SWISS CONSERVATION-RESTORATION CAMPUS Swiss Bachelor of Arts UAS in Conservation
Introduction In Switzerland, conservation studies are offered with a Bachelor and a Master degree, established through a joint collaboration between the four Swiss higher education institutions specialised in different fields of conservation-restoration: Abegg-Stiftung, Riggisberg() Hochschule der Künste Bern HKB, Bern Haute école d arts appliqués HEAA Arc, La Chaux-de-Fonds Scuola universitaria professionale della svizzera italiana SUPSI, Lugano Each institution is a centre of teaching and research with selected professionals and specialised lecturers in the corresponding field. The program is based on a common competence profile. It consists of a three-year Bachelor curriculum in conservation, corresponding to 180 ECTS(2) credits plus a two-year Master curriculum in conservationrestoration, corresponding to 120 ECTS credits. According to Swiss and European regulations, only a Master degree in conservation-restoration graduates for independent practice of the profession. Bachelors in conservation are qualified to work on conservation projects under the supervision of a Master in conservation-restoration. The Bachelor of Arts UAS(3) in Conservation is intended to train professionals able to describe and to record the different objects of cultural heritage and to practice in preventive conservation(4). The Bachelor curriculum The Swiss Bachelor curriculum in conservation is fully modular and designed according to the Swiss and the European guidelines. The studies in conservation last three years and they recognise 180 ECTS for a full time program. During the first two years, students follow a common program of study, defined by the four collaborating institutions through common courses and topics, in order to gain a comparable level of training and to enhance mobility of students and teachers. In the third year students attend courses on a specialized field of conservation at one of the following institutions: Abegg-Stiftung, Riggisberg TEXTIL Hochschule der Künste Bern HKB, Bern ARCHITEKTUR UND RAUMAUSSTATTUNG GEMAELDE UND SKULPTUR GRAPHIK, SCHRIFTGUT UND PHOTOGRAPHIE MODERNE MATERIALIEN UND MEDIEN Haute école d arts appliqués HEAA- Arc, La Chaux-de-Fonds ARCHAELOGIE-ETHNOGRAPHIE OBJETS SCIENTIFIQUES, TECHNIQUES ET HOROLOGERS Scuola universitaria professionale della svizzera italiana SUPSI, Lugano SUPERFICIE ARCHITETTONICHE (STUCCHI, INTONACI, AFFRESCHI, DORATURE) A common scientific committee is responsible for the admission of students, according to the federal laws on UAS. Special conditions apply for the students of the Abegg-Stiftung, Riggisberg. 2 ECTS stands for European Credit Transfert System According to Swiss and European standards, the amount of work expected from the students is expressed in credits: each of them is awarded for about 30 working hours, including lessons, workshops, tutoring and individual study. 3 University of Applied Science. 4 See the document Profil for futher details The teaching language is that of the corresponding school but students are encouraged to attend language courses in order to improve their knowledge. Teaching resources and bibliographies are international in outlook and so necessarily multilingual. For exams and written reports, students are free to express themselves in their preferred language (German, French, English or Italian).
The Master curriculum The Swiss Master degree in conservation and restoration involves two years of full-time study equivalent to 120 ECTS credits and requires students to have already completed a relevant undergraduate degree (BA or diploma). The degree complies with the European standards for education in conservation and restoration. The Master aims at broadening knowledge gained at undergraduate level, extending professional skills and allowing change in career orientation. A program combining coursework and research (MA Thesis) is offered in cooperation with the four institutions. Bachelor modules and courses overview Guidelines for the Bachelor curriculum The Bachelor curriculum is divided into six terms, each comprising 30 ECTS. Each term is composed of 5 modules, each equivalent to 6 ECTS. Modules belong to four different teaching areas (workshop practice, conservation, natural sciences and humanities) and they consist of several courses. Courses are evaluated independently, using the Swiss national scale of grades ranging from 6 (best) to 1 (worst), while ECTS credits are only granted for modules, not for courses. To receive the ECTS credits related to a specific module, students must obtain an average of 4 in the module s course grades. The final bachelor Thesis awards 12 ECTS
