Training and Education

In Sväty Jur, the theme of vocational and technical training, and a need for both basic training and continued education was established. Such training should ensure that interventions can be correctly executed, and that trades persons both must be able to advice on maintenance programmes, and to read heritage values. Even if one important objective of such training was to make survive the know-how of traditional techniques, a developed continued education programme could reach even further. In the annex of the report it was stated that:
"Such training should be considered as a new profession based on earlier knowledge obtained from the practice that can still be transmitted by the masters and also based on theoretical knowledge carried by superior institutions, research centres, and training centres."
This draws attention not only to the application, transfer and communication of knowledge and skills in the conservation process, but also to the modes of production and re-production of knowledge in areas that have been regarded as tradition based.
The working conference in Pisa will deal with the specific problems of training/education in crafts in relation to general problems in conservation training.
What are the specific gaps of knowledge both within the trades, as well as in other professions about aspects of craftsmanship in the built heritage?
How are we to value the need of specialist knowledge in relation to heritage and conservation, vs. the need for placing conservation in the curriculum of general vocational training on basic level?
What are the needs and reach for continuous or recurrent training in crafts?
How to link specialist training to research, how to balance between theory and practice?
How to translate between abstract and concrete?
How to develop communication between professions and experts, are all questions applicable to the theme of this workshop?
Others can be directed towards the training/education organisers:
How to develop multidisciplinary training and communication to overcome both problems and gaps in knowledge in management?
This has to do both with economy and the organisation of building activities, but also with professional boundaries and traditions in conservation.