TEHIC-Handbook_of_best_practices

1. TEHIC, a project for training in Heritage Interpretation in Europe 3 This work is being conducted thanks to the fact that it is within the framework of a European project to which all the partners have contributed, in addition to the opinion of experts in the field. Prior to this, a document of criteria for good practice in heritage in - terpretation was prepared in order to select good practice cases. This practical exemplification helps to pool experiences in order to highlight the common conceptual basis for heritage interpretation. One of the conclusions is that the profession of heritage interpreter is not fully recog - nised, and its competences are reduced to specific visitor-guide functions. This partial recognition overlooks many fundamental dimensions, as heritage interpreters are fo - cused on education and the transmission of heritage safeguarding values. Full recognition of heritage interpreter as a specific profession would involve understanding the ethics and responsibility of the profession for the preservation of heritage sites and their com - munication to the public, leading, among other things, to a more conscious perception of heritage as a social construction. This lack of recognition is due to the unavailability of a comprehensive university cur - riculum. Currently in Europe there are several training programmes in heritage interpretation or a few isolated university level subjects or courses that contribute to the partial qualification of interpreters. This requires a comprehensive approach to training that promotes professional recognition, addresses students' learning needs, and reduces skills mismatches. The project TEHIC, Towards a European Heritage Interpretation Curriculum, which brings together universities, professional associations, and heritage administrations from several European countries, was born from the awareness of this lack. The aim of the project is to develop a syllabus on cultural and natural heritage interpretation for educa - tion in the Common European Area and to make it available as an open resource, so that it can be used by universities or institutions wishing to offer postgraduate or other cours - es in this field. All this within the general framework of the Erasmus+ programme call 2022 KA220-HED, which promotes understanding and integration at European level by supporting education and heritage interpretation. The curriculum proposal must be committed to this training, promoting employability in a sector that connects areas such as cultural and natural heritage, sustainable cultural tourism, and education, and makes an innovative contribution to the valorisation of Eu- ropean cultural heritage in the context of the Millennium Development Goals 2030.