Heritage Malta was recently granted funding for a new European project under the Leonardo da Vinci programme.

Through this programme, five European partners, namely Istituto Palazzo Spinelli and Fondazione Kepha from Italy, Technological Educational Institute from Greece, Ecole d’Avignon from France and Heritage Malta, will be working towards the creation of standards in conservation education across Europe.

The new project bears the title “Defining common standards for vocational training in cultural heritage conservation skills. Developing an ECPL – European Conservation Practitioner’s License” and is better known by its acronym – ECPL and it builds on the concept of creating one internationally recognised accreditation. This notion was first introduced by the popular ECDL (European Computer Driving License) certification which, over the last few years, has become the standard in gauging the IT skills of an individual.

Heritage Malta is the national agency responsible for the management of most of the island’s cultural heritage sites and museums, including six UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As from this year, the agency has been entrusted with the management of the conservation centre at Bighi, including the Institute of Conservation and Management of Cultural Heritage which is charged with the conferment of certificates, diplomas, degrees and post-graduate degrees in subjects relating to conservation and restoration.