From the 10th to the 14th of November 2025, ICOM will hold its 27th General Conference in Dubai
“The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities”

This year, COMCOL will join forces with various committees during the program

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SESSION A 17:  Wednesday November 12, 13.00-14.30, Sheikh Maktoum Hall D:

Training the Next Generation of Museum Professionals: Bridging Gaps, Breaking Barriers

For decades, ICOM committee members have been at the forefront of both the theoretical and practical sides of training museum professionals. With over 250 master’s and doctoral-level programs offered globally, alongside alternative pathways like internships and apprenticeships, it begs the question: Are today’s Museum Studies programs truly equipping professionals for the rapidly evolving needs of contemporary museums?

Together with ICOFOM and ICTOP we organise a joint session aiming to dive deep into the pressing issues surrounding the training of tomorrow’s museum scholars and professionals. What are the ethical and practical implications of the growing number of educational programs? Are we flooding the market with too many graduates for too few positions, or are there still vast gaps in training opportunities, particularly in underserved regions? And most critically, are these programs truly aligning with what the museum sector needs today? How do these trainings connect theories and practices in order to get critical points of view and think what museums are for? This meeting will spark a conversation that bridges the gap between education and real-world museum needs, bringing together voices from across the globe to explore solutions, share strategies, and ultimately, shape the future of museum training.

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SESSION B 19: Wednesday November 12, 14.45 – 16.15, Room Dubai D:

Resilient future. Enhancing collection documentation
Session related to the Icom Comcol and Icom Georgia Solidarity Project 2025

Museums in Georgia and Azerbaijan face significant challenges due to inadequate documentation, impacting their ability to safeguard collections and support sustainable practices during crises. This ICOM Solidarity Project 2025 seeks to address these issues through collaborative research, capacity building, and knowledge exchange on collection management and documentation.

The session in Dubai starts with a presentation of survey and interview results on collection documentation en of the planned trainings in Georgia and Azerbeidjan. After this, four discussants,  from COMCOL and ICOM Documentation, reflect on the situation in the two countries and highlight good practices from their own field of experience. Adding good practices and inspiration is also asked to the audience in this interactive session. Crucial topics are documentation standards, digitalization techniques, participative citizen science and crisis preparedness.

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SESSION C 14: Thursday November 13, 14.00-16.00, Room Al Ain K:

Collecting in times of big divides organised by ICOM COMCOL, ICOM Germany, ICOM Austria

This panel discussion will explore the role of museum collections and the act of collecting in the context of increasing societal division. In light of ICOM’s new museum definition — enhancing diversity, inclusivity, and community participation — the conversation will examine collecting practices in times of urgent social, political, and environmental challenges, including climate change, armed conflicts, social unrest, and the erosion of democratic structures.

The panel will consider the complex realities faced by museum professionals working with collections today, from practical and ethical challenges to institutional responsibilities. This includes addressing the importance of transparency and accountability in collecting and curatorial decisions. The current times also put pressure on us as professionals personally, navigating division and uncertainty. How to care for the task – and for ourselves? What issues and challenges are museum professionals facing worldwide, and what strategies and solutions are or can be developed to address them?

Key themes will include the challenges and potential of temporary collecting, the role of community collaboration, and the use of collections to foster dialogue, understanding, and social cohesion in divided contexts. The discussion will also address the risks of instrumentalisation of collections. Attention will be given to the diversity of museum types and contexts, recognising that challenges and responses vary widely.

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International Committees day : Saturday November 15, 08.80-20.00, Sharjah (mandatory registration)