Cultural Heritage Review

Closing conference only the beginning for ELAICH program

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:39:00 +0000

ELAICH (Educational Linkage Approach in Cultural Heritage) will be holding its closing conference on January 30, but its legacy will live on in the form of its online toolkit and through the key principles and teaching structure it has developed over the past two years.

At the closing conference, the eLAICH Consortium will present its hands-on eLAICH educational Toolkit, as well as outlining its overall contribution to raising awareness of cultural heritage and preservation among today’s youth.

The specially developed ELAICH Toolkit will provide essential tools to educators and other stakeholders in order to introduce the values of cultural heritage and challenges of its preservation to teenagers.

The conference will also be a chance for all those who have been involved in the program, so far, to discuss their role in educating the youth and developing the curriculum.

In addition, decision makers and experts in the areas of education and cultural heritage conservation, including high school managers, educators in science, arts & history, representatives from authorities and non-government organizations are also encouraged to attend.

Senior officials from international and national education and heritage authorities and organizations, among others, the European Union, Israel, Greece, Italy and Malta have already confirmed their participation.

Just one day before the closing conference, a first-of-its kind workshop will take place to provide local Israeli educators with the tools needed to teach 9th through 12 graders about the importance of cultural heritage and preservation of historic sites.

ELAICH’s Closing Conference will be held at the Butler Auditorium, Samuel Neaman Institute, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa on January 30, from 9 am to 6 pm.

To register

ELAICH to launch cultural heritage and historic preservation workshop for educators in Israel

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:56:00 +0000

ELAICH will hold a workshop this month in Israel to provide local educators with the tools needed to teach 9th through 12 graders about the importance of cultural heritage and preservation of historic sites.

To be held on January 29th at the Hebrew Reali School, Carmel Center Campus in Haifa, the workshop will feature the work already undertaken over the past two years by ELAICH, a project supported by the European Union’s Euromed Heritage 4 program.

To date, ELIACH has been piloted in Israel, Turkey, Greece, Malta and Jordan, where groups of teenagers have learnt about the factors that shape or destroys physical heritage. The students have also grasped an understanding of the techniques that can help save history for future generations to enjoy.

This past summer, Israel’s Education Ministry said that it was already exploring the opportunity to make conservation and renovation of heritage sites part of the national curriculum.

ELAICH, which was initiated by professors at Haifa’s Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, provides a comprehensive program in cultural heritage and preservation, as well as an online tool kit so that educators can continue to update their skills as they teach.

Leading preservation and conservation bodies support ELAICH’s Cultural Heritage Toolkit

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:01:00 +0000

More than 60 participants from large international bodies and senior officials from European and Mediterranean countries participated in a special workshop conducted by the ELAICH (Educational Linkage Approach in Cultural Heritage) project in Venice, Italy.

Participants included senior officials from Greece, Italy, Belgium, Malta, Algeria, Morocco and Israel, as well as decision makers and experts in the areas of education and cultural heritage conservation, including high school managers, educators in science, arts and history, representatives from authorities and NGOs related to cultural heritage conservation. Representatives from local, regional and national government institutions from the entire Mediterranean Sea Basin and the EU also attended.

“Participants were very excited about the ELAICH methodology,” said Dr. Anna Lobovikov-Katz, ELAICH’s coordinator. “We also discussed the possible implementation of the toolkit and we obtained the support of leading bodies such as UNESCO and ICOMOS (the International Council on Monuments and Sites) which were very positive about it.”

Participants discussed the possible adoption of the ELAICH Toolkit and ways of implementing and incorporating the toolkit into the educational systems of participating countries and the conservation and educational activities of the organizations.

The toolkit is particularly aimed at providing tools for educators to introduce the values of cultural heritage to the general public and to high school students in particular.

The toolkit provides traditional workshop materials integrated with modern e-learning activities through a specially developed e-learning system (eLAICH). The toolkit, which is based upon a scientifically validated and tested educational methodology, will enable teachers to manage the toolkit’s educational modules in order to allow them to better guide their students through the process of learning the value of cultural heritage.

ELAICH launches interactive network of cultural heritage sites

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:56:00 +0000

ELAICH (Educational Linkage Approach in Cultural Heritage) has launched a new initiative to pull together and highlight the myriad of cultural heritage sites that can be used by facilitators of its educational program.

The “ELAICH Sites Network" was launched at a special workshop for public officials from European and Mediterranean countries that was held at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy on 7–9 November, 2011.

