European Industrial Heritage Summer School
Transformation of Industrial Heritage
The European Industrial Heritage Summer School was an intensive 10-day academic program. The unique combination of theoretical discussions, site visits and workshops in a collaborative format provides a holistic learning experience for our participants. In 2026 we explored different forms of transformation of industrial heritage sites such as factories, social housing, mills, mines, ports, railways and power plants.
23 participants from 16 countries spent around two weeks exploring the 'Transformation of Industrial Heritage'. The students had a wide range of academic backgrounds, including architecture, restoration, history, urban planning, museology, engineering, design, sociology, philosophy and management, which greatly enriched the exchange of different perspectives on the topic. An intercultural training session during the onboarding process helped the participants and the team to work together.
On site in Berlin
The group went on excursions to fascinating sites of transformation, ranging from the Industriesalon Schöneweide e.V. to the historic harbour of Berlin and the Natur Park Südgelände. A special walk around the HTW campus focused on the planned climate adaptation measures for the coming years.
Speakers from Berlin, the ERIH network (European Route of Industrial Heritage), Georgia and Taiwan shared their insights in lectures. During the poster sessions, students presented projects from their home or study countries, and collectively discussed the challenges and ideas relating to the transformation sites presented.
Following the Transformation and Design Thinking workshops, the students worked in groups to develop different project ideas. They then presented their final concepts to experts from Berlin and across Europe.
Impressions Summer School 2026
Impressions Summer School 2023 and 2024
Key facts
| Where | The workrooms are located on the Wilhelminenhof Campus of HTW Berlin in Oberschöneweide |
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| When | Obligatory preparation meeting online: 25 July 2026, 9–13 CET On Site in Berlin: 9–20 August 2026 |
| Who | Students from Europe, aged 18–30 years old, with an interest in industrial culture and heritage. Eligible are all bachelor and master students who are enrolled at a university. Bachelor students have to be at least in their 2nd semester. We strive to make the group international and diverse. |
| Teaching Language | English. We require B2 English language skills. |
| Certification | Certification of participation (3 ECTS). Participants must apply for recognition at their university on their own behalf. |
| Participation fees | 360 € including:
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| Costs to be considered individually |
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| Travel grant | We offer a limited travel grant of up to 100 €. Special preference will be given to participants from lower income European Countries (GDP per capita < 75% of the EU average, as classified under EU Cohesion Policy), such as Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Poland, Hungary, or Croatia, who lack sufficient financial support elsewhere. You may apply for the grant after successful participation confirmation. |
| Fellowship | The Summer School is a program of the European Route of Industrial Heritage in cooperation with the Berlin Center for Industrial Heritage and the HTW Berlin. The acceptance to the Summer School is linked to an ERIH scholarship, which allows to keep the participation fees low. Your successful application is connected to an ERIH Scholarship for every participant, reducing the fee to 360 €. The original price would have been 1700 €. |
| Application | The application period for 2026 has closed. |
| Confirmation for acceptance | From 15 April 2026 on a rolling basis until all places are allocated. |
| Capacity | A maximum of 23 students will be admitted. |
| Accommodation | You will stay in shared rooms in the guesthouse of a Berlin canoe club near the HTW Berlin. During the Summer School you will live and work in a community of your own design. Two participants from Berlin will be at your side as team leaders. The house is for the group’s use only and at your responsibility. Located directly on the river spree, the accommodation has a barbecue area, kitchen, large common room, shared sanitary facilities and free WiFi. |
| Meals | The participation fee includes a food allowance (breakfast, lunch, dinner). Participants use this allowance to provide for themselves and organize a shopping and kitchen plan together. |
| Free time | Berlin hosts enormous cultural diversity and has got everything to spend your free time in an exciting way. On Sunday you are free to discover Berlin on your own. |
Wrap-up
After the Summer School you are warmly invited to stay in contact with the European Route of Industrial Heritage and become part of the Young Professional Network. The Summer School and results of the working groups will be presented at the ERIH annual conference in October.
Our Partner
The Summer School 2026 is organized by the Berlin Center for Industrial Heritag (bzi) with the support of the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) and in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Berlin (HTW Berlin).