Introduction
When? Winter 2026/27, March 1–5, 2027
What? Online courses and in-person meeting in Merseburg
Where? Merseburg University of Applied Sciences and the surrounding area
Who? Master’s-level students from Poland, Italy and Germany
Why? Because we love learning from one another!
Partners
University of Macerata, Jagiellonian University in Kraków,
Merseburg University of Applied Sciences
Cultural heritage, whether tangible or intangible, has accorded enormous significance in contemporary Western culture of remembrance. As a political concept, it also gains importance in processes of identity formation through which a nation, a community, or even the world reaffirms itself and its values.
The Power of the Faro Convention
At the same time, cultural heritage is interpreted differently in different eras and draws on religious, national, aesthetic, historical, or anthropological contexts. The EU’s Faro Convention (2005) is a particularly striking example of this, as it reinforces the idea of community-building through cultural heritage.
Community Building and Heritage
What is new about this concept? People do not become heirs solely by virtue of their birth (as members of a community or a country), but rather through the conscious choice of a cultural heritage. This can occur through interaction with other communities or through migration: people choose a cultural heritage that is not initially their own but which, over time, becomes part of their identity.
Our objectives
The Blended Intensive Programme draws on the Faro Convention: Together, we will examine aspects of community building through cultural heritage, as described by the Convention, and do so through a comparative analysis. In doing so, we will be guided by three questions:
- What role does cultural heritage play in the culture of remembrance of each country?
- How is this national culture of remembrance changing as a result of sub- and supranational communities—such as migration and refugee flows—as well as the EU?
- What influence do new, heterogeneous target groups have on the perception of cultural heritage today? And what does “sharing cultural heritage” actually mean?
To discuss these questions, students work together in pairs. The entire group meets in individual online plenary sessions. During our in-person meeting in Merseburg, we plan to develop comparative case studies on approaches to and methods of presenting cultural heritage, which we will present in the plenary session. On field trips, we will also explore the region and its cultural heritage.
Our Partners from Poland and Italy
BIP-ID: 2026-1-DE01-KA131-HED-000413423-1
Number of ECTS: 3
A certificate of attendance will be issued for students who actively participate.
Language of instruction and requirements:
English (minimum level B2)
Location of physical activity:
Merseburg University of Applied Sciences, Eberhard-Leibnitz-Straße 2, 06217 Merseburg, Germany
Dates for physical activity:
1 - 5 march 2027
Dates for virtual component:
- 07 January 2027
- 14 January 2027
- 21 January 2027
- 28 January 2027
Programme Schedule | On-site phase in Merseburg | March 1–5, 2027
Day 1
10:00 a.m.: Welcome at Merseburg University of Applied Sciences
11:00 a.m.: Welcome by German students
12:00: Introduction to the programme
1:30 p.m.: Working groups, first poster presentation
7:00 p.m.: Dinner, party
Day 2
9:00 a.m.: City tour of Merseburg, visit to the cathedral, discussion with cathedral trustees, Department of Culture
12:30 p.m.: Lunch
1:00 p.m.: Trip to Halle: walking tour, “lost places,” and discussion with the Lost Places Initiative (?)—fieldwork
Day 3
9:00 a.m.: Meet at the university, departure for the Romanesque Route I, discussion with tourism professionals, Magdeburg
12:30 p.m.: Lunch
1:00 p.m.: Romanesque Route II, discussion with volunteers, on-site
6:00 p.m.: Stop in Naumburg
Progamme 2
Day 4
9:00 a.m.: Trip to Leipzig (or the Luther Memorials), discussion with collectives, City of Leipzig
1:00 p.m.: Lunch
3:00 p.m.: University, Workshop I, Incorporating the results into the poster presentation
7:00 p.m.: Get-together at the Wärmi student club
Day 5
9:00 a.m.: University, Workshop II, incorporating the results into the poster presentation
12:00 p.m.: Lunch in the cafeteria
1:00 p.m.: Final presentation
7:00 p.m.: Group dinner
Day 6
Extra day at individual leisure
Are you interested?
To apply, please submit the application form by 31 August 2025.
Accommodation
Unfortunately, we do not have any accommodation available for short stays. However, we recommend staying at the Sky Hotel, which is located near our university campus. We have reserved two-person apartments with kitchenettes for you there. For reservation please contact the International Office.
Costs:
Apartment for two people: € 71.80 per apartment/night inclusive breakfast (€ 35.90 per person/night)
Academic Matters
Organisational matters