Teaching Areas, module distribution and module codes The following graph shows the distribution of modules over terms and teaching areas. Term Module code Workshop practice modules Conservation modules Natural Sciences modules Humanities modules 1 A AW1 AW2 AC1 AN1 AH1 2 AW3 AW4 AC2 AN2 AH2 3 B AW1 AW2 BC1 BN1 BH1 4 AW3 AW4 BC2 BN2 BH2 5 C CW1 CW2 CT1 CC1 CH1 Abegg 6 Stiftung CW3 CW4 CEx CT2 CC2 5 C CW1 CW2 CW3 CC1 CH1 6 HEAA ARC CW4 CW5 CW6 Thesis 5 C CW1 CW2 CW3 CTh1.1 CC1 HKB 6 CW4 CW5 CEx CTh.1.2 CC2 5 C CW1 CW2 CW3 CC1 CN1 SUPSI 6 CW4 CW5 CW6 Thesis XXn: code for module, each module corresponding to 6 ECTS credits Term structure Term structure is designed to improve mobility of students and teachers according to a common calendar providing identical start and finish dates for the modules. Each term lasts 17 weeks divided into: 10 weeks of foundation courses ( courant normal ) comprising three days of theory modules and two days of practical workshop as shown in the following graph: Week Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 1 2 Theory modules Theory modules 3 AC1-AC2, BC1- AC1-AC2, BC1-4 Theory modules Workshop Workshop BC2, BC2, 5 AC1-AC2, BC1-BC2, practice modules practice modules AN1-AN2, BN1- AN1-AN2, BN1-6 AN1-AN2, BN1-BN2, AW1-AW3 AW1-AW3 7 BN2, BN2, AH1-AH2, BH1-BH2 BW1-BW3 BW1-BW3 AH1-AH2, BH1- AH1-AH2, BH1-8 BH2 BH2 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 6 weeks block: internal or external workshop practice modules AW2-AW4, BW2-BW4
1 week of seminar / interdisciplinary studies / visits; 6 weeks for block courses of full time practical experience of internships, that can be attended within the school or in public or private institutions. Two workshop blocks may be combined into a three month period in summer to pursue longer internships. The remaining part of the year will be used by students for the self-learning parts of the curriculum. The first two years: an introduction to conservation and preventive conservation Conservation and restoration education has to be based on a simultaneous training of practical and theoretical skills: External practice is documented and certified by a comprehensive report on the student s activities. The student s written documentation plus an assessment of the students performance by his or her external supervisor is the basis for evaluation. Two six weeks full-time blocks may be combined into a three-month internship. Theory modules Theory modules belong to three different teaching areas: Conservation, Natural Sciences and Humanities. Each module consists of different courses. Theory modules are taught during the 10 weeks of foundation courses ( courant normal ). As two days a week are dedicated to workshop practice, 30 days (3 days each week) lectures will be given each term, while students have to do the remaining hours of personal work as coached self-teaching. These figures demonstrate that coached selfteaching is an important part of theory modules. Workshop practice modules Practical insight into the profession is one of the fundamental bases of conservation education throughout Europe. Workshop practice will be coached and supervised by conservation and restoration professionals. While it covers both theoretical and practical aspects, a strong focus will be laid on the training of practical skills. Within the framework of this curriculum, practical skills can be acquired in at least two different ways: a)modules AW1, AW3, BW1 and BW3 are taught at a basic training level. Students are trained on suitable objects under the supervision of a fully qualified conservator. Students will learn how to describe properly the different kinds of objects of cultural heritage (materials and techniques used for their production, state of conservation, decay), how to record them with all the different techniques required, how to handle them, how to do simple cleaning and maintenance operations and safe transportation and how to provide adequate protection methods for objects of cultural value. Students write a documentation on the knowledge and abilities acquired during each course. Practical work and documentation are the basis for the course evaluation. Each module corresponds to 6 ECTS and is taught for two days a week. b)modules AW2, AW4, BW2 and BW4 can be done in internal or in external conservation workshops under the supervision of trained Master level conservators (or with equivalent experience). Each module corresponds to a six week full time block and a minimum of 6 ECTS.
Conservation Modules: Courses and relative weight of courses Module Courses included rel. weight AC1 AC1.1 Cultural heritage and its environment 3/6 90 AC1.2 Visual documentation I 2/6 60 AC1.3 Introduction to materials used for artefacts I 1/6 30 AC2 AC2.1 Managing the collection and its environment 3/6 90 AC2.2 Visual documentation II 2/6 60 AC2.3 Introduction to materials used for artefacts II 1/6 30 BC1 BC1.1 Preventive conservation of cultural heritage 3/6 90 BC1.2 Technology of artefacts I 2/6 60 BC1.3 Introduction to degradation processes I 1/6 30 BC2 BC2.1 Visual documentation III 2/6 60 BC2.2 Technology of artefacts II 2/6 60 BC2.3 Introduction to degradation processes II 2/6 60 swh (5) Natural Sciences Modules: Courses and relative weight of courses Module Courses included rel. weight AN1 AN1.1 Basics in chemistry I 3/6 90 AN1.2 Basics in math-physics I 2/6 60 AN1.3 Introduction to the properties of materials I 1/6 30 AN2 AN2.1 Basics in chemistry II 3/6 90 AN2.2 Basics in math-physics II 2/6 60 AN2.3 Introduction to the properties of materials II 1/6 30 BN1 BN1.1 Chemistry in conservation I 2/6 60 BN1.2 Basics in biology I 2/6 60 BN1.3 Laboratory techniques and safety issues 1/6 30 BN1.4 Introduction to instrumental analysis 1/6 30 BN2 BN2.1 Chemistry in conservation II 3/6 90 BN2.2 Basics in biology II 1/6 30 BN2.3 Introduction to microscopy for conservators 1/6 30 BN2.4 Photographic and other imaging methods 1/6 30 swh 5 swh: students working hours
