The importance and the role of culture in crisis and post crisis scenarios has relevantly raised in the recent years, due to the emerging of new forms of conflicts and to the intensification of disasters.
This raise of attention turned into international campaigns and into a global response towards heritage protection, communities identity and cultural expressions safeguarding, as well as the control of illicit traffics and activities.
In this context the Master in Cultural Property Protection in Crisis Response is designed for civilian and military personnel wishing to specialize in the protection of tangible and intangible cultural property in crisis scenarios (e.g. wars, calamities).
The programme aims at preparing a future generation of professionals with a multidisciplinary background and advanced expertise in the protection of cultural property in time of crisis and, more widely, in increasing the capacities to enhance the role of culture for addressing the social reconciliation and economic recovery of affected areas.
Depending on each participant’s background and interests, the programme is addressed to Armed Forces personnel deployed in field operations, civilians working in non-governmental organizations which operate in critical scenarios, managers of cultural sites and graduates who wish to develop a career in this field.

The purpose of the master is to prepare and train expert personnel able to:
1) intervene in culture-related operations, both on physical properties and on intangible heritage, during the crisis event and in emergency circumstances;s
2) address and plan the physical, social and economic recovery process of armed conflict or disaster affected areas and communities;
3) prepare and implement plans and actions for preventing crisis and enhancing the protection, security, safeguard and risk preparedness measures in time of peace or safety.

Through a combination of lectures, seminars and practical exercises, the participants will acquire:
•   in-depth knowledge on the international legal framework protecting cultural property;
•   knowledge and tools for understanding and assessing the physical damages and the cultural, social and economic losses caused by the crisis;
•   comprehension of the potential of culture in addressing and managing the post-conflict or post-disaster reconstruction;
•   unique insights into the policies and tools of UNESCO;
•   knowledge about the most advanced ICT’s applied to emergency scenarios.

Designed for graduates of all disciplines, the minimum admission requirement to apply for the Master is an Undergraduate degree - First cycle degree - Bachelor level degree.

The course working language is English.
The Course is worth a total of 60 credits (CFU - Crediti Formativi Universitari), for a total amount of 1.500 hours, divided as follows:
- 388 hours of on-campus lectures and distance learning
- 1.112 hours of Individual Study and project preparation.

The academic curriculum of the Master program is divided into three phases: assisted distance learning phase, on campus phase and distance individual study and project preparation.

Upon completion of the educational activity, students will be able to choose to carry out an internship, equal to 300 hours. The internship, for which no CFU are recognized, is therefore optional.
The optional internship hours are to be considered additional to the 1.500 of the academic program equal to 60 CFU.

Academic Schedule:

• Assisted distance learning phase
• On campus phase

In this period, attendance is mandatory and implies full time engagement from Monday to Thursday (9.00-16.00 CET). On Friday, seminars, practical exercises, and exams are planned.
• Training (optional), Distance individual study and project preparation.

The main topics are:

- Distance learning: Foundations of Cultural Heritage Protection
- The law of international protection of cultural heritage
- The economics of cultural heritage
- The politics of cultural heritage protection
- Community development in crisis response
- Information management
- Management of cultural heritage protection

The course attendance is mandatory and, the campus phase implies full time engagement from Monday to Thursday (9.30-16.00 CET). On Friday, VIP lectures, seminars, practical exercises and exams are planned.
A Bachelor level degree and a good knowledge of English is required.
A maximum number of 40 participants is foreseen.

International Master.The program is developed thanks to the contribution of numerous scholars and experts in the fields of International Law, Economics, Politics, Sociology and Project Management, together with various lecturers and practitioners from International Agencies, Armed Forces, NGO’s and the civil society. The course working language is English.