INTRODUCTION
The International Graduate School of Heritage Studies at Cottbus University offers an interdisciplinary PhD program in the broad field of the humanities. It is aimed at a national as well as international audience. The International Graduate School consists of highly qualified and committed colleagues from all faculties of the BTU and other institutions. It seeks a cooperative partnership with the Graduate School "Cultural and technical values of historic buildings" in the faculty two in the form of joint summer schools and research colloquiums.
The principal objective of the PhD program is the completion of a dissertation and its defence. The International Graduate School program is designed so that the qualification can be achieved in the intended time frame taking into consideration the innovative research topic, the development and application of appropriate methods, and the related elective and mandatory courses. Moreover, the PhD program establishes a structure for working on the dissertation that provides an orientation for both German and international PhD students with their institutionally and culturally heterogeneous learning experiences.
More information at International Graduate School: Heritage Studies.
RESEARCH AREAS
Focus Area 1 - Tangible Heritage in the Context of Global Change
The analysis of multifaceted issues related to tangible or built heritage that arise in the context of various aspects of globalization. Keywords: global tourism and heritage, heritage as cultural practice, development and heritage, climate change and transformation of heritage, etc.
Focus Area 2 - Intangible Heritage / Religion / Identity / Diversity
The analysis of the formation and development of intangible heritage which includes intangible cultural expressions and practices as well as knowledge and “memory” that are handed down from generation to generation. Keywords: traditional religious and ceremonial activities, musical expressions and dances, cultural tourism, cultural diversity, etc.
Focus Area 3 - Sustainable Protection and Use of Heritage in the Context of Innovative Conceptions of Heritage
The analysis of UNESCO’s standards of economic, social, ecological and cultural sustainability which may conflict with each other, as the practice of WH management frequently shows. Keywords: marketing and heritage, urban/regional development and the construction of heritage, limits and possibilities of participatory approaches in heritage, etc.
Focus Area 4 - Cultural Landscapes
In this focus area, the diversity of heritage in cultural landscapes shall be examined. Keywords: urban landscapes as heritage, cultural practices and landscape formation, culture and nature, land use and biodiversity, historic human impact on landscapes, evolution of cultural landscapes, etc.
Focus Area 5 - Mediation of Heritage through Innovative Technologies
Analysis of the strategic goals of UNESCO related to the Memory of the World programme, lifelong learning and computer-assisted learning. Keywords: interactive learning, interpretation and dissemination through new media, different technologies for different target groups, digitalization of heritage, etc.