Summer school of Anthropology: Urban Memory: Industrial Transformation and Cultural Heritage

Date: 27.07 – 01.08.2025

Place: Varna, Bulgaria

ERUA and New Bulgarian University are happy to announce the 22nd edition of the Summer School in Anthropology. The School will take place between 27^th of June and the 1^st of August 2025 in the Bulgarian city of Varna.

The Summer School offers interdisciplinary experiential learning, focusing on urban memory, industrial heritage, and cultural transformation in Varna. Organized by the Department of Anthropology in collaboration with the Department of History and the Regional History Museum – Varna, this intensive program encourages participants to conduct field research and analysis in historically significant industrial sites. Students engage in interactive activities and discussions to explore the continuity and transformation of Varna’s industrial heritage, examining the socio-cultural impacts of industrial decline and redevelopment.

As an Innovative features the Summer school offers a:

• Multidisciplinary integration of anthropological methods with historical, sociological, and urban planning perspectives.
• Practical application of research methods in real urban environments.
• Active engagement with local heritage stakeholders for a participatory learning approach..

The students will:

• Gain interdisciplinary research skills applicable to social sciences and arts.
• Develop methodologies for fieldwork, including direct observation and narrative analysis.
• Understand how urban memory is actively constructed and how industrial spaces contribute to contemporary identity and social practice.
• Critically analyse historical layering and urban transformations influenced by political, economic, and social factors.
• Enhance their ability to articulate findings through fieldwork reports.

Forms of Examination: Upon successful completion 9 ECTS will be awarded

• Attendance and active participation: 50% of the final evaluation.
• Fieldwork observation and research report submission: 50% of the final evaluation.

The course will be evaluated and credits will be awarded based on active participation in all scheduled activities, fieldwork accuracy and thoroughness, and the analytical quality of the final report, ensuring alignment with ERUA’s quality assurance standards.

Dates: July 27 – August 1, 2025;

The course will be conducted under an intensive daily schedule with fieldwork, lectures, discussions, and practical workshops.

Place: Varna, Bulgaria

How to apply:

Interested students should apply with a short CV and motivation letter detailing their research interests relevant to the summer school’s theme send no later than 1^st of June, 2025 to Lubomira Valcheva-Nundloll – lvalcheva@nbu.bg. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

Note: The Work Package 2 leaders and ERUA quality assurance manager will provide final approval. The initiative will be posted on the ERUA website at least 6 weeks before the event.

Deadline: 1^st of June, 2025

We are looking forward your participation!