An online course on the conservation of cultural heritage made of wood

Partners

Partners wood course

Background and Content

The ICWCT was initiated as a response to a recommendation by UNESCO and has been organized in Norway every second year since 1984. It is directed towards professionals who have been working for some years within the field of wood conservation. The ICWCT covers a wide range of interdisciplinary topics relating to both buildings and objects made of wood. Due to continued international travel restrictions, the ICWCT 2022 will be held online.

ICTWCT Course 22

Aim and objectives

The aim of the course is to promote cultural understanding and research in the field of wood conservation, and to be a valuable resource for the work of the individual participants in their respective countries. The main objectives of the course are:

  • to establish a basic knowledge of wood, and the processing and use of wood, both structurally and decoratively;
  • to give participants the theoretical and practical knowledge essential for diagnosing the causes of deterioration, and for selecting the most appropriate methods of conservation and restoration of wood;
  • to extend the knowledge of participants beyond their own professions for a broader understanding of different aspects and approaches to wood conservation;
  • to bring people with various professions from different countries and cultures together for a mutual learning experience, drawing on different experiences, practices and approaches to wood conservation and use of wooden materials.

The course programme

The curriculum includes distinct but interconnected units covering aspects of: Conservation theory and principles, properties of wood; bio deterioration, decay and damage development of fungi and insects; preventative conservation and climatology, climate change and its effect on wooden cultural heritage, the conservation of wooden objects and furniture as well as the conservation of wooden buildings and structures.

The ICWCT 2022 course programme will be held entirely online. The course uses edX as a course platform and all course material is shared here. Zoom is used for synchronous meetings and discussions. Each week will include both individual and group assignments which will be shared with the group.

The course requires approximately 20-25 hours of study and coursework per week. This time includes approx. 5 hours of live Zoom meetings with synchronous participation. Please note that live meetings are usually held between the hours of 1 – 3 pm CET so flexibility might be required for participants in other time-zones. A good and stable internet connection is necessary. The course is intensive, and we recommend that participants make sure they schedule sufficient time to be able to concentrate on the course. We do not recommend this course being combined with full-time employment.

ICWCT Course 22

Lecturers

Lecturers from many countries will be contributing to the course. All are recognized experts within the field of conservation and with various backgrounds and professional experience.

Exam

The course gives 7,5 (ECT) university credits from The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). A full-time online presence, active participation with completion of all assignments is a requirement to obtain the certification from NTNU.

Fees

Course participation is free of charge for the selected participants.

Participants

Applicants should be mid-career professionals with a minimum of three years’ work experience in wood conservation. It is of great importance for the success of the course that the participants have relevant experience to contribute with, and benefit from, the mutual exchange of ideas.

The number of participants is limited to 20.

Language

The working language of the course is English. A good knowledge of both oral and written English is essential.

Applications

To apply:

  • Please fill the online application form, available here.
  • Please add your professional curriculum vitae (in English) 
  • Please add a one page report describing a conservation project related to wood on which you have worked and that can be shared with the other participants. Describe the biggest challenge relating to the project and how you resolved it.

Please send the application and all documentation to: wood2022(at)iccrom.org

For further information regarding the course, please contact: Anne Nyhamar (The Directorate for Cultural Heritage), e-mail: anne.nyhamar(at)ra.no

Application deadline

Applications should reach ICCROM by December 20th to ensure inclusion in our selection process.

All applicants will be notified before January 17th, 2022.