This is a core and compulsory Semester 1 course for MA Heritage Studies. The course is designed to equip MA Heritage students with a range of critical, theoretical, methodological and professional knowledge and skills to the management heritage objects, building, sites and environments. The module prepares students for research and practice in the areas of Heritage Policy and Management internationally, using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for undertaking case study analysis and developing skills and techniques for research and practice in real-world contexts.  Key topics addressed included policy, management and current and good practices on heritage planning, funding and fundraising, governance, sustainable development, conservation and restoration, documentation and digitisation and professional ethics.  

Seminars and workshops on the above themes run by staff and visiting heritage professionals and science-based conservationists will be followed by a relevant individual student project portfolio activity every week. The individual portfolio will draw on scenario-based heritage research and activities, responding to a specific local place, site or building in Manchester, UK.   The outputs will form sections of the individual portfolio and development brief. 

1. To provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in key areas of heritage policy and management.
2. To introduce students to contemporary theoretical and practical approaches to heritage planning, funding and fundraising, governance, sustainable development, conservation and restoration, documentation and digitisation and professional ethics.

The syllabus will address topics including Institutions, Politics and Governance; Planning and Legislation; Funding and Fundraising; Authenticity, Conservation and Restoration; Sustainable Development; Documentation and Digitisation; Project Management.  

The course will be delivered through a combination of:

- University-based seminars and workshops

- Student presentations  

- Group site visits

- Individual fieldwork  

• Describe and analyse the relationship between theory, policy and practice in heritage management.
• Examine and define key issues in relation to planning, legislation, conservation, documentation, funding, fundraising, sustainability, stakeholders and ethics in heritage settings.
• Demonstrate ability in articulating the relevance of tangible, intangible, built and natural heritage for societies and people.
• Analyse the role of audiences and communities in heritage management and documentation
• Position the role of heritage in the local, national and international settings.
• Identify ethical issues relevant to conservation, restoration and use of heritage objects, sites, buildings and environments.

• Understand the links between theory and contemporary practice in key areas of the heritage operation.
• Draw on relevant current and best practice and theoretical discussions to inform heritage management.
• Conduct independent, critical fieldwork in heritage settings.
• Undertake self-directed learning and skills acquisition.
• Respond effectively to a project brief which requires investigation and creative solution of subjective solution.
• Apply skills and ideas learned in one institutional context to another, while remaining aware of the complexity of the issues.

• Identify, describe and document tangible and intangible heritage.
• Contribute to the care, use and understanding of heritage sites, buildings and environments.
• Apply research methods to understand audiences and design, manage and evaluate heritage projects.
• Work with heritage stakeholders and communities.
• Plan for and perform basic heritage conservation.
• Design a heritage development brief.

• Apply practical skills and understanding of institutional processes to professional heritage settings.
• Design, plan and deliver a heritage project.
• Plan and deliver presentations.
• Retrieve, select and critically evaluate information from a variety of sources, including museums, archives, libraries and the Web.
• Develop team work and communication skills.

- Alfrey J. and Putman T. 1992. The Industrial Heritage, Managing Resources and Uses. London: Routledge

- Barkan, E., Bush, R. 2003. Claiming the stones / naming the bones : cultural property and the negotiation of national and ethnic identity, Los Angeles, Calif.: Getty; Garsington: Windsor

- Caple, C. 2000 Conservation skills: judgement, method and decision making, Routledge

- Chitty, G., Baker, D., English Heritage 1999. Managing historic sites and buildings : reconciling presentation and preservation, London: Routledge

- Corsane, G. 2005. Heritage, museums and galleries: an introductory reader, London: Routledge

- Dicks, B. 2000. Heritage, place and community, Cardiff: University of Wales Press

- Fairclough, G. J. 2008. The heritage reader, London: Routledge

- Forrest, C. 2009. International law and the protection of cultural heritage, Routledge

- Graham, B. J. 2008.The Ashgate research companion to heritage and identity, Ashgate

- Harrison, R. 2008. Understanding the Politics of Heritage. Manchester: Manchester University Press

- Harrison, R. 1994. Manual of Heritage Management, Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann

- Hems, A. 2005. Heritage Interpretation: Theory and Practice. Routledge

- Hems, A., Blockley, M. R. 2006. English Heritage, Heritage interpretation, London: Routledge

- Herbert, D, Prentice, R and Thomas, J. 1989. Heritage Sites: Strategies for Marketing and Development, Avebury, Aldershot;

- Hoffman, B. 2006. Art and cultural heritage: law, policy, and practice. Cambridge University Press

- Howard, P, 2003. Heritage: management, interpretation, identity, London: Continuum

- Langfield, M. 2009. Cultural diversity, heritage, and human rights: intersections in theory and practice, Routledge

- Messenger, P. M. 2010. Cultural heritage management: a global perspective, University of Florida Press

- Millar, S. 1991. Volunteers in Museums and Heritage Organisations: Policy Planning and Management. London: HMSO

- National Trust, The National Trust manual of housekeeping: the care of collections in historic houses open to the public, Butterworth Heinemann, 2006

- Pinniger, David, Pest management: a practical guide, Collections Trust, 2008

- Pye, E. 2007. The power of touch: handling objects in museum and heritage contexts, Left Coast Press

- West, S. 2010. Understanding Heritage in Practice. Manchester: Manchester University Press