EUROPEAN CAMPUS for NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

1. Definition

A Campus is a fieldwork multidisciplinary and international workshop. It is made up of about twelve volunteer students or young professionals who are called upon to meet a request on the part of a local community agency or organisation to enhance the natural and cultural heritage of its area.

2. Objectives

· For the participants the objectives are pedagogic: contact with real working conditions, awareness-raising as to the worth of the natural and cultural heritage of the host community, practical application of university knowledge, development of the ability to work in a team and take initiatives.

· For the local communities: a campus contributes to the implementation of a local project focusing on the best possible enhancement of natural or cultural heritage.

3. Approach

A Campus relies on on-site learning and concrete experience: it joins a local natural or cultural heritage protection and a sustainable development project. The subject it deals with is defined in collaboration with the local partner responsible for carrying out the project. The Campus’s ability to deal with the local partner’s concerns depends on the geographic diversity and multidisciplinary character of the young people the workgroup is made up of.

4. Implementation

Ø Campuses meet the request of a local agency/organisation

The Campuses are implemented by associations, local authorities, local development enterprises:

- The responsible body draws up a technical paper on the organizational issues and conditions of the Campus, which is also a basis of preparation for the candidates.

- It selects the candidates according to specific profiles so as to meet the needs of the project.

- It organises at local level the Campus logistically and pedagogically.

Ø The Campus is made up of a multidisciplinary and international 12-15 students group who are about to finish their studies or are young professionals.
Students are chosen on the basis of their CV and a motivation letter, according to 4 basic criteria: - the fields of study needed for the project (ecology, sociology, graphic arts, local development, architecture, etc.) - a variety of nationalities - the practice of the common language defined by the Campus - a balanced participation of both sexes

Ø Participants work together for three weeks to one month under the supervision of experts and local professionals, following a pedagogical programme that enables them, in return for their volunteer work, to practice and learn methods and techniques related to their work.

5. The key elements of success

Ø The Campus starts operating in a specific community, it is not an in vitro group:

- A small area of Europe with its geographic and socioeconomic features, heritage, development potential and weaknesses, provides the work framework every time.

- The work objectives are always in favour of the community and its inhabitants: restoration and enhancement are always designed in compliance with sustainable development.

Ø The Campus contributes to a local development project:

The Campus relies on a current local project and can have different functions according to the phase of the project:

· The Campus as a trigger: before the project it enables the definition of the project or its issue and kicks off action.

· The Campus as a stimulator: in a project under way it can restore dynamism and possibly contribute to reframing the project.

· The Campus as a mediator: it intervenes when further reflection or participant groups are blocked and it enables to identify bottlenecks and re-launch the project thanks to the fresh impartial look of young people.

Ø Students are placed in a real professional situation with:

Ø an order on the part of the organization in charge

Ø a limited time period of three to four weeks

Ø an obligation to account to the host organization and the local population for their actions.

Ø Voluntary work:

Voluntary work in the service of a community is convincing and their enthusiasm is contagious: people see their natural and cultural heritage differently and are touched.

Ø A cultural experience, a time to meet and communicate For one month the group does not only share work but also accommodation, meals, excursions, hobbies and leisure time. Young people practically live with the local population and often tie in with them: conviviality is a must. They very often cook together, go on excursions together, entertain together in the evenings. These are the very special moments of joy and relaxation.

6. Budget and means of financing

· Class of budget size: 25,000 €

It covers the following expenses:

- accommodation/food

- training/supervision

- insurance

- local trips

- small materials / equipment

- communication and reproduction expenses

It does not cover the participants’ trip expenses to the Campus site

· Financing

- Local community hosting the Campus and other local authorities concerned.

- Ministries on environment, culture, tourism and rural development

- Cultural or Environmental associations and foundations.

- Possibly, the European Union.

An example of good practice: The Cultural Heritage Campus of Veria- GREECE

Restoration of historic districts and new uses

Subject: 15 young French, Greek, Romanian, Irish and Slovak students studied the historic district of Barbouta and put forward a series of proposals for its restoration and enhancement in the context of the cultural policy of the Municipality of Veria.
Duration: 30 days – 1 to 31 August 2001
Organiser: Cultural Initiative and Communication Centre (CICC) of Veria in collaboration with the Mediterranean Centre of Environment of Athens.
Local project: Orientation of the local cultural policy in the old districts.

Financial support: European Union (Programme Culture 2000), CICC of Veria

Further information: Mediterranean Centre of Environment

Polynikous 2 – GR – 17455 Alimos

Tel/Fax : +30 210 9887630

Email : medcenv@ath.forthnet.gr

Web page: www.medcenv.org