7th EC conference «Safeguarded Cultural Heritage. Understanding & Viability for the Enlarged Europe » Prague, Cz

1. 7th EC conference «Safeguarded Cultural Heritage. Understanding & Viability for the Enlarged Europe »Prague, Czech Republic, 31 May - 3 June 2006 The role of education in the implementation of European cultural heritage research ____ René Larsen Chairman of the Board European Network for Conservation-Restoration Education

2. ENCoRE is a network organisation of higher educational institutions in the field of conservation-restoration. A main objective of ENCoRE is to promote research and education in the field of conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. ENCoRE supports contacts and the exchange of information and ideas between its members and partners and other interested institutions to improve co-operation within Europe.Till now the EC Framework Programmes and other initiatives of the Community within cultural heritage have been the major sources for international research and development in this area. 7th EC conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 31 May - 3 June 2006

3. Currently ENCoRE has 34 members from among the leading conservation-restoration study programmes in Europe. In addition, 24 leading institutions and organisations working in the field of cultural heritage protection and research are partners of the network.ENCoRE collaborates actively with E.C.C.O. to: - set up goals, strategies and recommendations for the development of a European conservation-restoration education programme- the recognition and protection of the profession of conservators-restorers - meet the needs for the highest possible quality in the protection of cultural heritageSeveral members and partners of ENCoRE are actively involved in the creation of European standards in conservation within the framework of CEN 7th EC conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 31 May - 3 June 2006

4. Cycle of Interactive Development of Education, Research and Applied practise, CIDERA. The education/research cycle produces practioners and researchers for the applied practise. The latter produces teachers and researchers for education. Knowledge and methods etc. flows between them and are developed in cooperation.

5. ENCoRE in EC Framework research 2003-2005 Numbers, role and type of ENCoRE members and partners involvement in EC FP projects in the period 2003-2005. Of the 34 members and 24 partner institutions 15 and 6 have answered the questionnaire corresponding to 47 % and 25 %. 7th EC conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 31 May - 3 June 2006

6. ENCoRE in EC Framework research 2003-2005 Total numbers of involvements of ENCoRE members and partners in EC FP projects 2003-2005 The survey uncovers only part of the full picture of the involvement and implementation which have taken and take place. 7th EC conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 31 May - 3 June 2006

7. ENCoRE in EC Framework research 2003-2005 The acronyms of the 21 EC funded projects and networks that the ENCoRE members and partners were involved in during the period. * CULTURA 2000 project 7th EC conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 31 May - 3 June 2006

8. ENCoRE in EC Framework research 2003-2005 Type of reserach results implemented by the ENCoRE members and partners. 7th EC conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 31 May - 3 June 2006

9. Conclusions 1 Conservation-restoration education is an important source for the quick and efficient implementation of EC Framework cultural heritage research results. Present and coming end-users in professional applied practise are sources for a permanent awareness and use of the EC Framework research output as well as future contributors to research itself. The positive synergistic effect of the implementation of research results through networking among researchers, educators and end-users is now very clear. Involvement in the EC Framework research creates new research groups and projects as well as new organised networks. Network activities contributes greatly to improve the research basis of conservation-restoration education and applied practise 7th EC conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 31 May - 3 June 2006

10. Conclusions 2 The research results produced by the EC Framework research within the past years are overwhelming and impossible to overlook for the end-users, researchers and students. Too few of ENCoRE’s members and partners are involved as research partners. ENCoRE must work actively to change this situation with the goal to develop the research-based education and increase the contribution of conservation-restoration education to European research. The very active and well-organised society of cultural heritage has limited resources. Organisation and coordination would be of great benefit for all parties. Central databases, e.g. organised by the networks, would improve the possibility of dissemination and access to research results. Support from the coming EC Framework Programmes is necessary to help the establishment of these coordination and communication activities in order to gain as much as possible from our research activities for the benefit of our European cultural heritage. 7th EC conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 31 May - 3 June 2006

11. Acknowledgement Thank you to the 7th EC Conference organisation and the EC Commission for inviting ENCoRE to give our contribution to this important and well organised meeting. The author is very grateful to the members and partners of ENCoRE who have devoted their time to take part in the present survey on their involvement in the EC Framework research. Moreover, I am grateful to Christina Lund and Karen Borchersen, School of Conservation, Copenhagen for proofreading the manuscript and editorial help, respectively. I would also like to thank the Members of the Board of ENCoRE for their comments etc. on the delivered manuscript. 7th EC conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 31 May - 3 June 2006