Objectives
The programme aims to provide an interdisciplinary understanding of cultural heritage, examining it through legal, political, economic and sociocultural perspectives. By doing so, it highlights the relevance of cultural heritage in international relations, particularly in contexts marked by conflict, peacebuilding, globalisation and political transformation.
A central focus of the programme is the protection of cultural heritage. Participants are invited to engage with international and European mechanisms for safeguarding cultural property, including human rights-based approaches and the complex implications of colonial legacies. This legal and political dimension is complemented by broader reflection on heritage, identity and power, with particular attention to colonialism, restitution, cultural rights, linguistic diversity, inclusivity and equity in heritage governance.
The programme also explores the relationship between cultural heritage and sustainable development. Participants examine the economic impact of heritage and consider sustainable tourism models that seek to balance preservation, community benefit and commercial viability.
Alongside these themes, the programme addresses cultural diplomacy and soft power, analysing how food, art, language and creative industries may function as instruments of diplomacy and international engagement. Through this interdisciplinary approach, the programme strengthens intercultural and collaborative competences, fostering teamwork, intercultural communication and comparative analytical skills among participants from different academic disciplines and national backgrounds.
By connecting academic discussion with real-world heritage sites in Porto, the programme bridges theory and practice, encouraging applied knowledge, structured reflection and a deeper awareness of shared European heritage, multilateral cooperation and mutual understanding.
Methodology
The programme adopts a blended, interdisciplinary and experiential learning methodology, combining virtual preparatory activities with an intensive on-site week in Porto.
Before the physical mobility, participants take part in online sessions designed to establish a shared conceptual framework on cultural heritage and to support early intercultural exchange. These preparatory activities include introductory lectures and collaborative tasks, allowing participants to engage with key concepts before the in-person component begins.
The on-site week builds on this foundation through intensive seminars, expert-led lectures and structured discussions. The academic approach integrates law, political science, economics, heritage studies and cultural diplomacy, encouraging dialogue across disciplines and enabling participants to understand cultural heritage as a complex and multifaceted field.
Sessions address themes such as culture and war, colonialism and cultural property, the economic impact of heritage, and linguistic and cultural rights within human rights frameworks. These sessions are complemented by case-study analysis, guided debates, roundtables and problem-based learning activities, promoting critical reflection, comparative analysis and active engagement.
The programme also brings academic research into dialogue with professional practice in areas such as heritage management, art markets, cultural entrepreneurship and diplomacy. This combination of academic rigour and real-world relevance is reinforced through study visits, which link classroom reflection with direct engagement in Porto’s cultural and institutional landscape.
Participants work in transnational groups to compare national approaches to heritage governance, colonial legacies and human rights protection, strengthening intercultural dialogue and collaborative competences throughout the programme.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the programme, participants will be able to critically analyse contemporary challenges affecting cultural heritage in contexts of war, globalisation and political transformation.
They will be able to assess the socio-economic dimensions of heritage management, including the opportunities and risks associated with sustainable tourism strategies. Participants will also be able to reflect on the ethical and political implications of colonial heritage and restitution debates, situating these questions within broader frameworks of justice and human rights.
The programme further enables participants to apply interdisciplinary perspectives to concrete case studies examined during lectures, seminars and site visits, integrating theoretical knowledge with practical observation and critical analysis.
Academic and Professional Outcomes
The programme contributes to the development of academic and professional competences by strengthening participants’ understanding of the relationship between cultural heritage, multilateralism and international politics. Cultural heritage is approached both as a normative framework and as a strategic resource, allowing participants to assess its legal, political, economic and social relevance.
Participants critically examine legal and policy instruments for the protection of cultural property and cultural rights, analyse the socio-economic impact of heritage policies and sustainable tourism, and evaluate ethical challenges related to colonialism, restitution and commercialisation.
In addition, the programme strengthens policy analysis and critical thinking skills, enhances participants’ capacity to assess governance models, and deepens their understanding of heritage as a tool of diplomacy, soft power and conflict prevention. It also reinforces the ability to connect human rights standards with cultural policy and to integrate sustainability principles into heritage management.
At the intercultural and civic level, participants develop teamwork and communication skills, build a nuanced awareness of Europe’s shared and contested heritage, and reinforce their sense of active European citizenship grounded in multilateral cooperation.
Institutionally, the programme fosters sustainable academic partnerships, supports innovation in blended learning and strengthens European networks addressing cultural heritage as a resource for peace, sustainability and inclusive development.
