The International Alliance for Teaching Museology in University (IATMU) was established in 2024 under the initiative of Zhejiang University. It is a cross-regional academic alliance aimed at promoting the professionalization, collaboration, and sustainable development of global museum education and talent cultivation.
Context: Despite the growing number and diversity of museums worldwide, the sector faces challenges such as an imbalance in the supply and demand of professionals and insufficient expertise, which hinder transformation and upgrading.
Initiative: Zhejiang University, in collaboration with several leading global higher education institutions, founded the Alliance.
Date of Establishment: November 23, 2024. The inauguration ceremony was held at the Museum of Art and Archaeology at Zhejiang University, alongside the 2024 International University Symposium on Professional Museum Education.
Founding Act: Member institutions participating in person jointly signed the Founding Consensus of the International Alliance for Teaching Museology in University.
Core Charter Information: The Charter of the IATMU was adopted on November 23, 2024, in Hangzhou, China. Serving as the foundational document of the organization, it is defined and supplemented by internal regulations and a code of ethics. All actions of the Alliance shall be based on the principles of honesty, fairness, and mutual respect, and shall serve the goals of professional museum education and talent development.
Mission of the Alliance: To encourage and advance the professionalization, collaboration, and sustainable development of museum education and talent cultivation worldwide, and to deepen global cooperation, resource sharing, and institutional synergy in professional museum education and training.
The International Alliance for Teaching Museology in University (IATMU) facilitates collaboration and mutual support among universities, educators, and professionals across nations. It represents, promotes, and disseminates knowledge related to professional museum education, museological research, and the cultivation of museum talent.
As a cross-regional academic alliance, the IATMU aims to transcend geographical and disciplinary boundaries, foster global cooperation, enable resource mobility, and support the establishment of shared mechanisms in museum education and talent development. Through these efforts, the Alliance strives to cultivate high-quality professionals in the museum sector and drive innovation, transformation, and progress in museums globally.