Removing a poultice from a wall

The new initiative aims to ensure facilitation of its educational toolkit through a comprehensive list of sites that will facilitate field visits, in obvious coordination with relevant conservation, cultural authorities and organizations in the various regions.

In a letter sent out to the growing number of institutions joining ELAICH or interested in becoming part of this exciting program, organizations state their intention to join and contribute to this network, as well as ELAICH’s overall objectives: “to strengthen and consolidate mutual understanding and dialogue between cultures through the promotion of and public awareness-raising in cultural heritage.“

ELAICH’s Sites Network, will enhance the recently created educational toolkit, with is accessible through the program’s e-learning system and will compete the on-site learning program. This is another step to raising awareness of the importance of cultural heritage in our countries to the general public with an emphasis on youth.

ELAICH to present new educational toolkit to public officials in a workshop in Venice

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:16:00 +0000

The ELAICH Project will host a special workshop for public officials from European and Mediterranean countries at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy from 7–9 November.

Experts working with ELAICH will present the principal components of the ELAICH Toolkit which is particularly aimed at providing tools for educators to introduce the values of cultural heritage to the general public and in particular to high school students.

Senior officials from the European Union (EU), Israel, Greece, Italy and Malta, among other countries, have already confirmed their participation. Participants include decision makers and experts in the areas of education and cultural heritage conservation, including high school managers, educators in science, arts and history, representatives from authorities and NGOs related to cultural heritage conservation as well as relevant local, regional and national government institutions from the entire Mediterranean Sea Basin and the EU.

“The special workshop will provide an excellent opportunity for us to share ELAICH’s achievements and knowledge with public officials,” said Dr. Anna Lobovikov-Katz, coordinator of ELAICH. “At the workshop we would like to explore together how to apply the ELAICH methodology and toolkit to educate people to preserve their cultural heritage.”

The toolkit provides traditional workshop materials integrated with modern e-learning activities through a specially developed e-learning system (eLAICH).

The toolkit, which is based upon a scientifically validated and tested educational methodology, will enable teachers to manage the toolkit’s educational modules in order to allow them to better guide their students through the process of learning the worth of cultural heritage.

The workshop for public officials will demonstrate the values of the toolkit and the importance of including it in programs aimed at the general public and youth in particular.

Israel mulls adding cultural heritage to national curriculum

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:09:00 +0000

The Israeli Ministry of Education is considering making conservation and renovation of heritage sites part of the national curriculum, based on the learning module prepared by the ELAICH (Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage).

In an article published in The Jerusalem Post, Dr. Michael Grunzveig, the Education Ministry’s inspector of the study of Israel and archeology, said the ministry was exploring the possibility of introducing such a course.

“We have already had one meeting with educators about this idea, and we are planning to promote this option and integrate it into the learning program over the next few years. Hopefully, it will eventually become a separate unit where students can create projects and assignments on the subject,” Grunzveig said.

The article in the Post featured the recent one-week course in Amman organized by ELAICH, with the participation of some 20 high school students from Jordan and Malta.

The report describes the EU-funded ELAICH as a "far-reaching, multifaceted project, that pulled together some of the region’s most renowned conservationists, archeologists, historical architects and other experts to share their detailed knowledge with young people from Israel, Turkey and Greece, as well as Malta and Jordan.”

Dr. Anna Lobovikov-Katz, ELAICH coordinator from the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, told the Post that while the knowledge and tools used to preserve cultural heritage had greatly improved in recent years, public awareness of the importance of historical sites was still very low.

“We do not expect students to become professionals in the fields of preservation, conservation, archeology or architecture, but we hope this course will give them basic theoretical knowledge so they can understand and appreciate what exactly cultural heritage is,” Dr. Lobovikov-Katz said.

Students from Jordan and Malta in ELAICh course in Amman

Roberta De Angelis, a trained conservationist based at the University of Malta, who worked with Maltese students earlier this year to study a local parish church in Valletta as part of the ELAICH course there told the Post that “History is very fragile. As conservationists, we are very frustrated. People do not understand that we need to preserve these sites for future generations, and they think that because they cannot always see the erosion, there is nothing to worry about.”

ELAICH concludes joint Jordanian-Maltese Amman cultural heritage course

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:49:00 +0000

The ELAICH Project has concluded a one-week course in Amman with the participation of some 20 high school students from Jordan and Malta.

Participants noted that the students cooperated extremely well with each other, learning about topics relating to preservation of cultural heritages. The course included on-site lectures from conservation, archaeology, architecture and history experts.

