Heritage Conservation and Site Management

Heritage Conservation and Site Management (HCSM) is an international joint degree Master's programme resulting from the cooperation between two partner universities: Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg and Helwan University in Cairo. Upon successful completion of the study programme, students will be awarded a joint degree Master of Arts. The programme is focused on transferring knowledge and methodologies necessary for the administration and management of archaeological sites. The curriculum brings together the following topics: conservation strategies and methods, strategic heritage management and planning, visitor management, presentation, and interpretation as well as general leadership skills and knowledge of the tourism sector. The idea of a cooperation between Helwan University and BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg originated from the great potential of heritage sites in the Arab states. As one of the cradles of human civilisation, they are home to some of the most spectacular heritage places in the world, many of them archaeological sites. These sites are not only icons of national and local identity but also important resources for scientific research and economic advancement. However, in their often inevitably incomplete state, archaeological sites do not easily lend themselves to interpretation by the untrained eye. Furthermore, they are often threatened by developments such as urban growth and the effects of tourism development, armed conflicts, and climate change. Many of these issues are not exclusive to the region of the Middle East but also need to be addressed in Europe and on other continents as well.