The Turin School of Development in Italy announces a Masters programme in World Heritage and Cultural Projects for Development. Applications invited - course starts October 2012.

Cultural activities are a major contributor to national development, job creation and social cohesion. The master in World Heritage and Cultural Projects for Development aims to impart the necessary competencies and skills to participants in the conservation and promotion of World Heritage Sites as well as in the conceptualization of sustainable projects designed around a wide spectrum of cultural activities in the fields of natural and cultural heritage, creative industries, museums and tourism.

The Programme provides a solid foundation in a variety of cultural economics topics and the value chain of cultural and natural sites. It explores in detail the economic, social, institutional and legal considerations that govern the diverse categories of UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites.

The Programme also puts emphasis on strategic management competencies for the preservation and promotion of these sites as well as on monitoring the efficacy and adequacy of site management plans and associated cultural projects.

The Master is designed by the University of Torino , the Politecnico di Torino , the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO), and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

ICCROM, as intergovernmental organization dedicated to the conservation of cultural heritage, and SiTI, as a research institute on innovation and socio-economic growth, are associated with this initiative in their respective areas of expertise. University Paris 1 Sorbonne -Pantheon and the Macquarie University of Sydney - Australia, two top universities in the international panorama, are partners of the Master.

The International Research Centre on the Economics of Culture and World Heritage Studies (Category 2 Centre Turin) under the auspices of UNESCO founded by Professor Santagata is also associated with the Master. This centre is located at the Venaria Reale World Heritage Site in Turin, allowing students to visit and study this beautiful palace.

Deadline for application:

There are two deadlines for submitting applications. There is an early bird deadline of 3 June 2012, and a final deadline of 2 September 2012.

Course Structure:

The Master will take place from 15 October 2012 and is divided into three major learning cycles.

The first cycle will be conducted through a distance learning component that will start on 15 October 2012 and will end on 21 December 2012.

The second cycle, from 28 January 2013 to 22 May 2013, is a face-to-face learning period that will be held in Turin, Italy, at the International Training Centre of the ILO. Class attendance is compulsory for the entire period.

The third cycle, from 23 May 2012 to 30 September 2013, will be a research and study period during which the students may attend internships activities and are expected to finalize their final project.

More information on how to apply