Urban Heritage Strategies for African Cities

General information

* Please note that for participants from non-ODA countries the VAT of 21% will apply. The Tuition Fee stated above excludes the VAT.

Course components

This Urban Heritage Strategies short course consists of two parts. Part I will be offered remotely (online) in June 2026. Part II is scheduled to take place on campus (on-site) in the Netherlands in July 2026.

This course is tailored to the historic cores of African cities. Urban professionals working in African cities are invited to apply for this course. More specifically, urban professionals from South-Africa, Ghana, Egypt and Morocco (being partner countries in the Dutch policy framework on International Heritage Cooperation), are invited to apply. During the course one historic site from each partner country will be used as a learning case. The case sites addressed are respectively: Constitution Hill in Johannesburg (South Africa), Forts and Castles and their urban surrounding (Ghana), the historic quarter of Cairo (Egypt), the Medina of Rabat (Morocco). 

The Dutch government offers a full tuition fee waiver and financial support for travel and accommodation to selected participants from South Africa, Ghana, Egypt, and Morocco. Selected participants from other countries are not eligible for a tuition fee waiver but will receive financial support for travel and accommodation.

UHS post-graduate diploma is obtained after successful completion of part I and part II.

In cities around the world, built heritage is under pressure from either over- or under-development. Cities struggle to combine desired conservation with necessary development. Meanwhile, we may observe that heritage plays an increasingly important role in the present-day city. It reflects the identity of its residents, reveals stories about its past and gives character and human scale to the city. If managed properly, heritage can effectively contribute to the urban challenges and serve as a vital asset for future development.

Urban Heritage Strategies (UHS) aims to develop a better understanding of the complex relationship between urban development and heritage management. UHS develops capacities in terms of cognitive knowledge and practical skills to perform the management of historic urban cores. 

This year’s course is tailored to four case sites in Africa that struggle with, amongst others, urban regeneration, climate adaptation and social inclusion. 

How and to what extent can the urban heritage accommodate current and future needs? And inversely, which developments can provide a base of existence and future perspective to the heritage at stake? Participants will seek answers to these key questions and explore the opportunities, challenges, and risks facing historic African cities today. By the end of the course, participants will be able to develop a strategic action plan for historic urban cores in Africa.

The course highlights how perspectives from different urban disciplines interact with heritage conservation through real-world case studies. Participants will learn how urban management tools and heritage conservation approaches inform and reinforce one another. Key urban heritage conservation concepts, such as integrated conservation, are introduced, alongside an examination of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of heritage conservation.

Throughout the course, participants will critically reflect on which strategies are effective in different contexts and why, while stimulating the exchange of experience with fellow participants and expanding their professional network.

How will I learn?

The course is developed by the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (part of Erasmus University Rotterdam) in close cooperation with the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. The curriculum draws upon both the knowledge of the academic institute and the expertise of the governmental department.

The short course on Urban Heritage Strategies consists of two parts.

Part I (online)

Part I is offered remotely and consists of online activities, including lectures, discussions, group work and individual self-study components, as well as individual and group assignments. Throughout the whole course, you work in subgroups focusing on one of the selected heritage cities. The online course has a duration of eight days and takes place between Wednesday 3 June and Friday 12 June 2026. Please note that you will be expected to spend full working days on the course during this online part. 

Part II (on-site)

Part II builds upon the lessons learned during the online course (Part I) and will be conducted face-to-face in the Netherlands for the duration of eight days. It takes place between Wednesday 15 and Friday 24 July 2026. The analyses produced in part I of the course will be used as a basis for the group work in part II, which follows the steps of the Strategic Action Planning Methodology. Additionally, excursions and exchanges with leading experts in the field will take place during this part.

What will I learn?

The overall learning objectives which guide Part I and Part II of the course are:

• Improve cognitive knowledge on ‘integrated conservation’
• Strengthen applicable skills (assessing tools for a Strategic Action Plan)
• Create and expand the participants’ professional networks

Throughout Parts I and II of the course, you will critically reflect on which strategies are effective in different contexts and why.

Part I (online)

Part I of Urban Heritage Strategies (UHS) aims to develop a better understanding of the complex relationship between urban development and heritage management in World Heritage Cities. The online course covers the holistic context of the historic city in its economic, social, environmental and cultural dimensions. Besides, it looks into the management, planning and governance of the historic city. In this way, urban management tools will be brought into relation with heritage conservation and vice versa. You will learn about the potentials, challenges and risks the historic cities face. At the end of Part I of the short course on Urban Heritage Strategies for African Cities you will be able to explain how different urban disciplines interact with heritage conservation. Also, you will get to know specific urban heritage conservation approaches.

Part II (on-site)

In Part II, you will refresh and apply the knowledge gained in the first part of the course. Based on the assignments as conducted in your case city, you will be guided to develop a strategic action plan for historic urban cores. This means that you will learn to critically reflect on and apply urban heritage strategies to your own practice, which involves the consideration of different perspectives of related disciplines to your assigned case. By the end of Part II, you will have 

Am I suitable for this training course? 

This is the right course for you, if you are engaged in urban management or heritage conservation

• as an official, in the government the private sector or at an NGO,
• as a consultant, advisor, lecturer, or academic researcher. 

Please check our admission requirements to ensure you meet the minimum requirements for the course.

Thematic areas

Typically, but not exclusively, the following thematic areas are covered.

• Values and Attributes
• Development pressure
• Management Plans
• Integrated conservation
• Urban planning and governance
• Public-private partnerships
• Heritage economics
• Community participation
• Gentrification
• Adaptive reuse

How to apply

Are you interested in participating in this short course? Use the "Apply now" button above to submit your application using our new, simplified, user-friendly forms. For questions regarding the application procedure and admission requirements, visit our dedicated information page. 

Fellowships

Selected participants from South-Africa, Ghana, Egypt and Morocco (partner countries in the Dutch policy framework on International Heritage Cooperation) will receive a full tuition fee waiver. Besides, they will receive financial support for travel and stay. Selected participants, not residing in South-Africa, Ghana, Egypt or Morocco are  not entitled to receive a tuition fee waiver, yet they will receive financial support for travel and stay. In case these selected participants are searching for a sponsor, they can have a look at our section on available funding opportunities.