Dates: 16th and 19th of June 2025
Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Format: On-site
ERUA and New Bulgarian University (NBU) are announcing an intensive course “Industrial heritage: The role of space in shaping social dynamics and collective memory” that will take place at NBU, between the 16th and the 19th of June.
This intensive interdisciplinary course will explore how urban spaces influence social dynamics and the construction of collective memory, focusing on the specific context of Sofia’s industrial heritage. Participants will examine the material remnants of Bulgaria’s industrial past, which, due to the lack of institutional preservation policies, are often in states of decay, yet continue to significantly impact contemporary urban practices and local memory.
Key Questions:
- How do industrial sites evolve within contemporary urban landscapes?
- To what extent do new uses of these spaces preserve or transform their original functions?
- Whose memories and interests dominate in the context of transforming industrial heritage—those of local working-class or new economic elites?
Objectives:
- Analyze the interplay between spatial configurations, social practices, and collective memory.
- Investigate adaptive re-interpretations and uses of industrial spaces in Sofia.
- Discuss the dynamics of gentrification and memory politics within urban transformations.
Through interdisciplinary knowledge and immersive field experiences, participants will critically asses the complex relationships between spatial transformations, social dynamics, and collective memory in contemporary urban contexts. They will also engage in practical fieldwork, employing methods such as:
- Observational analysis of human interactions within abandoned or transformed industrial sites.
- Study of material culture including urban toponymy, monuments, architecture, and city iconography.
- Examination of narratives and discourses surrounding urban industrial heritage, analyzing how residents represent, remember, or attempt to erase industrial pasts.
Course Structure:
- Pre-course: Participants conduct preparatory research on an industrial heritage site in their home country.
- Day 1: Methodological frameworks, theoretical foundations, and key topics introduction.
- Day 2: Field exploration of industrial heritage sites in Sofia.
- Day 3: Independent small-group project work based on field observations.
- Day 4: Presentation and discussion of findings, analysis, and critical reflections.
Assessment:
The examination will be held through presentations and written report
On successful completion the course will award 6 ECTS.
Who can apply:
We are looking for 7 ERUA Students that are advanced with their studies – 3rd year Bachelor, Master, PhD.
Prerequisites:
- Have a good working knowledge of English
- Be at an advanced stage of their studies (preferably currently enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program, or alternatively, in the 3rd year of a Bachelor’s degree).
- Interest in industrial heritage, urban social practices and urban memory
- Studies fields: Anthropology, Sociology, Geography, History, Industrial Archaeology, Architecture, Museology and Heritage Studies, Cultural and Tourism Management, Heritage Conservation and Preservation, Environmental Sustainability and Urban Development
Place: New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Application deadline: 10th of May 2025
How to apply:
If you are interested, you need to send a short CV and a motivation letter outlining the individual research interests to be pursued in Sofia, to Slavena Nikolova – snikolova@nbu.bg
Funding:
ERUA students can receive travel and accommodation funding from their home universities. Please contact your local coordinators.
