EN-COMPASS: AN INTERNATIONAL DIAMOND OF CULTURAL DISSEMINATION…
Inviting Applications for a Scholarship to Masters’ Degree in Heritage at Newcastle University, UK.
The Centre for Heritage Development in Africa (CHDA), under the auspices of the European Commission’s Investing in People Programme, is partnering with the Newcastle University, UK, the People’s Government of Hainan Province, China and the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development in Guyana, on a programme called “En Compass: an international diamond of cultural dissemination and capacity building with countries from the North, East, South and West”.
The project aims to increase the capacity of heritage practitioners (with a specific focus on indigenous and minority groups) in the participating regions; to identify, safeguard, promote and increase access of local and international audiences to different forms of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Project activity in Mombasa, with Kaloleni Dancers
Cultural heritage resource in Hainan, China
During the first 12 months, the programme focused on management and promotion of art, music and other cultural expressions through exchanges of heritage practitioners between participating regions, and scoping, documentation and collection activities in each region. The team of twelve participants is currently curating and developing a travelling exhibition which will take a tour through the four participating regions as a way of enhancing access to local and international cultures and protecting and promoting cultural diversity.
Year two activities so far undertaken include in-country training in Kenya, China, UK and Guyana. Each of these two-week participatory training workshops involved between 15 and 18 participants and was aimed at promoting intercultural dialogue and to enable an understanding of local expertise and best practices.
In the third year of the program, each partner is expected to identify three potential students in their regions to go through the selection process of one of the postgraduate Masters’ Degree programs offered by the International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies (ICCHS), in the School of Arts and Cultures of the Newcastle University. There is a fund grant provided in the project to cover the full costs of fees and living expenses for these students for the time that they will be based in Newcastle. The objective of this final activity in the project is to help prepare three people from each country/region to be able to go back after training and develop more capacity in their regions for heritage management and conservation.
CHDA as the Partner representing Africa is herewith inviting interested and qualified African heritage practitioners to submit application for consideration to join the said further training at the ICCHS.
The Courses:
The courses being offered by the ICCHS under this programme include:
- MA in Heritage Education and Interpretation
- MA in Heritage Management
- MA in Museum Studies
Requirements for Application:
Applicants should have an upper second-class Honours degree, or an international equivalent, in a relevant subject such as archaeology, history, anthropology, tourism, biology, e.t.c. Professionals with lower qualifications, such as a diploma in a relevant subject and at least 5 years post qualification work experience in the museums, gallery or heritage sector generally will also be given consideration. Ideally applicants should have some heritage experience, for example as a volunteer.
Applicants whose first language is not English will require IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in writing, TOEFL 90 (Internet-based), or equivalent.
Apart from their resume and copies of certificates and testimonials, applicants should include the following in their application dossier:
i. A one page statement on how they have contributed to heritage management in their past engagements
ii. A detailed statement on how they will utilize and cascade the knowledge, skills and competencies acquired from the training within their regions on return
iii. A letter from their Director/Head of Department certifying that statement (i) above is true to the best of their knowledge; that they give support to this application to join the training program and that they shall give full support to the applicant in implementing their post-training plans as stated in statement (ii) above.
Apply by: e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Application deadline: Tuesday 31st January 2012
An independent international panel of experts shall serve on the CHDA selection committee. Kindly note that all submissions later than 31 January 16h00 Kenya time shall not be considered for review and recommendation.
