter-university cooperation and international cooperation and strengthened the existing potential for the development of research programmes in the field of world heritage preservation on the basis of the thematic programmes and initiatives of UNESCO with reliable support partner – the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO.
In 2012, the UNESCO Site Management Centre was established at the university. Its main tasks are to monitor compliance with the management plan of the Residence as a UNESCO site, which is renewed every 5 years; consideration of urgent issues regarding the protection and preservation of the Residence; communication with the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO, etc. The implementation of the specified tasks is entrusted to 5 departments operating in the UNESCO Centre, in particular the departments of:
- scientific support and relations with state and international institutions;
- architectural restoration;
- informational and analytical and media relations;
- tourist and excursion;
- organizational and project.
The need to train qualified specialists in the field of architecture, the expansion of scientific research and international cooperation led to the creation of the only department of architecture and conservation of UNESCO World Heritage sites at the university in Ukraine. Its activity is aimed at training architects of the educational level "Master" of a wide field of activity with a professional view on the ways of preservation and transformation of the historical and modern urban planning environment by means of architecture with in-depth skills and knowledge in the direction of protection and preservation of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
