European Industrial Heritage Summer School
Table of contents
Transformation of Industrial Heritage
The European Industrial Heritage Summer School is 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. This year we will explore different forms of transformation of industrial heritage sites such as factories, social housing, mills, mines, ports, railways and power plants.
The course is aimed at students from a wide range of disciplines, including museum studies, cultural studies, history – especially public history, industrial archaeology, cultural and tourism management, architecture and urban planning, as well as conservation, sustainability and communication studies. Students from other disciplines are also warmly welcome.
Preparation
Prior to the Summer School, you will visit an industrial heritage site, preferably in your home region. Later, in Berlin, you will present the site to the group. Ideally, this will be a site on the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH). If necessary, we can help you find a suitable site. Once we have confirmed your participation, we will send you a questionnaire for your visit. If you can’t visit the site in person, you can alternatively research online and arrange a video call with a member of staff at your chosen site.
On 25 July, we will meet online for a mandatory pre-meeting. You will get to know the other participants and the Summer School team and be able to ask any questions you may have.
On site in Berlin
During the first half of the Summer School we will focus on gaining knowledge and discussing the overall theme of industrial heritage. What exactly is industrial heritage? What are the different sites of industrial heritage? What does transformation comprise in the context of industrial heritage? Are there examples of good practice for transforming industrial heritage sites? In sessions with inspiring experts, you will deepen your knowledge of industrial heritage and current opportunities of transformation. We will discuss reuse, conservation, sustainability and social change. In this phase of the Summer School you will also present your visited site e.g. a factory, powerplant or railway track.
In the second half of the Summer School, we will discuss the main challenges and questions.
We will start with a creative workshop to face the challenges of transforming industrial heritage. As a participant, you will work in small groups to develop solutions and initial project ideas. You will contribute your knowledge and skills. You will practice intercultural communication, the organization of a joint project and acquire methodological skills. The Summer School team will be there to advise you. At the end, you will present your concepts and share your experiences. To wrap up the program, we are planning some exciting visits to industrial heritage sites in Berlin.
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 | Application phase for 2026 will start on 1 March and end 10 April. |
| 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).