More informationProject website:https://hak.edu.ee/et/erasmus-2014-2016

The Erasmus+ Project Results Platform:https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/projects/eplus-project-details/#project/

Erasmus+

Key facts and figuresErasmus+

Project titleSharing knowledge and skills by preserving cultural heritage

Field: Vocational Education and TrainingAction: Learning Mobility of Individuals

Lead organisationName: Hiiumaa AmetikoolLocation: Hiiumaa, EstoniaWebsite: https://hak.edu.ee/et/erasmus-2014-2016

PartnersHå kommune – Hå gamle Prestegard, Norway; Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust, United Kingdom

European architectural heritage is at risk due to the lack of skilled restoration professionals. The projects ‘Sharing knowledge and skills by preserving cultural heritage’ tries to address this problem.In order to support cultural heritage protection and to provide better training opportunities for the students, Hiiumaa Voca-tional School from Estonia collaborates with conservation trusts or restoration companies offering international trainee-ships on real historical sites.

With the help of the European funding received in 2015 and 2016, 8 students and 2 teachers spent a month on restora-tion sites in the United Kingdom and Norway.

Project coordinator Signe Leidt said:

‘ Students who only learn restoration in theory or practice at school labs lack professional skills enabling them to enter job market easily. To solve this problem, we give them a chance to learn from experienced practitioners.’

During EU-funded mobilities, students specialising in stone buildings restoration travelled to the medieval town Great Yarmouth, in UK, and conducted restoration works at the cemetery, on town walls and in a ruined church. They were supervised by specialists from The Great Yar-mouth Conservation Trust.

Another group specialising in wooden buildings restora-tion worked at a 19th century lighthouse in Hå gamle Prestegard, Norway. The restoration was conducted in accordance with the plans drawn by one of the school’s teachers in cooperation with local conservators.

The project was beneficial in many ways: students could learn advanced restoration techniques, while partner organisations had a valuable support at work.

Hiiumaa Vocational School also benefited from the project by increasing the attractiveness of its educa-tional offer. ‘Thanks to the close cooperation with construction companies, we are able to constantly improve our curricula as we have a better under-standing of the industry’s needs,’ Leidt stated.

As a result, the school is now able to offer more traineeships for the students.

Educating skilled conservation workers

Photo: © Hiiumaa Vocational School

Participants:10

Countries:3

EU grant:€ 14,828

Project duration:2015-2016