Education and Capacity Building in Museum Studies

It is evident that Egypt's material cultural heritage is one of the country’s major characteristics, as well as a significant resource for the national income. A principal means by which Egyptian cultural heritage is presented to the public is through museums, which started developing in Egypt since the middle of the 19thcentury. Yet, museums in Egypt are facing a serious setback, which is affecting their cultural, social and economic roles; it is the need for specialised education and professional training in Museum Studies. Out of more than twenty universities in Egypt offering, for decades, undergraduate and postgraduate education in different aspects of archaeology, cultural heritage and the history of Art, only a handful are offering some individual courses in museum related topics. Accordingly, the great majority of those who working in museums in Egypt are not specialised in that field. This has resulted in the lack of innovative, attractive and informative displays in most Egyptian museums. Also the educational and social role of museums in Egypt is quite limited due to the paucity of dedicated public educational and outreach programs. Accordingly, this project aims to contribute significantly in capacity building in the field of museums in Egypt by developing a multi-level graduate education program in Museum Studies (Diploma & Master Degree) to be offered to students from different backgrounds. The proposed programs aim to provide a profound understanding of contemporary theory and practice in aspects of museum studies, and the role of museums in the wider context of cultural heritage. Hence it would provide the basis for a professional career in that field or a sound foundation for further research.The study of cultural heritage is multi-disciplinary by nature. Hence, the consortium, which includes specialists in archaeology, engineering, museology and heritage management, collectively provides the expertise & skills required for the project fulfilment.