Humanities Modules: Courses and relative weight of courses Module Courses included rel. weight AH1 AH1.1 History of art and culture I 2/6 60 AH1.2 Written documentation and methodology I 2/6 60 AH1.3 Interdisciplinary studies I 2/6 60 AH2 AH2.1 History of art and culture II 2/6 60 AH2.2 History, ethics and theory of conservation I 2/6 60 AH2.3 Interdisciplinary studies II 2/6 60 BH1 BH1.2 History of art and culture III 2/6 60 BH1.2 Written documentation and methodology II 2/6 60 BH1.3 Interdisciplinary studies III 2/6 60 BH2 BH2.1 History of art and culture IV 2/6 60 BH2.2 Legal aspects, business and work management in conservation 2/6 60 BH2.3 Interdisciplinary studies IV 2/6 60 swh The third year: a first orientation towards a special domain of conservation During the third year students will focus on a specialised field of activity and they will progressively increase the amount of practical experience. The structure of the study will be similar to that of the Master. Theory courses support the students work and they will be prepared for their training at the Masters level. Students will be based at the school offering the specialization chosen and the activities will vary according to the related subjects: The Abegg-Stiftung offers a specialization in the conservation of: textiles; The Hochschule der Künste Bern HKB, Bern offers a specialization in the conservation of: paintings and sculptures; books, graphic and photographic objects; architecture, furnishing and furniture; modern materials and media. The Haute école d arts appliqués Arc, HEAA Arc, La Chaux-de-Fonds offers a specialisation in the conservation of: archaeological and ethnological objects; scientific, technical and horological objects; The Scuola universitaria professionale della svizzera italiana SUPSI, Lugano offers a specialisation in the conservation of: wall paintings, stucco, architectural surfaces.
Course descriptions Abegg-Stiftung, Riggisberg CW1 Textile Conservation Workshop I 6/6 180 CW2 Textile Conservation Workshop II 6/6 180 CC1 CIETA I 3/6 90 CIETA II 3/6 90 CH1 Textile History I 2/6 60 Textile History II 2/6 60 Textile History III 2/6 60 CT1 BA Thesis part 1 6/6 180 CW3 Textile Conservation Workshop III 6/6 180 CW4 Textile Conservation Workshop IV 6/6 180 CC2 Textile Conservation I 2/6 60 Textile Conservation II 2/6 60 Textile Conservation III 2/6 60 CEx Final Examinations 6/6 180 CT2 BA Thesis part 2 6/6 180 HKB Bern CW1 Conservation Workshop in Specialization I 6/6 180 CW2 Conservation Workshop in Specialization II 6/6 180 CW3 Conservation Workshop in Specialization III 6/6 180 CC1 Conservation in Specialization I 3/6 90 Conservation in Specialization II 3/6 90 CT1 BA Thesis part 1 6/6 180 CW4 Conservation Workshop in Specialization IV 6/6 180 CW5 Conservation Workshop in Specialization V 6/6 180 Final examinations 6/6 180 CC2 Conservation in Specialization III 3/6 90 Conservation in Specialization IV 3/6 90 CT1 BA Thesis part 2 6/6 180
HEAA Arc La Chaux-de-Fonds CW1 Practical Conservation Workshop I 6/6 180 CW2 Practical Conservation Workshop II 6/6 180 CW3 Practical Conservation Workshop III 6/6 180 CC1 Technology and conservation of cultural heritage 3/6 90 Advances to degradation 2/6 60 Paleoecology (AE) Advanced courses in math. and physics (STH) 1/6 30 CH1 Interdisciplinary studies V 2/6 History of science and techniques (STH) 4/6 120 Archaeology (AE) 2/6 60 Ethnology (AE) 2/6 60 CW4 Practical Conservation Workshop IV 6/6 180 CW5 Practical Conservation Workshop V 6/6 180 CW6 Practical Conservation Workshop VI 6/6 180 CC2 Bachelor Thesis 12 ECTS 360 SUPSI Lugano CW1 Practical Conservation Workshop I 6/6 180 CW2 Practical Conservation Workshop II 6/6 180 CW3 Practical Conservation Workshop III 6/6 180 CC1 Historical methods of maintenance and restoration 1/6 30 History of art and culture V 2/6 60 Recording techniques 1/6 30 History and theory of conservation II 2/6 60 CN1 Decay of stone and surfaces 2/6 60 Scientific analyses of surfaces 2/6 60 Materials in restoration 2/6 60 CW4 Practical Conservation Workshop IV 6/6 180 CW5 Practical Conservation Workshop V 6/6 180 CW6 Practical Conservation Workshop VI 6/6 180 CC2 Bachelor Thesis 12 ECTS 360
The Bachelor Thesis The Bachelor thesis is a written documentation of independent work. It covers a topic in conservation and it is coached by one of the teachers. The profession At the end of the three years of study a Bachelor degree will allow: to continue the studies with a Master of Arts UAS in Conservation-restoration; to continue the studies with a Master of Arts in a related field of activity (ex. museology and managing of cultural heritage); to work in museums, collections, archives, libraries, private institutions or local authorities in the field of conservation as a professional responsible for survey and documentation, handling, transport and storage of the different objects of cultural heritage; to work on the conservation-restoration of objects of cultural heritage under the supervision of a fully qualified conservator.