International Cooperation for Professional Training in Heritage Conservation Erasmus Project

Project Title

International Cooperation for Professional Training in Heritage Conservation

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Quality Assurance; Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Context and needs:

The project is based on a long term cooperation among the two partners 1/ AINova (SK) and 2/ VFB (AT) seated in the Kartause Mauerbach (Carthusian Monastery of Mauerbach) representing also Information and Training Centre of the Austrian Federal Office for the Protection of Monuments. This SK-AT cooperation has been based mainly via the exchange of lecturers (from 1997-ongoing) thanks to the support of the Austrian Embassy in Bratislava – Austrian lecturers were teaching for the educational program at AINova entitled Built Heritage Conservation and Development Studies (1997-2012) and also for the School of Traditional Building Crafts at AINova (2014-ongoing). The long lasting SK-AT cooperation will be enlarged by a new partner – 3/ University of Pardubice – Faculty of Art Restoration in Litomyšl (CZ).

There is a need in all counties (SK, CZ, AT) for a review of the current situation in the field of professional trainings in tangible heritage conservation. There are various programs, courses, hands-on trainings of different quality from various providers. It is necessary to sum up all contents of these trainings in form of the comparative analysis. That is a first step leading to a future consistent quality management through national/international networking. Another problem is an insufficient training or even a total absence of highly needed specific and systematic training for some target groups (especially in SK). In CZ, the portfolio of trainings in conservation and restoration of monuments is better but there is a lack of long-term system or methodology for postuniversity or lifelong learning.

The project is in line with The Blueprint – strategic document initiated by UNESCO/World Heritage Centre. The document was elaborated jointly by the Steering Group for World Heritage Sites, the Advisory Body ICCROM and the WHC. It is based on the Training and Capacity-Building Questionnaire sent out to the CESEE countries in 2012. The Blueprint stated the necessity of further training and capacity building in the field of heritage conservation, management and development.

The project is also in line with The Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (FARO CONVENTION) which emphasizes the importance of heritage in relation to human rights and democracy and promotes wider understanding of heritage and its relationship to communities and society refers to importance of training and lifelong education in Article 7 and 13 (Section II). The Article 7 focuses on Cultural heritage and dialogue mentions the education and training as a key tool for development of dialogue and understanding among various stakeholders and communities. The Article 13 refers to importance to of training, education, exchange of knowledge and skills as a tool for reinforcement of cultural heritage values for society.

Objectives:

The objective is:
– To contribute to development and upgrading of professional trainings in tangible heritage conservation on the basis of SK-AT-CZ international cooperation.
The specific objectives are:
– To compile a comparative analysis (IO1) about the professional training possibilities in the field of heritage conservation and development in particular countries (SK, CZ, AT).
– To outline high quality training programs (IO2) for the mentioned target groups.

Target groups:

– Craftsmen
– Staff of monuments boards/institutes
– Staff of local and regional governments
– Owners of cultural heritage sites
– Architects and civil engineers

Results and impact:

The results of the project are ready to use curricula of training programs that are designed for all three countries and for the defined target groups. They will be structured, transferable, modular and interdisciplinary. In the long term (after realisation of training) the impact on the target groups will be:
– increased professional capacities of participants;
– increased opportunities for international mobility;
– better understanding of the theory and practice of heritage conservation;
– better understanding of the management of cultural heritage and opportunities for its valorisation and sustainable use for local/regional development;
– enhanced abilities for interdisciplinary approach to heritage preservation and development.
In the long term, the impact on stakeholders will be:
– increased institutional capacities;
– better defined qualification standards for professionals in the heritage preservation;
– increased quality of heritage preservation;
– increased valorisation of cultural heritage in local/regional development;
– increased international cooperation to preserve common European heritage.

The project contributes to the preservation and development of the European cultural heritage. The transnational cooperation of partners from SK, AT and CZ is in line with the idea of EUROPEAN YEAR OF CULTURAL HERITAGE (realized in 2018) as it takes the heritage as a common shared asset that should be jointly preserved.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 299365 Eur

Project Coordinator

ACADEMIA ISTROPOLITANA NOVA & Country: SK

Project Partners

• FORDERUNG DER BAUDENKMALPFLEGE VEREIN
• UNIVERZITA PARDUBICE