NOTE: The seminar is a joint seminar with the course of Bruno Maldoner - the seminars built on each other and both have to be attended for successful completion!

The seminar gives students an overview of international frameworks and organizations in the field of cultural heritage preservation and related education, such as UNESCO, ICCROM, ICOM, ICOMOS, ENCORE, E.C.C.O.. Their history, structures and objectives as well as their research, education and training activities are discussed and representatives of these organizations are invited as guest lectures for intensified exchange. Students will study, analyse and present relevant conventions, charters and guidelines, mainly issued by these before mentioned organizations. Together internationally accepted principles of conservation deriving from these texts are discussed. A particular focus is on the World Heritage Convention, the List of World Heritage and the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. The impact of these international documents on national perspectives and personal views and their relevance for professionals and the wide public are analysed. 

Students will be provided with essential knowledge on frameworks, players, conventions and guidelines, which have shaped today’s international conservation arena. Knowledge, which is essential for their professional career and (international) work as conservator. Through text analyses and interpretation they acquire further thematic knowledge and skills to interpret international charters, conventions and related documents.

Examination modalities will be announced in the first unit