Thesis title: Construction and memory politics of Finnish Independence Day narratives, 1917–2023

Co-supervision: UH & UNIBO

Biography: Iisa Aaltonen is a doctoral researcher from the University of Helsinki studying in Doctoral Programme of History and Cultural Heritage. Her ongoing dissertation concerns the construction and memory politics of Finnish Independence Day narratives, 1917–2023. In addition to memory politics and the use of history, her interests cover urban history, particularly the history of Helsinki, as well as museum audience engagement and history culture maintained by museums.

Before starting her dissertation, she has studied both history (MA, University of Helsinki, 2016) and cultural policy (M.Soc.Sc., University of Jyväskylä, 2020). She has worked as a cultural producer in the museum and cultural fields and as a part-time teacher for future cultural managers. She has been co-writing popular histories in Finnish and worked as an editorial assistant for academic publications. She is a board member in Finnish Association for Museum Education Pedaali, Finnish Literature Society of Viipuri and Historical Association (Finland).

Thesis title: Treasures of the Malay World Sultanates: Material Culture as a Political Weapon and Diplomatic Tool Against Colonial Empires (18th - Mid 20th Century

Co-supervision: UP1 & UZH

Biography: My name is Tania Anjani Maulana. I am an Indonesian researcher with a focus on Southeast Asian history, Islamic arts, and museology. The title of my PhD thesis is ‘Treasures of the Malay World Sultanates: Material Culture as a Political Weapon and Diplomatic Tool Against Colonial Empires (18th - Mid 20th Century)’. This work aims to highlight the unique cultural heritage of the region, which is often underrepresented in global discussions of Islamic arts. I have obtained a Master's degree in Heritage and Museums from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and a Bachelor's degree in Economic and Social Administration.

Throughout my academic journey, I have done internships and worked with institutions, including the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, Musée du Louvre, and the National Museum of Indonesia. I have also contributed to international heritage projects, including the restoration of the Wapaue Mosque in Ambon, Indonesia, in collaboration with the ALIPH Foundation and École Française d’Extrême-Orient.

My professional background spans curatorial work, cultural mediation, archaeological missions, and research on museography and museology of Indonesian museums. My goal is to connect Southeast Asia’s rich cultural heritage with the global conversation, ensuring that its history receives the recognition and scholarly attention it deserves on a global platform.

Thesis title: Sounding out the past: Heritage performance through audio storytelling

Co-supervision: JU & KUL

Biography: John Beauchamp is a PhD Researcher at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. He was awarded his BA in Polish and East European Studies in 2004 from University College London and gained his MA in European Studies in 2007 from the Jagiellonian University.

Professionally, John is an audio producer and broadcast journalist. He collaborates with the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub for Central and Eastern Europe in Kraków, producing podcasts on regional heritage topics and assisting with the hub’s operations. He has two decades’ experience in broadcasting and audio production, including management positions at Polskie Radio and Culture.pl, a website supported by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

His research interests lie at the intersection of heritage and digital media with an emphasis on audio storytelling and authenticity, immersive narratives, and industrial heritage.

Thesis title: A Self-Reflective Study in Museums Ethics and Gender Bias Based on Artificial Intelligence Analysis—the M–Museum Leuven and the Prado Museum and more use cases

Co-supervision: UCM & KUL

Biography: Tiancheng Jiang is currently pursuing a PhD in Fine Arts at the UCM. His research focuses on the pedagogy of artistic expression. He holds a master’s degree in Art Education for Sociocultural Institutions from the UCM and a bachelor’s degree in Cultural Industry Management from the Nanjing University of the Arts. Dedicated to promoting intercultural collaboration, he emphasizes inclusivity and innovation in the arts. His work continues to build bridges between artistic expression, education, and cultural studies. He has participated in a variety of research projects, including intercultural queer art education and product development related to cultural heritage.

During his master’s program, he interned at Cápsula Cultura in Madrid, where he took part in exhibitions and related workshops for institutions such as the Fundación Telefónica and the Museo ICO. Through this internship, he became aware of invisible injustices within cultural institutions that could affect the public distribution of cultural heritage and education. This observation led him to his doctoral research topic, aiming to use technological means to improve art education in cultural institutions so that it can better align with contemporary, diverse cultural contexts.

Thesis title: Patrimonialization of the Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er, China: driving force behind the evolution of the traditional tea industry, lever for tourism development and catalyst for their close synergy?

