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Commonwealth Heritage Forum and NUS-ArCLab launch summer school on heritage skills and conservation
by NUS News
The Introduction to Heritage Skills and Technology for Conservation summer school opened with expert talks and site visits, setting the stage for two weeks of heritage skills training in Singapore.
The National University of Singapore’s Architectural Conservation Laboratory (NUS-ArCLab) and the Commonwealth Heritage Forum (CHF) have launched the Introduction to Heritage Skills and Technology for Conservation, a two-week summer school on heritage skills and technology for conservation. Run by NUS-ArCLab and funded by CHF, this programme brings together 24 selected participants for lectures, hands-on workshops and site visits focused on stained glass, timber and lime.
Held from 25 June to 7 July 2026, the programme marks the first collaboration between NUS-ArCLab and the Commonwealth Heritage Forum on a heritage and conservation skills training initiative in Singapore. NUS-ArCLab was established in November 2022 as a research and training centre within the Department of Architecture under the College of Design and Engineering at NUS.
Opening addresses mark start of programme
Day One of the summer school, held at NUS-ArCLab, opened with welcome addresses by Associate Professor Cheah Kok Ming, Deputy Head (Architecture), and Lucy Hughes, Acting British High Commissioner to Singapore. In her remarks, Hughes underscored the importance of conservation in shaping Singapore’s historical narrative, noting that elements of the island’s heritage can still be seen throughout the country.
This was followed by a talk by Francis Maude, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Heritage Forum, on the organisation’s role in strengthening traditional craft skills, setting the tone for the summer school’s emphasis on knowledge-sharing and skills development across the Commonwealth.
Participants also gained insights into the role of values in heritage management through a presentation by Dr Nikhil Joshi (Architecture), Principal Investigator at NUS-ArCLab, which emphasised the importance of thoughtful conservation approaches in safeguarding built heritage.
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