Scope and Study Objectives
This applied anthropology module will provide current and future cultural policy stakeholders, heritage site managers and tourism practitioners the conceptual and practical tools for the sustainable management of tourism in world heritage sites. Through lectures, seminars and field site visits, participants will be familiarized with the complexity of the heritage industry and the economic and sociological dimensions of tourism site development. Through the teaching of both applied and theoretical knowledge, participants will be empowered to critically evaluate the potentials and also the ambivalences of the world heritage programme and UNESCO’s other global policy agendas, i.e. the creation of peace in the minds of people, development through poverty alleviation, the Global Strategy for a balanced representation of the world’s diversity through the World Heritage list, immaterial culture. Besides its focus on sociological aspects and ethical aspirations of World Heritage, the module provides training in essential tourism site management tools.
Teaching Languages
The module will be taught in English. The extended essay that will constitute 75% of the final assessment can be written either in English or Portuguese. Additional languages may be accepted (e.g. French, German). Please talk to the module leader.
Learning Objectives
a) Assess and apply techniques and tools for the sustainable management of tourism in World Heritage Sites (WHS) (these can of course also be applied to the management of any other heritage site);
b) Critically analyze and synthesize academic literatures on tourism/heritage and discuss academic theory in relation to policy documents, data gathered through direct observation/interviews and secondary information (reports, statistics, etc.);
c) Critically assess indicators of sustainable development and the potentials and limits of tourism to generate alternative livelihoods, promote cultural creativity, preserve heritage sites and facilitate intercultural dialogue or the promotion of cultures of peace;
d) Mediate between global/national heritage policies, and context-specific national/regional/local development objectives.
When, Where?
The module is taught over a period of 16 weeks. The teaching will start in the week beginning on 26 Sept 2011 and end on 28 Jan 2012. It will take place on Saturdays between 10h and 13h at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities campus of New University of Lisbon (Avenida de Berna 26C, 1069-061 Lisbon, Portugal). Please enquire about the exact room.
Module Content
Topics and issues addressed in this module include:
- UNESCO’s ethics for a global world
- Opportunities and ambivalences of world heritage
- Tourism culture and heritage
- Elements of the world heritage management plan
- Attraction and visitor development
- Heritage marketing
- UNESCO’s intangible culture programme
- Community involvement
- Peace and intercultural dialogue through tourism
Country Specific Excursions / Study Tours
The module includes three country specific study tours to World Heritage or other relevant sites in Portugal:
- Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon
- The cultural landscape of Sintra
- The Fado Museum in Lisbon
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
The module will be taught through a combination of lectures (50%), student-led seminars (25%) and field visit-based practical work engaging major stakeholder of heritage sites/heritage policy makers in Portugal (25%). Successful candidates will obtain 10 European Transfer Credits (ECT) which in Portugal corresponds to 280 student learning hours.
Students will write an extended essay of 4000 words (+/- 10%; in either English or Portuguese) on a topic to be agreed with the course leader. This shall involve both the review of topical academic literatures and the gathering of data either primary (through interviews, direct observation, surveys) or secondary information (analysis of reports, policies, tourist markets, etc.). In addition, each student will prepare and lead a seminar on a topic to be agreed in the beginning of the course. This shall be accompanied by a 2 page communication strategy paper outlining the seminar’s objectives and how these are to be achieved. The assessment of this is based on the quality of the presentation and a document outlining the content of the topic and the strategy to communicate it to the class. The mark for the dissertation will count for 75%, the student-led seminar for 25% of the final grade.
The module will use the e-learning facilities of the faculty to distribute information and as an interface for students to submit work. Participants will be required to regularly log into their accounts.
External Candidates
The module can be elected by students registered at New University of Lisbon. It addresses as well external candidates with an interest in the topic, in particular current heritage and cultural site managers who wish to deepen their theoretical and technical knowledge about tourism and the normative frameworks of UNESCO’s World Heritage and other cultural policy programmes. To apply, external candidates are invited to fill in a form that is to be requested at antrop@fcsh.unl.pt, and send this back to the faculty’s registry (accompanied by a one page letter and a curriculum vitae of no more than 5 pages outlining the candidates experiences, motivations and professional aspirations). The form should reach the faculty registry before the beginning of the semester, by 20 September 2011. The total cost for external candidates to participate in this module is €250. Successful external candidates will receive a University Certificate from New University of Lisbon and a certificate from UNESCO-UNITWIN.
Module Leader
Dr David Picard (Senior Research Fellow, CRIA/FCSH-UNL)
Email: piccccc@gmail.com