Drawing upon a range of identified UNESCO World Heritage sites, we consider how climate change has impacted on the conservation, preservation and presentation of the past. We also consider strategies and preventive actions, mitigation, collaboration, tangible and intangible heritage and the sustainable conservation of heritage for a resilient and flourishing future.
This course is part of the Oxford University Summer School for Adults (OUSSA) programme.
Participants are taught in small seminar groups of up to 12 students, and receive two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor.
The Fragile Past: Course Introduction
Resilience, Strategy and Contemplative Ecology: Introducing Tangible and Intangible Heritage
Climate Responsibility: The Human Impact
Stone and Water: A Closer Look at Open Air Sites
The Built Environment: Architecture and Internal Locales
Climate Change and Tourism: Fieldtrip Preparation
Fieldtrip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stonehenge
Fieldtrip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Avebury
Mitigating Climate Change on Heritage Sites: Fieldtrip Review
Natural Places: Green and Blue Heritage
The Way Forward: Seminar Discussion
A Resilient Future: Course Summary
The daily timetable will normally be as follows:
14.00–16.30 - Registration
16.30–17.00 - Orientation meeting
17.00–17.30 - Classroom orientation for tutor and students
17.30–18.00 - Drinks reception
18.00–20.00 - Welcome dinner
09.00–10.30 - Seminar
10.30–11.00 - Tea/coffee break
11.00–12.30 - Seminar
12.30–13.30 - Lunch
13.30–18.00 - Afternoons are free for tutorials, individual study, course-related field trips or exploring the many places of interest in and around Oxford.
18.00–19.00 - Dinner (There is a formal gala dinner every Friday to close each week of the programme)
A range of optional social events will be offered throughout the summer school. These are likely to include: a quiz night, visit to historic pubs in Oxford, visit to Christ Church for Evensong and after-dinner talks and discussions.
Please view your recommended Reading List by clicking here
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Fee Option 1 (Single en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) | £1960.00 |
| Fee Option 2 (Double en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) 1 person | £2050.00 |
| Fee Option 3 (Twin en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) per person | £1660.00 |
| Fee Option 4 (No Accommodation - inc. Tuition, Lunch & Dinner) | £1160.00 |
Concessionary rates are available on a non-residential basis for those that qualify, more information can be found here
Unfortunately we do not offer any specific scholarships or funding opportunities for OUSSA programme, but you can visit our departmental funding webpage, where you may be able to find a particular source of funding that matches your requirements alongside meeting the funding criteria.
Please be aware that all payments made via non-UK credit/debit cards and bank accounts are subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.
Tuition and meals are included in the programme fee, with both residential and non-residential options available.
Course change administration fee: Please note that course transfers may be permitted in exceptional circumstances; however, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions, an administration fee of £50 will be charged.
Participants who wish to cancel must inform the Programme Administrator in writing: by email to oussa@conted.ox.ac.uk or by post to OUSSA, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, OXFORD, OX1 2JA, UK.
The following cancellation and refund policy applies in all cases:
Where there is good reason, OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course by giving you notice in writing at any time before the course is due to start. In these cases, we will endeavour to offer a transfer to another available course if practical and acceptable to you, subject to payment or refund of any difference in the course fees. Alternatively, we will refund the course fees that you have already paid. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred. The status of this course will be reviewed on 1 May 2024. If it is likely that the course may be cancelled, anyone affected will be notified by email within 7 days; if you have not heard from OUDCE by 8 May 2024, you should assume that your course will be running. You may wish to delay finalising your travel arrangements until after this date.
OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course at short notice in exceptional circumstances that would prevent the course from being delivered e.g. tutor illness. In these rare instances, we will notify you as soon as possible and arrange a transfer to another available Oxford Experience course. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred.
Where course fees have been paid in currencies other than pounds sterling, refunds will be subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.
The Department cannot be held responsible for any costs you may incur in relation to travel or accommodation bookings as a result of a course cancellation, or if you are unable to attend the course for any other reason. You are advised to check cancellation policies carefully and to purchase travel insurance.
Fay Stevens is an archaeologist and award-winning lecturer and researcher. She has worked in archaeological projects in Armenia, Europe and the UK and has travelled extensively on academic research including Syria, Jordan, Armenia, USA and Japan. She specializes in the philosophy of phenomenology in archaeology and was part of a ground-breaking project at UCL developing phenomenological research methods and thinking in landscape archaeology. Her work is a process of excavation; an unravelling of layers of time, memory and substance. In 2022 she received a Creative Commissions for Climate Action Fund from The British Council for leading an international collaborative educational project ‘Reading Water: A Contemplative Ecology of the River Nile (Egypt) and River Thames (London)’ as part of COP27. She is Adjunct Associate Professor at University of Notre Dame (U.S.A. in England) and in 2023 was awarded Fellowship of the Society of Antiquaries, London.
This course aims to provide an introductory approach to the Impacts of climate change on UNESCO World Heritage Sites and use this basis to show how the skills and techniques covered in the classes can be used for further studies in sustainability and heritage studies.
Participants will be taught in seminar groups of up to 12 people. The teaching methods used during this course may include:
By the end of this course, students will be expected to understand:
Participants are required to undertake preparatory reading and complete a pre-course assignment of 1,500 words. Although this does not count towards credit, it is seen as an important way of developing your ideas and is mandatory. The pre-course assignment is typically due in the first week of June.
You will be assessed during the summer school by either a 1,000 word written assignment or a presentation supported by individual documentation. To successfully gain credit (10 CATS points) students should attend all classes and complete the on-course assignment. Participants will attend two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor during the week.
OUSSA is an accredited summer school taught at undergraduate level; each one-week course carries 10 CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) points at FHEQ (Framework for Higher Education Qualification) Level 4. Learn more about CATS points.
Credit earned from OUSSA can be transferred towards our flexible Certificate of Higher Education.
Study when and where it suits you by gaining credit from short courses, including short online courses, weekly classes and OUSSA, and build your way to an Oxford University award. This part-time undergraduate programme lasts between two and four years depending on how intensively you want to study.
Most courses fill quickly so early registration is strongly recommended. If your preferred course is fully booked, you may wish to add yourself to the waiting list and the Programme Administrator will contact you should a place become available.
Please note, the programme is only open to those over the age of 18.
Single accommodation, double room for 1 person and non-residential places may be booked online by clicking on the “Book now” button in the “Course details” box at the top right-hand side of the course page.
Those requiring twin or double accommodation should complete an enrolment form as these rooms cannot be booked online. Please send the completed enrolment form to the email address below. Both the PDF and Word option of the form below are editable, so you can complete them online before saving and sending to us as an email attachment. You do not need to print and scan them. (Please use these forms only if you are making a twin or double booking for two people)
Online enrolments require payment in full at the time of registering.
Those who do not wish to register online or who have specific requirements (e.g. the accessible bedroom) should contact the Programme Administrator directly at oussa@conted.ox.ac.uk or OUSSA, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA, UK
More information about our accommodation can be found here