ELAICH course in Amman

Hani Hazaimeh, a reporter from The Jordan Times, who accompanied the group on its visit to the ancient city of Petra, noted that the course had given the teenage students valuable insight into the 2,000-year-old capital of Nabataean civilization.

“It is important for us to know about the history of other nations… I am not so interested in archaeology, but this should not prevent me from learning about ancient civilizations,” Martina Bugelli, a Maltese student told The Jordan Times. “History does not belong to a certain country; it is a world heritage and I think that everyone should learn how past generations lived.”

Bugelli noted that her visit and meeting with Jordanian students broadened her perception of other nations along the Mediterranean coast.

Following a session held at the Amman Citadel, Jordanian student Taleen Oghlanian said that before the course, she had no interest whatsoever in archaeology.

“Now I have much to tell my friends at school and I will encourage everyone to come and learn more about the historical sites that Jordan has no shortage of,” the16-year-old told The Jordan Times.

“This is my first visit to the Citadel although I have lived in Amman all my life,” added Kristy Dabies, one of 15 Jordanian students participating in the course.

She said that the ELAICH program was an excellent opportunity to meet students from other countries and to exchange views and ideas about their interests and cultural heritages.

Christophe Graz, assigned by the EU to monitor the project’s progress and implementation, told the English daily that the project managers had already approached government officials about incorporating the project into the education systems of these countries.

“The main challenges we are facing are how to make it sustainable and get governments interested,” Graz told The Jordan Times.

“This is a unique opportunity to encourage international intercultural dialogue among course participants in the field of cultural heritage protection,” said Dr. Anna Lobovikov-Katz, from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and coordinator of ELAICH.

“By bringing together high school students from Jordan and Malta for five full days, we can demonstrate the effectiveness of the special educational tool kit developed by ELAICH.”

New Euromed cultural heritage photography competition

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 08:57:00 +0000

Euromed Heritage 4, which is funding the ELAICH Project, will be holding a special digital photography competition in attempt to promote Euro-Mediterranean cultural heritage.

The 4th edition of the International Digital Photography Award - “Crossing Viewpoints” - is aimed at increasing public awareness to national and regional cultural legacy and encourages the appropriation of this rich heritage.

This year’s theme is: “Mediterranean cities as space of socialisation” and the competition is open to the general public. Deadline for the reception of photographs and accompanying material is 15th September 2011.

“The towns and cities in the Mediterranean are dynamic, living places that bring together different cultures, generations and types of people,” Euromed Heritage 4 declared in a statement.

“Their meeting spaces are many and varied: traditional city spaces like the rooftops of dwellings and the hammams; religious spaces, like mosques, churches or cemeteries; leisure spaces such as sports venues and gardens; commercial spaces like markets and souks; spaces of passage such as porches, spaces for family celebration like the courtyards of houses, and spaces for religious or cultural celebrations such as public squares, etc."

“To socialize is to celebrate life, and this act is set in a specific physical space, recreating the intangibility of the event,” the statement added.

Euromed said that some 30 photographs would be selected by a jury comprised of professional photographers and specialists in the field of cultural heritage. The winner will be invited to attend the final conference of the Euromed Heritage program.

Students from Jordan and Malta will jointly participate in a special ELAICH course on cultural preservation in Amman

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:04:00 +0000

The ELAICH (Educational linkage approach in cultural heritage) Project will hold a special course in Amman, Jordan, July 10–15, 2011. The course will bring together high school students from Jordan and Malta, who will study together in a unique cultural preservation project.

Temple of Hercules, Citadel, Amman, Jordan

Participants in course in Amman will include groups of Jordanian and Maltese students, who participated in a similar ELAICH course in Malta earlier this year.

Together, the students will learn about topics relating to preservation of cultural heritages, visit conservation sites and will participate in an in-situ session in the Amman Citadel.

Students will learn about:

Air pollution and preventive conservation
Conservation processes, materials and techniques
Historical building materials
Deterioration

Participants in the project, which is part of the Euromed Heritage 4 Programme, will hear lectures given by ELAICH’s scientific staff, including some of the leading experts in the cultural heritage field such as Prof. Rene Van Grieken (University of Antwerp), Prof. Antonia Moropoulou (National Technical University of Athens), Prof. JoAnn Cassar (University of Malta) and Prof. Guido Biscontin (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice).

“This is a unique opportunity to encourage international intercultural dialogue among course participants in the field of cultural heritage protection,” said Dr. Anna Lobovikov-Katz, coordinator of ELAICH. “By bringing together high-school students from Jordan and Malta for five full days we can demonstrate the effectiveness of the special educational tool kit developed by ELAICH.”

