The international courses are the flagship activity of the CollAsia 2010 programme. In the last two biennia ICCROM and SEAMEO-SPAFA have jointly organized four international courses (in Laos, the Netherlands, Thailand and the Philippines) in addition to two pilot activities implemented during the 2002–3 Biennium (in Malaysia and Thailand). The yearly courses typically last three to four weeks and address a theme of relevance to Southeast Asian professionals (e.g. textile conservation, storage, exhibition issues). They all include modules on communication, teamwork and risk preparedness.

The aim of the courses is to strengthen professional and institutional capacity and increase levels of networking among Southeast Asian professionals and institutions.

In the 2008-9 Biennium two yearly international courses are planned. The proposed theme of the 2008 course is the  ‘Conservation of the Underwater Archaeological Heritage of Southeast Asia’. Underwater archaeological heritage represents a significant portion of Southeast Asia’s cultural heritage and the professionals responsible for its safeguarding urgently require training to address these. Moreover in evaluations course participants regularly request that ICCROM and SEAMEO‑SPAFA organize a course on this theme. There are indications of interest from three countries to host such a course (Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Philippines). The theme and venue of the 2009 international course are to be defined. Both courses above will include  new one-week modules dedicated to enhancing communication and didactic skills.

Courses

2007: 'Field Project: Teamwork for Sustainable Collections Care', Hanoi, Viet Nam

2006: 'Conservation of Southeast Asian Collections in Storage', Manila, Philippines

2005: 'Conservation of Textiles in Southeast Asian Collections', Leiden, Netherlands

2005: 'Conservation and Exhibition of Southeast Asian Collections', Bangkok, Thailand

updated on: 23 November, 2007