On 17th and 18th October 2024, the TEHIC project held its fourth transnational meeting in Freiburg, Germany. This Erasmus+ initiative, which focuses on the professionalisation of heritage interpreters, brought together all partners to assess the project’s progress, discuss upcoming tasks, and strengthen collaboration. The meeting’s agenda centred on the review and further development of the TEHIC training modules and learning units, which are part of the curriculum being developed to standardise heritage interpretation training across Europe.
Progress on TEHIC training modules and learning units
The main focus was on the progress made on the fourth phase of the project, which involves the development of training modules and learning units on heritage interpretation. These modules will form the basis of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) aimed at providing accessible, comprehensive training in heritage interpretation for students and professionals alike.
The partners discussed the adaptation of content from the curriculum developed in the previous phase of the project. They focused on translating these topics into an online course format entitled “Heritage Interpretation: A View from Europe”, which will be launched at the end of the project. This course is structured to cover a number of key topics, including critical approaches to heritage narratives, interpretive communication, and the integration of digital resources in heritage interpretation.
The structure of the TEHIC MOOC
As outlined by the project partners, the MOOC will be divided into several modules, each tailored to address specific aspects of heritage interpretation:
- Module 0: TEHIC Project – An introduction to the TEHIC project.
- Module 1 – Heritage and Interpretation: Sustainable Futures: A critical examination of heritage and its role in sustainable futures.
- Module 2 – Interpretive Communication: Techniques of interpretive communication, focusing on the intangible aspects of heritage and interpretive scripts.
- Module 3 – Personal & Non-personal Interpretive Means: An exploration of personal and non-personal interpretive means, looking at educational tools in heritage contexts.
- Module 4 – Digital Resources and Heritage Interpretation: The use of digital resources in heritage interpretation, including the design of digital tours and the use of toolkits for real heritage projects.
Hands-on learning in Freiburg's natural and cultural heritage sites
In addition to project discussions, the meeting included several field visits that allowed participants to experience heritage interpretation in action. On the first day, after a series of presentations, the group travelled to Kandel Mountain, guided by representatives of the Freiburg University of Education, including Anna Chantel and Monika Nethe. There, they explored methods of interpreting natural heritage in the Black Forest, highlighting best practice in this area.
The second day included a visit to the Uniseum, the University’s Museum, where participants were introduced to the educational aspects of heritage interpretation in a museum setting. This visit provided valuable insights into how cultural heritage can be presented in an engaging way that resonates with the public. The group then enjoyed a guided tour of Freiburg’s medieval history, led by Historix-Tours GbR, which further deepened their understanding of heritage interpretation in historic urban spaces.
Looking ahead
With the progress made at this meeting, the TEHIC project is set to advance towards the next steps in the development and launch of its MOOC.
The coming months will focus on preparing these learning resources to enhance the skills and knowledge of heritage interpreters across Europe.
The next and final transnational meeting is scheduled to take place in Gothenburg, Sweden, in May 2025. This meeting will coincide with the project’s final conference, where results, insights, and best practices from the TEHIC project will be shared with a wider audience. The call for contributions is currently open, inviting heritage interpretation professionals and researchers to submit abstracts by 25th November 2024.