ELAICH holds cultural heritage course for students in Malta

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Sun, 08 May 2011 14:02:00 +0000

The ELAICH (Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage) Consortium completed a special course for teenage students at the Junior College of Malta earlier this year.

The main focus of the course was on creating awareness of the rich cultural heritage of Malta. It was organized by ELAICH partnering with the University of Malta.

The course, which was originally meant to take 15 participants, received more than 80 applications and, in the end, had to be redesigned to take 30 “very interested and motivated” students.

The course ran from February to May and covered practical and theoretical lessons over 35 hours. The lessons ranged from interactive sessions in class to site visits and hands-on conservation sessions. Lecturers included both local and foreign specialists from Israel, Italy, Belgium and Greece.

The 600-year-old parish church of Siġġiewi, itself a recent winner of the annual Din l-Art Ħelwa Award for Architectural Heritage, was used as the site at which practical analysis and research of the conservation process could be studied first hand.

Overall, the course developed students’ practical life skills of teamwork, respect for other persons’ opinions and how best to present reports or results.

ELAICH conducts educational dissemination workshop in Israel

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 09:40:00 +0000

The ELAICH (Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage) Consortium held a special educational dissemination workshop in Haifa, Israel in January 2011.

The main objective of the workshop was to explore ways of implementing the ELAICH project and turn it into educational reality in Mediterranean countries.

Some 70 participants took part in the workshop in which ELAICH coordinator Dr. Anna Lobovikov-Katz and partners presented the results of laboratory testing of the samples of stone and mortar collected on the site of the final project in Tiberias.

Dr. Lobovikov-Katz presenting at Haifa Dissemination event

The workshop was opened by official representatives, including: Prof. Yehuda Kalay, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Town at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Raanan Kislev, Arch. Cons., Director of the Conservation Department, Israel Antiquities Authority and Arch. Naama Neeman-Mizrahi, Northern District – the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites.

As part of the workshop, four teams of students from participating schools presented the results of their work on study and mapping of the historic site in Tiberias.

The round table discussion included ELAICH partners and members of the Technion including Dr. Lobovikov-Katz, Prof. Antonia Moropoulou, Prof. Pilar Ortiz, Prof. JoAnn Cassar, Roberta De Angelis, Prof. Guido Biscontin, Dr. Francesca Izzo, Dr. Racheli Levin-Peled, Ornit Sagy, Dr. Susannah Worth, Arch. Aysa Natapov and Luba Katzav.

In addition, some leading representatives of the educational and conservation community in Israel attended, including Dr. Michael Grunzweig, chief inspector of the Study of Israel and Archeology, Ministry of Education.

ELAICH completes pilot course in Israel

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:14:00 +0000

The ELAICH (Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage) Project held a special pilot course in Haifa, Israel.

Participants in the course, which took place from October through December 2010, included 15 ninth-graders from the Hebrew Reali School from Haifa, which emphasizes science and technology, and more specifically, environmental studies.

Students work at the Senior Synagogue, Tiberias

Students also gave presentations at the dissemination event in Haifa and a study tour was conducted to two conservation sites dating back to the Roman period and currently under conservation by the Conservation Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

During the pilot course, students attended lectures given by European experts from five highly rated universities. Additionally, students ran lab experiments and went through a few site exercises, focusing on the study of selected built heritage sites, including documentation and those investigations required to ensure the preservation of historical sites.

“In the past, when we were walking down the promenade, and saw a little clumsy ruin in the background, it wasn’t really important to us, and we didn’t pay much attention. Now, we look at it with other eyes,” said one student who participated in the course. “We now understand how important it is to preserve cultural heritage, and how fascinating this field is.”

The final project included a two-day site work at the ancient Senior Synagogue in Tiberias, established in 1837.

The ELAICH pilot course in Haifa focused on full testing of the ELAICH methodology’s full structure, through all ELAICH modules, supported by the e-learning application developed by the project.

During the course, lectures were given by the partners and the students ran lab experiments and conducted a few site exercises which focused on the study of selected standing heritage sites including documentation and those investigations required to ensure the preservation of historical sites.

To review the full presentation click here.

ELAICH holds pilot course in Istanbul

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:10:00 +0000

The ELAICH (Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage) Consortium completed a pilot course for students from three different secondary schools in Istanbul, Turkey, the Akşemsettin Anadolu Lisesi, the İstanbul Atatürk Anadolu Lisesi and the İSOV Anadolu Teknik Lisesi.

