Landscape stewardship beyond the nature-culture dichotomy

This training program provides for a series of theoretical-practical collaborative learning activities that aim to introduce students to the fields of description, interpretation and analysis of changing landscapes, taking into account processes of landscape conservation, management and transformations connected to care and stewardship practices in peri-urban and rural contexts, where is it possible to challenge to the nature-culture binary. This international program is organised by the three participating universities, and foresee learning activities between students, researchers and lecturers of disciplines related to planning, landscape management, social and cultural geography, tourism and local development.

This program has two phases:

(1) a first virtual one, in which selected students they will have to follow different training modules, debate international topics related to the BIP theme and prepare a group project that introduces them to research;

(2) a face-to-face phase, consisting of field practices (including visits to protected areas, natural and cultural heritage sites in North-East Italy), two presentation and discussion sessions of the experiences carried out by students in the virtual phase, and a conference session given by experts on the topics covered.

This project is intended to continue the BIP GEO that is operating since 2024, between the same three institutions, and which deepens the training program integrated by Arqus Alliance universities. This BIP 2026 will provide an international perspective to students and facilitate collaboration and exchange of experiences between future social sciences (especially geography and landscape science) professionals in southern Europe.

The main working language will be English, with Portuguese, Spanish and Italian also accepted.