Co-supervision: UP1 & UNIBO

Biography: Jie earned a Bachelor’s degree in French Language in 2014 and has five years of professional experience in culture and tourism. She spent three years working on the promotion of National Route 318, a 5476 km road traversing China from east to west. This experience, along with her fascination for the region’s natural, cultural, and intangible heritage, led her to specialize in heritage protection and valorization. In 2024, Jie completed a Master's in Heritage Management and Tourism Valorization at IREST (Institute of Research and Higher Studies in Tourism), University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. Her thesis focused on the role of winemakers in the preservation and promotion of the Burgundy vineyard’s Climats. She also contributed to research on traditional irrigation practices in France, presenting this work at the 8th UNESCO UNITWIN Conference in 2024.

Passionate about heritage preservation, Jie’s research interests include cultural landscapes, rural heritage, sustainable development, and community involvement. In 2024, she began her PhD in Geography at the University of Paris 1, where she explores the integration of traditional practices and modern dynamics in the heritage management of Jingmai Mountain, the first tea cultural landscape inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023.

Thesis title: Mapping Maoism: musealization, heritage and visual representations of Mao Zedong (1935-2025)

Co-supervision: UP1 & UCM

Biography: Wenjie Sun is currently a first-year doctoral student at Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris, specializing in Geography. Her academic journey has been diverse, combining multiple fields of study across different cultural and intellectual landscapes. With a solid foundation in economics, film study, and art history, Sun's interdisciplinary approach to research highlights the complex relationships between cultural, social, and geographical factors.

Currently, she is focused on the study of Maoist Cartography for her doctoral research, a field she has coined as "Mapping Maoism." Her research explores the intersection of geography, politics, and culture, specifically through the lens of Chinese Red Tourism. She examines how the cultural heritage of Mao Zedong has been transformed into a curated museum experience and a form of national identity-building through the medium of tourism. Her work addresses both the ways in which Mao's legacy is geographically mapped and the implications of these mappings for contemporary Chinese society and politics.

Thesis title: Archaeology and Identity Politics in Rwanda, 2000 to Present

Co-supervision: UP1 & UNIBO

Biography: I am a PhD candidate in Archaeology at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, focusing on African archaeology. My research examines how archaeology intersects with identity politics in Rwanda since 2000, particularly how material culture and heritage shape national narratives and contribute to reconciliation efforts in a post-conflict context.

My academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in War Studies at King’s College London, followed by a Master’s in African Studies at SOAS, University of London. More recently, I completed a Master’s in Archaeology, specializing in African archaeology, at Université Paris 1. Through these studies, I developed an interdisciplinary perspective that combines archaeology, history, and anthropology.

I approach my research with a deep interest in understanding the societal impacts of archaeology, striving to uncover how heritage can be a tool for dialogue and inclusivity. I aim to contribute to the broader conversation about the role of archaeology in modern African societies. As someone who values collaboration and learning, I am committed to producing thoughtful research that bridges academic inquiry and real-world applications.

Thesis title: Analysing the socio-spatial transformation and impact of commercially-led tourism gentrification of historic district in China

Co-supervision: UP1 & UNIBO

Biography: Chenjie Wen is a first-year PhD student at the Faculty of Geography, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Design from the University of South China and a Master’s degree in Engineering from Hunan Agricultural University. Despite being rooted in the field of landscape architecture, her passion for cultural places has led her to consistently reflect on the relationship between cultural heritage, tourism, and commercialization.

Her current doctoral research focuses on exploring the social and spatial transformations brought about by the gentrification of historical districts in Changsha, China. She also seeks to investigate the similarities and differences between the gentrification phenomena in Changsha and Paris.

Beyond academia, she is a storyteller who captures stories through the lens, a multilingual learner, and a violin enthusiast.

Thesis title: Living Laboratory: Edinburgh's 'Festival City', Urban World Heritage, and Global Climate Change

Co-supervision: UoE & UP1

Biography: PhD candidate in Architecture at the University of Edinburgh. The PhD research focuses on the evolution and application of the concept of "authenticity" within urban UNESCO World Heritage sites at risk from ecological crisis. The research aims to advance Global Climate Change mitigation and response, local and international governance, and the role of international organizations in promoting dynamic, best-practice policies applicable to historic urban contexts, in a manner sensitive to local cultural and environmental specificities.

Thesis title: The Digitalisation of Museums: a case study of Nordic national museums

Co-supervision: UH & UP1

Biography: PhD candidate in the History and Cultural Heritage Doctoral School of the University of Helsinki. My research interests are digital cultural heritage, digitalization of cultural institutions and cultural heritage public policy. I am interested in how cultural heritage institutions reform their governance models and management practices and how digitalization, AI and the metaverse change museum professions.

I hold a Master in Public Administration from the Ecole nationale d’administration, France, a Master in European Politics and Administration from the College of Europe, Belgium and a Master in Cultural Project Management (Maîtrise Conception et mise en oeuvre de projets culturels) from the Université de Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne, France.