CHARTER: Cultural Heritage Actions to Refining Training, Education and Roles

University of Gothenburg, Department of Conservation and the Craft Laboratory, is leading the Work Package Sector Integrated Dynamics. The project will initially map and identify the gaps in worklife, education and training in cultural heritage, and develop models for education and training to bridge the gaps. Sector Integrated Dynamics aim to place cultural heritage in its larger economic and social context. Professionals are constantly challenged to adapt to changing perceptions of cultural heritage, and to assimilate new skills and competences. The project will use regional case-studies, surveys, think-tanks and focus groups to identify the sector dynamics and cross variables, to integrate and assimilate new roles, specialisations and occupations. This part of the project will also examine competences needs of the public, policy makers and mediators to sustain cultural heritage and furthermore test and assess tools to give agency to these vital stakeholders from local and transnational level.

CHARTER has been selected by the European Commission in the frame of the Erasmus + Blueprint for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills - one of the key initiatives of the 2016 Skills Agenda for Europe. Under the blueprint, stakeholders work together in sector-specific partnerships, called alliances for sectoral cooperation for skills, which develop and implement strategies to address skills gaps in these sectors. Within the Pact for Skills of the Updated Skills Agenda 2020, Blueprints were expanded and opened to more sectors - such as Cultural Heritage.

CHARTER is the Cultural Heritage sector-specific partnership. 28 partners in 14 EU member states form an alliance to map the European landscape of competences, occupational, education and training, and develop and implement European sector-wide strategies and vocational training solutions to address skills gaps in the field. The scope of fields are Safeguarding and preservation, Planning and management, Crafts and traditional knowledge, Dissemination and communication and Knowledge. Although there is broad consent on cultural heritage being intrinsically related to personal wellbeing and human identity, it remains a rich yet underrated and under-resources social and economical good.

The CHARTER project will create a lasting, comprehensive sectoral skills strategy to ensure Europe has the necessary cultural heritage skills to support sustainable societies and economies. The project will use strategic collaboration and innovative methodologies to bridge the gaps between educational and occupational systems and employer needs, to reduce skills shortages, gaps and mismatches, and overcome the paucity of cultural heritage statistical data. The project will collect strategic data on five knowledge areas to identify core and transversal competences, including digital, technological, and green adaptation skills.