The course, held September 27–30, 2010, used the Hagia Sophia as the main heritage site. It was the first ELAICH short course in which all ELAICH educational modules were covered over the four consecutive working days.

Hagia Sophia

A special emphasis on the earthquake protection of monuments was exemplified by the outstanding architectural monument Hagia Sophia.

Theory lectures, class exercises and in situ demonstrations of high-measuring technology by non-destructive techniques were presented. The conclusions and recommendations of the course were implemented in the short course held in Malta in March 2011.

The course was organized with the support of Bogazici University, Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture agency, Istanbul Directorate of Surveying and Monuments of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Museum of Hagia Sophia.

ELAICH presents at International Congress of Science and Cultural Heritage 2010

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:12:00 +0000

The ELAICH Consortium (educational linkage approach in cultural heritage) organized a Round Table session within the framework of the XXVI International Congress of Science and Cultural Heritage 2010 in Bressanone (Brixen), Italy held in July 2010.

During the round table, ELAICH partners presented the principles and merits of ELAICH to participants in the international conference, mainly a mix of cultural heritage scientists and other related stakeholders, such as representatives of a wide spectrum of conservation authorities.

The principles presented were well received by the audience and non-ELAICH participants, including Prof. Stefane Della Torre of the Politecnico of Milano and Arch. Renata Codello of the Superintendence of Venice, who is responsible for the management of archaeological assets in the District of Venice as part of the Ministry of Culture of Italy.

Dissemination Event in IN Bressanone

ELAICH was recognized and welcomed as a tool for cultural heritage professionals to reach young people to increase their awareness of cultural heritage, while tools like ELAICH provide the opportunity for young people to get involved in the public discussion and the (practical) process of the preservation of cultural heritage assets.

The main result of the round table within the framework of a major international congress on science and cultural heritage was that the principles and merits of ELAICH were recognized and subscribed to by the scientific peers of the ELAICH Consortium.

ELAICH’s experimental course in Athens

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:22:00 +0000

The ELAICH (Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage) Consortium presented its first results during a special event in Athens, Greece on February 23-24, 2010.

The event focused on the contribution of polytechnic schools, engineers and industry to the education of citizens to protect Mediterranean cultural heritage. Participants included ELAICH project partners, teachers, students and a number of additional stakeholders.

The event was dedicated to educating high schools students in cultural heritage protection. The ELAICH methodology was at the center of this event and the results of the Athens Experimental Course were part of the discourse.

The first ELAICH course was held in Athens from November 2009 to February 2010. Main topics included:

Cultural heritage and society
Cultural heritage protection and architecture
Architectural values of cultural heritage: perception, documentation, design, restoration, protection
Cultural heritage and the environment
Historic materials and structures – pathology and decay
Compatible and effective materials and conservation interventions
Earthquake protection of monuments
Sustainable preservation of cultural heritage

The event was organized by the Technical Chamber of Greece, the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Technical University of Athens.

The first dissemination event was a great success, and included distinguished guests from the Greek education system (university researchers, senior officials from the education system, school principals and students), ministries and industry.

During the event, the conclusions of the first experimental course in Greece were evaluated and recommendations were made for further developments and better sustainability.

Euromed Heritage 4 awards ELAICH project

noreply@blogger.com (elaich) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:30:00 +0000

The ELAICH (Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage) Project, which was awarded 1.1 million euro by the Euromed Heritage 4 Programme, has a duration of 36 months commencing February 1, 2009 and running through January 31, 2012.

The ELAICH Project is aimed at providing a contribution to raising awareness of cultural heritage by providing modern and innovative tools for teaching its essence to the general public, especially youth.

It was awarded by the Euromed Heritage 4 Programme following a selection process led by the European Commission’s EuropeAid Co-operation Office.

Unlike many other Euromed Cultural Heritage projects, ELAICH is a capacity-building project, with the objective of developing an innovative educational approach in which traditional course materials are integrated with modern e-learning applications and “intelligent” in-situ work.

The end-product of the project will be a toolkit based upon scientifically validated and tested educational methodology, providing tools for educators and other stakeholders to introduce the values of cultural heritage and principles and challenges of its preservation to the general public with an emphasis on youth.

Throughout the project, the toolkit – in various stages of development – is being tested through a series of courses in various locations. All courses are designed as a means to test and to improve the methodology, not an end in itself.

The ELAICH project is being coordinated by the Technion Israel Institute of Technology and a consortium which includes as partners leading European universities specializing in different disciplines in the field of cultural heritage. Partners Universiteit Antwerpen, the National Technical University of Athens, the University of Malta and the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.