Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2024-2025

Module ARCH41760: MANAGING CULTURAL HERITAGE IN CONTEXT

Department: Archaeology

ARCH41760: MANAGING CULTURAL HERITAGE IN CONTEXT

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 60 Availability Available in 2024/2025 Module Cap None.
Tied to MA IN INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE MANAGEMENT

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To develop knowledge and critical awareness of cultural heritage sites and organisations by interrogating a range of local, national and international case studies with a special focus on management issues, delivered, where appropriate, as webinars.
  • To provide a framework for the understanding and analysis of issues involved in the management and development of cultural heritage sites and organisations, including scenario planning, based on in-depth knowledge and understanding of specific examples so you are enabled to develop the ability to analyse a specific cultural heritage organisation in terms of its professional operation and communicate the results of this analysis effectively.
  • To enable you to develop a critical understanding of how cultural heritage organisations serve their audiences and how they engage with complex political, economic and social-cultural factors.
  • To enable you to develop a critical awareness of the interrelationship of cultural heritage theory and practice through case studies.
  • To enable you to identify drivers for the development, change and contestation of cultural heritage from local, regional, national and international perspectives in different political, social, economic and ecological contexts.
  • To introduce you to fundamental management principles and practices and enable you to identify key management issues for cultural sites and organisations, including financial issues.

Content

  • This unit explores the concept of cultural heritage organisations as organisations which must run effectively with clear objectives and procedures whilst meeting the needs of their audiences and responding to broader policy frameworks. To this end, case studies will be presented by practitioners working in the sector
  • The three-day management workshops will introduce you to foundational aspects of management principles and practices. They will deepen understanding and engagement with cultural heritage, spanning heritage sites, museums, and both urban and rural landscapes. Through interactive sessions, students will gain insights into the dynamic role of cultural heritage in different social and cultural contexts, to foster critical thinking and discussion.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • advanced knowledge of a range of international cultural heritage sites, institutions and professional bodies and their political, social, economic and ecological contexts
  • advanced knowledge of critiques of cultural heritage models as contested arenas, including the contribution of cultural heritage sites and agencies to framing identities, building (or separating) communities, addressing cultural conflicts and engaging with social change and development issues
  • advanced knowledge of national and international legal, ethical and policy frameworks for tangible and intangible international cultural heritage
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of the module, you will have had the opportunity to develop the following specialist skills to an advanced level:
  • an advanced ability to apply subject-related knowledge and advanced theoretical models to local, regional, national and international case study exemplar/s
  • an advanced ability to identify and propose suitable problem-solving and planning strategies in the management of cultural heritage and present this information, together with advanced analytical conclusions, to others using appropriate presentation techniques
  • advanced ability to synthesise, evaluate and present complex material, including original data and theoretical arguments relevant to cultural heritage
Key Skills:
  • You will have had the opportunity to gain and develop your key skills as follows:
  • demonstrate intellectual and professional autonomy by learning and practising independently and taking responsibility for aspects of learning and professional activities in both academic and professional contexts
  • demonstrate the ability to think critically about new and/or unfamiliar ideas by communicating such reflection in written and oral contexts, forming coherent arguments and presenting them to a group (in the course of classes) or on a one-to-one basis (in tutorials)
  • demonstrate communication skills by developing the ability to express themselves clearly, concisely and appropriately in writing and with relevant illustrations using distinct formats (essays, reports, posters, case studies); identifying and analysing complex issues effectively in seminar presentations; contributing appropriately and effectively to case study seminars and group discussions supporting verbal arguments with reference to a range of case studies and theoretical models
  • develop information technology skills by demonstrating the ability to support your assignments and oral presentations appropriately (e.g. word processing, databases, presentation software, graphing, image processing, web-based resources)

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • This module uses a combination of lectures/webinars, seminars, workshops, and individual tutorials together with fieldtrips to enable you to develop a sound conceptual and empirical base for further study and practice. These include management workshops as well as workshops exploring heritage practice in specific regions. The seminars will consist of poster presentations and scenario analysis work-in-progress seminar.
  • Some material may be presented online so it is available asynchronously.
  • Individual tutorials will give you the opportunity to discuss ideas and issues with the module convenor, review your progress and map out future activities.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures/webinars (inc visiting lecturers & discussions) 4 Term 1 = 2 x 2 hour lecture/webinar; Term 2 = 4 x 2 hour lecture/webinar 2 hours 8
Workshops 6 Term 1 = 3 x all day; Term 2 = 3 x all day 7 hours 42
Seminars 6 Term 1 = 3 x 2 hour; Term 2 = 3 x 2 hour 2 hours 12
Individual Tutorials 2 Term 1 = 1 x 0.5 hour; Term 2 = 1 x 0.5 hour 0.5 hours 1
Fieldtrips 4 Term 1 = 1 x all day; Term 2 = 2 x all day; Term 3 = 1 x all day 8 hours 32
Preparation and Reading 505
Total 600

Summative Assessment

Component: ASSIGNMENT Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
OPEN QUIZ & MANAGEMENT PLAN 4000 WORDS 40% Yes
SCENARIO ANALYSIS 5000 WORDS 60% Yes

Formative Assessment:

Term 1 Student-led Seminar: Poster Debate Students will benefit from debate with their peers and formative feedback from the Module Convenor. Term 2 Student-led seminar Scenario Analysis Work-in-Progress: The development of the Scenario Analysis Report will be informed by the work-in-progress student-led seminar, where each student will present the first phase of their study. Students will benefit from debate with their peers and formative feedback from the Module Convenor.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University