The UNESCO Category 2 Centre for World Natural Heritage Management and Training for Asia and the Pacific Region at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun (UNESCO C2C at WII), inaugurated the Master’s Course in Heritage Conservation and Management on 1^st July 2019. In an inaugural function, graced by Chief Guest, Dr Nitin Kumar Pethani, Vice Chancellor of Saurashtra University, and Guests of Honour, Dr G.C. Bhimani, Saurashtra University, and Dr Ravindra Singh, Former Secretary, Ministry of Culture, the first batch of students were ushered in. In his welcome address, Dr G.S. Rawat, Dean, Faculty of Wildlife Science, WII, expressed his pleasure that ten enthusiastic, motivated students from diverse backgrounds have been selected for this course (see profile: link http://wii.gov.in/msc_student_heritage) and wished them the best for the term of their stay at WII. Dr V.B. Mathur, Director, WII, in his opening remarks explained on how the UNESCO C2C developed the course in line with the education mandate of the Centre. He emphasised that this course is interdisciplinary in nature and advances the sustainability science through the prism of heritage and will train students to evolve into competent heritage professionals. He added that the course is designed to combine theoretical and methodological integration of ecological sciences, social sciences, humanities and heritage studies. The students of the 1^st Batch of Master’s Course in Heritage Conservation and Management were introduced by the Course Director, Dr Malvika Onial. Dr G.C. Bhimani welcomed the students of both the courses and enlightened the audience on the importance of the day of 1^st July in history as the beginning of Van Mahotsav in our country every year. Subsequently, Dr Ravindra Singh expressed his hope for the students to successfully complete their course and contribute to natural and cultural heritage conservation. Finally, Dr Nitin Kumar Pethani emphasized the need and importance of this course in enhancing the capacity for heritage protection and management.