Laurea (First cycle degree/Bachelor - 180 ECTS) in Technologies for conservation and restoration

The main objective of the degree programme is to create professionals who are qualified to intervene with the necessary technical and scientific skills throughout the whole process of conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, including the phases of diagnosis and evaluation of materials and methods to be used. More specifically, these professional figures will largely correspond to that of the technologist for the diagnostics of cultural heritage. This professional figure is already present at an international level, both within and outside of Europe, and enjoys importance equal to other professionals involved in the process of conservation and restoration (conservator-restorers, art historians, architects, archeologists etc.) and could undoubtedly benefit from the process of adaptation of Italian Institutes for the protection of the national heritage such as Cultural Heritage Office, Museums, Archives, etc. to European and world standards. Thus, the degree programme aims to develop and perfect a correct mental approach in students who will have the opportunity to work in the multi-disciplinary context that is typical of the sector of conservation and restoration, and will provide them, right from the first year, with both theoretical and methodological skills acquired in the learning of experimental laboratory techniques applied to surveys on objects and buildings of the national heritage. The course units are thus organised into theoretical courses that aim to provide basic knowledge of archeology, art history and architecture and basic skills in chemistry, mathematics, physics, mineralogy, botany, and in laboratory courses that aim to teach experimental techniques and data processing.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING ABILITY:
Graduates will have knowledge and understanding ability in the area of the main techniques of applied scientific diagnosis for the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, plus elements of multi-disciplinary knowledge in art history, archeology, architecture and technological subjects. This aim is achieved through the teaching of scientific subjects such as physics, chemistry, earth sciences, biology and mathematics within the context of the aspects of application linked to the diagnostics of cultural heritage. In particular, as regards knowledge and understanding graduates possess: the skills required to define, within the multi-disciplinary context linked with other professionals involved in the process of conservation and restoration, projects of diagnosis and intervention on archeological, art and architectural heritage, whether objects or buildings, by proposing technologies, materials and methods of intervention as well as systems for control of the efficiency of these methods, adequate skills in parallel sectors of multi-disciplinary knowledge such as history of art, archeology and architecture. The preferred teaching/learning activities are lectures and laboratory sessions, supported by specific tutorials spanning different areas and traditional assessment with oral examinations and written assignments.

ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND TO UNDERSTAND:
Graduates will be able to apply knowledge and to understand by following a professional approach based on the following points:
- are able to use and apply chemical, physical, mineralogical techniques and instruments to the field of conservation of cultural heritage;
- are able to work within public institutes for the protection of the national heritage and in private firms that work in the field of conservation and restoration;
- are able to participate in the design, monitoring and checking of restoration projects for conservation, thanks to knowledge of structural characteristics, as well as the properties of materials that are present;
- are able to perform diagnostic analysis of materials, even in contexts that are not strictly connected to cultural heritage.
- are able to use computer systems for the management and processing of data.
The preferred teaching/learning and laboratory activities are case-study oriented, and include the period of internship that must be spent in either a public or private organisation connected with conservation. This approach will permit graduates to have direct contact with the other professionals involved in this work and to develop and defend arguments aimed at resolving problems in the field of diagnostics applied to conservation and restoration. The development of the abilities to apply knowledge and to understand as listed above is through the study of set texts for home study stimulated by work during lectures, case studies and applications demonstrated by professors, as well as practical activities, bibliographical research and field work, individual and group projects as provided for particularly in the core curriculum subject areas of chemistry, physics, and mineralogy as well as during the internship and in the preparation of the final project. Assessment, based on oral and written examinations, reports, practical activities and problem-solving activities, requires that students demonstrate mastery of the tools and methodologies as well as judgement skills. For the internship, assessment is based on the presentation of a report by the student and the company tutor.

JUDGEMENT SKILLS:
Graduates:
- are able to gather and interpret important scientific data derived from observations and measurements made in the field or in the laboratory;
- are able to programme and complete an experiment, contributing to the planning of times and means; will be able to use critical judgement to evaluate and quantify results;
-are able to formulate opinions that include reflections on important scientific issues;
- are able to adapt to different work environments and different themes and find and evaluate sources of information and data from literature.
Judgement skills are developed particularly through practical activities, seminars and the preparation of written assignments especially in the course units for chemistry for cultural heritage and restoration, conservation of stonework, petrography, zoology and paleontology, physics applied to cultural heritage and the history of restoration within the curriculum subject areas of CHIM12, FIS07, GEO07, ICAR19, BIO05-08, L-ART04 in which importance is given to aspects of problem-solving, as well as during the internships and through the activities assigned by the supervisor for the preparation of the final. Assessment of judgement skills is by means of evaluation of the course units of the students' individual study programmeand an appraisal of their ability to work alone or as part of a group during the activities assigned as well as during the activities required for the preparation of the final project and the internship.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
Graduates:
- possess basic skills in human and instrumental resource management;
- possess the ability to communicate with other actors involved in the process of restoration;
- possess good oral and written skills in their mother-tongue;
- know another of the major European languages;
- possess general analysis and summary skills;
- possess team skills.
Written and oral communication skills are developed particularly during laboratory exercises that provide for the preparation of reports and written assignments that are later presented orally. Assessment of the communication skills listed above is also performed in the preparation of the final project and its discussion, as well as during the internship and its conclusive report. English is learnt in a specific course unit that concludes with a pass/fail test.

LEARNING SKILLS:
Graduates:
- have the learning skills necessary to undertake further studies in a sufficiently independent way;
- have a study method and the ability to work towards objectives and to work alone and as part of a team;
- are able to work independently and continue professional training.
Learning skills are developed throughout the degree programme, especially during the required home study, the activities carried out during the internship and the activities completed in preparation of the final project. Assessment of learning skills is through continuous assessment, evaluation of respect of academic deadlines, of the ability to present data gathered independently and by evaluating the ability for self-learning matured during the completion of the activities in preparation of the final paper.