Tourism & Heritage (Dumfries campus) MSc
Sustainable Heritage Management DUMF5008
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Social and Environmental Sustainability
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
Sustainable Heritage Management is designed to provide advanced knowledge of natural and cultural heritage management theory and practices. The course examines the sociocultural, political and ethical issues and challenges that underpin heritage management. International agencies, including UNESCO and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) that play a highly significant role in setting agendas, contexts and 'best practice' models for much current heritage management policy and practice throughout the world. This course looks at tangible and intangible cultural heritage and natural heritage management from varying points of view, for example: the history of cultural and natural heritage tourism; heritage management practices and theoretical aspects; site interpretation; cultural and natural heritage conservation and sustainability issues; adventure tourism; cities of culture; past and present roles and functions of heritage organizations in society, such as identity creation and the politics of representation; authenticity and issues around ownership and stewardship; and international heritage management practices and contexts.
Timetable
Two hours on campus per week and full day fieldtrip
Assessment
20% Poster presentation
80% Research Essay (approx. 3000 words)
Course Aims
The specific aims of this course are to:
• provide students with an advanced knowledge of historical and contemporary sustainable heritage management theories and practices
• examine and critically evaluate a wide range of case studies of sustainable cultural and natural heritage management practices from an international perspective
• explore the sociocultural, political and ethical issues and challenges that underpin sustainable heritage management theories and practices
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of the course students will be able to:
• understand the diversity of sustainable cultural and natural heritage management theories and practices
• critically discuss the history and evolution of heritage management practices from an international perspective
• comprehend the philosophical and ethical issues underpinning sustainable cultural and natural heritage conservation and its importance in the shaping of local and national identities