Initiated and co-organised by the Transylvania Trust, the Postgraduate Course on Historic Building Conservation was launched in October 1998, within the Faculty of History and Philosophy of the Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, based on Decree no. 4223/1998 of the Ministry for Education. The curriculum approved by the Ministry for Education was developed by staff members of the Trust, taking into consideration the recommendations of specialists from the country and abroad, as well as those of the ICOMOS International Training Committee (Guidelines on Education and Training in the Conservation of Monuments, Ensembles and Sites – Fifth Revised Draft, May 11, 1992.)

The course’s main objective is to train specialists with university degrees in historic building conservation, considering the richness and present state of Transylvanian built heritage. Compared to the initial period, the range of people interested in the course has broadened, with students from all over the country now applying, and the number of invited lecturers has also increased.

In 2020, the course was reorganised and reaccredited based on Decree no. 4750/2019 of the Ministry for Education, its current form being a postgraduate training and continuing professional development programme, and its name: Training and Professional Development Programme in Built Heritage Conservation and Rehabilitation. The full-time course comprises two academic years, i.e. four semesters, representing 604 hours (of which 480 theoretical and 124 practical hours).

The courses are organised in Romanian (with occasional invited lecturers from Hungary, when translation is provided) for architects, structural engineers, art historians, archaeologists and other experts with a university degree. The curriculum of the course contains joint subjects on general issues and particular courses corresponding to the professional training background of the students. The practical classes consist of visiting local restoration sites and participating in field trips.

The course had 62 registered students between 1998 and 2000 (28 on the architecture section, 34 on the structural engineering section), 63 students between 2000 and 2002 (34 on the architecture section, 29 on the structural engineering section), 31 students between 2004 and 2006 (23 on the architecture section, 8 on the structural engineering section), 54 students between 2006-2008 (34 on the architecture section, 20 on the structural engineering section ), 52 students between 2008-2010 (34 on the architecture section, 18 on the structural engineering section), 70 students between 2010-2012 (49 on the architecture section, 21 on the structural engineering section), 60 students between 2012-2014 (43 on the architecture section, 17 on the structural engineering section), 23 students between 2014-2016 (16 on the architecture section, 7 on the structural engineering section), 34 students between 2016-2018 (20 on the architecture section, 14 on the structural engineering section), 33 students between 2018-2020 (20 on the architecture section, 14 on the engineering section), 31 students between 2020-2022 (21 on the architecture section, 10 on the engineering section), 30 students between 2022-2024 (17 on the architecture section, 13 on the engineering section), while currently (2024-2026) 35 students are enrolled (20 on the architecture section, 15 on the engineering section). Alongside architects and structural engineers, art historians, Catholic and Calvinist priests, managers, entrepreneurs and geologists have also participated in the course.

Graduating students, after sustaining their thesis, are awarded a certificate, which is recognised by the Ministry of Culture under Law no. 422/2001. Since the programme’s launch, a total of 292 students have obtained their degree in this field.

Occasionally, the Transylvania Trust organises Open Courses with the aim of completing the educational offer of the postgraduate course. The Open Courses address both students of postgraduate studies and the general public, historic building owners, professionals, and students from other faculties and specialities interested in rehabilitation, (re)functionalisation and valorisation of the built heritage.

Programme Manager: Zsuzsanna Eke