A dynamic and growing department within the Faculty of Built Environment, the Department of Conservation & Built Heritage is staffed by professional wall paintings conservators, conservation architects, scientists, archaeologists and curators, all with extensive professional experience in Malta and abroad. Research Officers support ongoing projects .
Set up February 2009 subsuming the Institute for Masonry & Construction Research, the Department promotes the study of all aspects of the conservation and management of the historic environment. It is particularly active in the area of preservation of architectural and archaeological monuments in Malta. In this regard, we actively participate in research projects in collaboration with local, national and international organisations, studying the characterisation, deterioration, conservation and treatment of building materials, with a particular focus on wall paintings and stone. Management, interpretation and access to Heritage are also themes of interest.
Our mission is to provide internationally recognised university education in all that concerns conservation and built heritage, while promoting public awareness and stewardship of the historic environment. This is being achieved through a range of undergraduate and postgraduate University courses as well as research initiatives and outreach programmes. We run a range of postgraduate courses which are aimed at forming professionals in different areas of the conservation and management of the historic environment, including an M.A. in Cultural Heritage Management, an M.Sc. in Conservation of Decorative Architectural Surfaces and an M.Sc. in Conservation Technology for Masonry Buildings. In addition, our Department has developed and runs the Conservation component of the Master of Architecture (Architecture and Conservation Studies) course. Our M.Sc. in Conservation of Decorative Architectural Surfaces offers a one-year preparatory programme, in addition to two years Masters, to ensure the best standards on the entry level into the profession of conservator; this also grants our graduates eligibility to the local professional warrant. We also work towards developing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses for architects and other professionals involved in the conservation of the historic environment and the broader cultural heritage, including buildings, collections, archaeological sites and historic landscapes.
We maintain close interdisciplinary partnerships with other faculties and departments at the University of Malta, including the Faculty of Engineering, the Department of Classics & Archaeology, the Department of Art & Art History and the Department of Chemistry, in the delivery of its course programme as well as in research initiatives. We also collaborate closely with organisations, institutions and professionals working in the sector, on a local, national and international level, to improve awareness of conservation issues and to achieve excellence in teaching and research.
The University of Malta, represented by the Department of Conservation & Built Heritage, has been an Associate Member of ENCoRE since 2010. Our Department has been a member of ICOM since 2012.