More informationProject website:https://sites.google.com/a/unife.it/quaternary-prehistory/

The Erasmus+ Project Results Platform:https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/projects/eplus-project-details/

Erasmus+

Key facts and figuresErasmus+

Project titleInternational Master in Quaternary and Prehistory (IMQP)

Field: Higher EducationAction: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees

Lead organisationName: Università degli Studi di FerraraLocation: Ferrara, ItalyWebsite: http://www.unife.it

PartnersUniversité de Liège, Belgium; Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil; Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, France;Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Germany; Ministero degli Affari Esteri, Italy;Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy; Université Moulay Ismail, Morocco;Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, Portugal; Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal;Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain; University of the Philippines, The Philippines

What started as a unique master on prehistory connecting universities is now an important global forum – with headquarters in Europe – for heritage specialists The International Master in Quaternary and Prehistory (IMQP) – an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree – is the only pro-gramme in the world focusing on prehistory, and it aims at offering a solid education to students for their future profes-sional placement.

The project coordinator Marta Arzarello explained:

‘ There is the theory part, but we also have field activities during the summer, where we do excavations at the sites of our partners’ institutions. We also organise intensive courses and specific courses. Our students learn how to research and interpret prehistory, including specific and general heritage management as well.’

The programme is a partnership in the field of higher education and its objectives are to promote intercultural understanding and to provide essential knowledge about prehistory and quaternary geology.

Giulia Marciani, a former student, submitted her thesis in 2013 and she is still in contact with some of the researchers, students and professors she met during the master programme. ‘The connection among different institutions of IMQP offered me the chance to improve my preparation, by studying with a great number of professors from different countries and different backgrounds, which assures a wide and intercultural knowledge,’ said Giulia.

The Erasmus+ funding and scholarships allowed students and researchers from all over the world to complete work that was not available before the programme. The Erasmus Mundus label gives the programme and its results much greater visibility in the academic world.

In the future, the project manager would also like to improve the e-learning part of the programme.

Connecting history and heritage

Photo: © IMQP

Participants:350

Countries:9

EU grant:€ 513,000

Project duration:2010-2020