All those interested in rural regeneration are encouraged to apply for a one-year professional master’s programme on heritage-led sustainable strategies for rural regeneration. The deadline to apply is 30 November 2020, and the programme will begin in January 2021.

Rural areas around the globe embody exceptional examples of cultural and natural heritage that should not only be protected, but also promoted as catalysts of economic competitiveness and inclusive growth. The RURITAGE project, in which ICLEI Europe is a partner, will support practitioners to sustainably develop their local, rural areas through a one-year professional master’s programme on heritage-led sustainable strategies for rural regeneration. The programme is jointly organised by the University of Bologna and the Polytechnic University of Turin.

The professional master’s programme will offer students new tools for generating and applying heritage-led rural regeneration strategies and practices to develop rural areas sustainably.

The master's programme is open to anyone already obtaining a first or second cycle degree, specifically targeting practitioners such as planners, civil servants, as well as NGO and local development agency employees. The goal is to provide students with necessary knowledge, skills and tools for sustainable and effective management of cultural and natural heritage, aimed at the regeneration of rural territories and communities.

Teaching will take place in Turin and Bologna (Italy), and through e-learning modules. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first semester in 2021 is foreseen to apply a blended teaching model, where students can attend classes both online and in person (in accordance with the general health situation and the students’ choices). The programme will guarantee online training during the first semester of 2021, and for as long as COVID-19 related restrictive measures are enforced. The teaching language will be English.

During the modules, students will not only gain skills related to economic feasibility, territorial marketing, process management, but will further learn how to operate in a complex multidisciplinary context. Students will also join various workshops planned to take place in Crete (Greece).

To learn more about the course, please click here. The deadline to apply is 30 November.