Improving REsearch capacities of Albanian higher
educations in conservation and restoration of Cultural Heritage

REACH is an Erasmus+ Capacity Building project in the field of Higher Education

It is aimed at supporting the development of multi-disciplinary research skills and technical know-how in the field of Cultural Heritage conservation and restoration in Albania.

Based on the awareness that Cultural Heritage stands as a key resource for local economic growth of Albania, REACH is also expected to contribute to its accession process to the EU, through the modernisation and internationalisation of Higher Education Institutions.

PROJECT OUTCOMES

REACH has two specific objectives:

#1: strengthening, in the Albanian HEIs, applied research capacities in the field of conservation and restoration of Cultural Heritage.
#2: supporting Albanian ministerial bodies in defining criteria and strategies for assessing the quality of applied research to conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, in line with European standards

VIEW OUTCOMES

Albanian partners will receive improved Lab facilities, with new set up and equipped Laboratories and technical staff/teaching staff/researchers suitably trained.

Research methodologies will be implemented, thanks to a capacity building process for developing interdisciplinary approach in conducting applied research to Cultural Heritage conservation.

Connections among researchers at national and international level will be consolidated, with the possibility to develop further jointed projects.

Structural Impact on the HEIs system will be evaluated through the assessment of the adequacy between training offer and labour market.

Basis will be set for starting ministerial procedures for the validation of conservators-restorers as a highly qualified professional figure, in line with European standards.

Albanian partners will receive improved Lab facilities, with new set up and equipped Laboratories and technical staff/teaching staff/researchers suitably trained.

Research methodologies will be implemented, thanks to a capacity building process for developing interdisciplinary approach in conducting applied research to Cultural Heritage conservation.

Connections among researchers at national and international level will be consolidated, with the possibility to develop further jointed projects.

Structural Impact on the HEIs system will be evaluated through the assessment of the adequacy between training offer and labour market.

Basis will be set for starting ministerial procedures for the validation of conservators-restorers as a highly qualified professional figure, in line with European standards.

PROJECT ROAD MAP

2020
Step 1 | It’s a matter of PRIORITIES

Step 1 | It’s a matter of PRIORITIES
January 8, 2020
First, we need to know where to start from. An in-depth need analysis will be carried out as a starting point, in order to outline a scenario of research priorities and educational needs in the field of Cultural Heritage conservation and restoration in Albania.
2020
Step 2 | IMPROVE yourself

Step 2 | IMPROVE yourself
July 5, 2020
Second, we need to provide Albanian partners with equipment and technical know-how. Technical Labs will be set up at Albanian HEIs partners, followed by dedicated training and technical workshops provided by EU partners. The capacity building process is now started!
2021
Step 3 | ready for TAKE OFF

Step 3 | ready for TAKE OFF
January 3, 2021
Third, we need to put theory into practice. Researchers, teaching and technical staff from Albanian partners will be invited at EU partners to collaborate on ongoing research related to Cultural Heritage conservation and restoration.
2022
Step 4 | find, research, SHARE

Step 4 | find, research, SHARE
January 3, 2022
Fourth, we need to pass knowledge to future generations. Using newly-equipped laboratories and acquired research know-how, Albanian researchers, teaching staff and technical staff will be working on study cases in their own Country, involving their students in the activities. EU and Albanian partners will also collaborate on the organisation of an International Summer School.
2023
Step 5 | REACHing innovation

Step 5 | REACHing innovation
October 31, 2023
While on track, we need this process to be long-lasting. To REACH this aim, the project involves the Albanian Ministry of Education, whose bodies will be supported in defining criteria and strategies for assessing the quality of applied research to conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, in line with European standards.

PROJECT ROAD MAP

2020

Step 1 | It’s a matter of PRIORITIES

First, we need to know where to start from. An in-depth need analysis will be carried out as a starting point, in order to outline a scenario of research priorities and educational needs in the field of Cultural Heritage conservation and restoration in Albania.

2020

Step 2 | IMPROVE yourself

Second, we need to provide Albanian partners with equipment and technical know-how. Technical Labs will be set up at Albanian HEIs partners, followed by dedicated training and technical workshops provided by EU partners. The capacity building process is now started!

2021

Step 3 | ready for TAKE OFF

Third, we need to put theory into practice. Researchers, teaching and technical staff from Albanian partners will be invited at EU partners to collaborate on ongoing research related to Cultural Heritage conservation and restoration.

2022

Step 4 | find, research, SHARE

Fourth, we need to pass knowledge to future generations. Using newly-equipped laboratories and acquired research know-how, Albanian researchers, teaching staff and technical staff will be working on study cases in their own Country, involving their students in the activities. EU and Albanian partners will also collaborate on the organisation of an International Summer School.

2023

Step 5 | REACHing innovation

While on track, we need this process to be long-lasting. To REACH this aim, the project involves the Albanian Ministry of Education, whose bodies will be supported in defining criteria and strategies for assessing the quality of applied research to conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, in line with European standards.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND DELIVERABLES

VIEW

PROJECT PARTNERS

The Consortium

REACH project partners stand out by virtue of the specific competences they have.

Albanian partners will be individually guided by EU partners in the implementation of research skills and best practice approaches for the study and conservation of Cultural Heritage.

Capacity building process will not be the same for each Albanian partner: complementary skills will be developed, related to disciplines that all contribute to sustainable and methodologically tailored studies and conservation activities, but without overlapping. This will set the basis for collaborations that can be established during the project and continue after its conclusion.

Universiteti I Arteve I Tiranes (UART) will lead the project and coordinate a consortium of 4 Albanian, 3 Italian and 1 Spanish partners.