Over the last centuries, universities have been centres where knowledge has been created, taught and disseminated. As such, they have been producing and gathering artefacts, specimens, books, manuscripts, photographs, and documents of all kind, that have come to constitute what we regard today as university heritage. From anatomical theatres to specifically designed buildings, from chemical laboratories to offices where everyday activities were held, places marked by the life of universities can be regarded as part of their heritage as well.

How was universities’ current heritage shaped throughout time? How did the primary scope(s) and the successive uses, roles and functions of objects, collections or buildings operate the shaping and reshaping of university heritage? And what are the challenges this heritage has to face today? Furthermore, how is the “material” currently generated by universities on their everyday researching and teaching selected as part of the heritage? Those who are involved in heritage matters can contribute to shape the newly produced and future heritage of universities, but on which criteria? What to keep, how to preserve it? And what for?