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Unit outline_

ARCH9074: Principles of Heritage Conservation

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal evening] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit will introduce students to key controversies, theoretical propositions and practical innovations that have driven the historical development of heritage conservation. The unit covers ideas and examples from the ancient world until the present, with the main focus being on the period from 1800 until today. The aim of the unit is to help students to arrive at a clear understanding of the concepts and practices that define heritage conservation and to promote a strong historical perspective on the field. Students will consider, for example, the meaning of, and differences between, conservation, restoration and reconstruction; the different forms of cultural value that inform our place protection efforts; the function of conservation protocols such as the Venice Charter, Burra Charter and Nara Document on Authenticity; the importance of advocacy and activism; the relationship of heritage conservation to human rights and cultural rights; and the ideas of cultural landscape and historic urban landscape. The unit also challenges students to think about areas of practice and theory that challenge traditional approaches and knowledge such as indigenous heritage and intangible cultural heritage.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Architectural and Design Science
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
ARCH9003
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Pranita Shrestha, pranita.shrestha@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Pranita Shrestha, pranita.shrestha@sydney.edu.au
Cameron Logan, cameron.logan@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Shikha Swaroop, shikha.swaroop@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Tutorial quiz hurdle task Canvas Quiz
Test
30% Week 10
Due date: 29 Apr 2024 at 21:00
Quiz - 40-60mins
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Research paper
Essay
60% Week 13
Due date: 24 May 2024 at 23:59
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment hurdle task Reading response
Writing task
10% Weekly Approx. 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Reading Response: The weekly class work is assessed as pass/fail and helps you develop your skills in reading and analysis. You will grapple with a set question each week and be asked to respond quickly and clearly to that question.

Canvas Quiz: The test is a relatively straightfoward assessment of your capacity to identify key people and ideas in heritage conservation and to explain heritage conservation principles in the very simple terms. 

Research Paper: The paper is a more elaborated piece of work that will require in depth investigate and analysis of a key issue or controversy in heritage conservation.  

Assessment criteria

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.

Credit

65 - 74

Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.

Pass

50 - 64

Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.

Fail

0 - 49

Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

5% of the total marks will be deducted for each day the submission is late.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to the unit Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 02 Indigenous Heritage: recognition, restitution and place protection Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Nineteenth century controversies in Britain: Scrape versus Anti-scrape Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 Hugo, Notre Dame and Restoration in France Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 The Global Heritage Movement Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 Asian heritage: cultural traditions and physical transformations Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 Heritage and conservation in Australia Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Values based conservation: the Burra Charter Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Activism and advocacy Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 10 In class test (1. Writing the paper and 2. academic integrity) Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 11 Adaptive Reuse: Protecting Memory or Saving Energy Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Social Values and Intangible Heritage Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Heritage Futures in Principle and Practice Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School:
University of Sydney School of Architecture Design and Planning Faculty Resolutions 2022 
Clause 8 (3) (a). Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for each unit of study, unless granted exemption.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate an understanding of the historical development and central principles associated with the field of heritage and conservation
  • LO2. demonstrate an understanding of the key controversies and theories that have shaped the practices and problems in the heritage and conservation field
  • LO3. identify key individuals, charters and agreements involved in the development of conservation thinking and practice
  • LO4. identify the range of skills that are required by heritage and conservation practitioners and recognised by the international, professional and government bodies connected to the field
  • LO5. Undertake critical research and analyse the historical development of heritage principles

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Student feedback has been taken into consideration since the unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

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