Master-Study Programme “World Heritage Studies” goes online

BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg will offer* its first online study programme this winter semester 2021/22 (*on the condition of approval by the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the federal state Brandenburg). The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), is funding this new international study option

Since its establishment in 1999, the World Heritage Studies programme has become a prestigious and internationally-requested study option at BTU. Students from all over the world are interested in the competencies that are taught in this interdisciplinary study programme and in the possibility to engage with an education centred around topics related to world heritage.

The content of the new study option WHS Online is based on the original WHS On-Campus study programme, which was the first programme in the world to design its curriculum around the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. WHS Online is following WHS On-Campus in its extent and standard study period, as well as in the structure of the study, with the exception of a reduced possibility to choose from its non-compulsory elective modules. The teaching language is English. Applicationon is possible on the condition of approval by the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the federal state Brandenburg.

As an addition to the regular curriculum and as a way to supplement the missing stay in Germany for those participating in WHS Online, a completely new compulsory module titled “World Heritage in Germany” will be introduced. With this, it is planned to establish a meaningful connection between the students online and Germany, the German World Heritage community and the university community in general. This compulsory module offers insights into the scientific and practical work of the preservation and management of World Heritage sites throughout Germany and is an important part of the DAAD project.

Seven departments from three faculties, “Environment and Natural Sciences”, “Business, Law and Social Sciences” and “Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning”, are part of the online study option WHS Online. The teaching content combines academic disciplines such as the humanities, architecture, archaeology, conservation, finances, management, tourism, marketing and law. Further support is provided by the E-learning team of the university.

The didactic approach of WHS Online is based on the inverted classroom model, in which the students independently engage with the content of the classes through digitally available content. Synchronous online events, as well as other communication and collaboration options, will support them in further deepening and reflecting on the course content. The “didactic flexibilization” takes into account both synchronous and asynchronous formats, with the focus on offering a flexible design for the course without having to forego the personal-virtual exchange between lecturers and students. This is done through a balanced variety of methods of teaching and learning, the development of an integrated and clear communication and support concept, the teaching of learning techniques, and the didactic design of virtual learning processes and a sensitive teaching and learning culture that is geared towards different issues.

Project background

As a result of the global corona pandemic, the international student mobility as a general concept and the actual physical stay of international students in Germany have been put on hold. With this development in mind, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) launched the DAAD funding programme „Internationale Programme Digital (IP Digital)“ last year with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

The aim of this funding programme was to support selected universities in their work to digitize already successfully running internationally oriented master degree programmes into an additional digital format. Furthermore, the aim was to expand the digital competencies and skills of the universities and to generate the structural framework conditions for further digitization processes and study programmes within the participating universities.

At the end of 2020, BTU´s project was selected by the DAAD alongside 18 other internationalization and digitization projects at German universities. It is funded with over 600,000 Euros. All 19 projects will be supported with a total of around eight million Euros until the end of 2022 in order to offer internationally oriented digital study courses and to develop competencies and proper structural framework conditions for the further digitization of those universities.

Kontakt

Michelle Heese
VP L 4 Büro für Internationale Studiengänge
T +49 (0) 355 69-3240
michelle.heese(at)b-tu.de

Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. (NMU, UA) Michael Schmidt
Umweltplanung
T +49 (0) 355 69-2454
fg-umweltplanung(at)b-tu.de
German Academic Exchange Service DAAD
WHS students in front of the Theatre in Cottbus