“We want to educate experts according to the current requirements of modern conservation. We emphasize a scientific approach, interdisciplinarity and the use of modern methods and methodological procedures in the research and care of tangible cultural heritage," said Radomír Slovik, Dean of the Faculty of Restoration at the University of Pardubice: "The programme will offer training of new specialists for institutions working in the field of heritage care, research and higher education, such as the National Heritage Institute, museums, galleries, archives, libraries and universities."
Comprehensive tertiary education of the university type will have a standard four-year study period and can be completed in full-time and combined form. Doctoral education in the field of conservation and restoration of cultural heritage is also considered to be the highest level of education for future professionals by the international organisation ENCoRE (European Network for Conservation-Restoration Education), which brings together European universities active in this field.
Thanks to the cooperation with VŠCHT and the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague on the entire preparation and implementation, the new programme is attractive and balanced. Interdisciplinary cooperation with the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the CTU will take place within the framework of its Master's degree programme in Architecture and Civil Engineering, specifically the specialisation in the Protection and Restoration of Monuments, as well as the PhD programme in the Restoration of Monuments. "Students of both faculties will thus have the opportunity to enrol in recognised professional courses from other departments and gain further professional experience in related fields," says Prof. Mikuláš Hulec, Head of the Department of Architecture at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the CTU in Prague.
The new programs will be of particular interest to graduates of majors focused on the restoration and conservation of tangible cultural heritage and other related fields of study in master's degrees in engineering, science, art or humanities with a focus on heritage care. Its graduates will be able to competently solve complex problems within the framework of basic and applied research or conservation - restoration of significant objects of cultural heritage, to bring and critically evaluate innovative solutions, to methodically and conceptually implement highly professional and scientific or restoration work while preserving the artistic authenticity of the work. They may hold leading or coordinating positions in the field.