New graduate program on multimedia systems for cultural heritage

The University of Westminster, UK <URL:http://www.wmin.ac.uk/> and
the University of the Aegean, Greece announce a call for
applications for the

    M.Sc. in Multimedia Systems for Cultural Heritage
    (title subject to approval)

for the Academic year 2007-2008, application deadline Mar 16, 2007,
course starting July 2007.
The Harrow School of Computer Science (HSCS) at the University of
Westminster and the Department of Cultural Technology and
Communication (DCTC) at the University of the Aegean, announce a
call for applications for the "MSc in Multimedia Systems for
Cultural Heritage", to run the academic year 2007-2008.

This degree is a one year full-time or two years part-time programme
and attempts to include in its subjects the latest developments in
the field of the field of information and communication technologies
influencing the transformation mechanisms in the domains of Culture
and Communication. It is an accredited partnership programme which
will run partly at the University of Westminster, UK and partly at
the University of the Aegean, Greece, where both institutions
contribute modules which they are already delivering.

The course and its intermediate awards operate in accordance with
Westminster University's Academic Regulations, including the Modular
Framework for Postgraduate Courses and the Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
published by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)
in the UK. Application deadline for the course is 16 March 2007 and
the course will start in July 2007.

General information:

The MSc in Multimedia Systems for Cultural Heritage seeks to provide
an academic, creative and professional experience of both a
theoretical and practical nature in the area of cultural studies,
museology and interactive multimedia and draws together theory and
knowledge from the disciplines of information and computer science,
art and graphic design and museum studies. This broad understanding
is stimulated by the course's strategy of accepting students from a
wide range of disciplines, such as archaeology, media and
information and computer science, and by organising the curriculum
so that there is a provision for diverse range of experiences,
skills, and critical debate to expose students to new disciplines,
as well as to allow them to apply their own expertise in a new
medium or discipline. Based on these premises, the content of the
course is organised around three major themes:

    *   Interaction design and multimedia systems--the students are
        exposed to the theories of Interaction Design and techniques
        of Human Computer Interaction, as well as to the software,
        hardware and network advances related to the development and
        use of multimedia applications

    *   Heritage Computing--the students are educated on both the
        theoretical framework and practical considerations related
        to the use of Information and Communication Technologies in
        Museums, Libraries and Archives

    *   Digitisation of collections and content management--the
        students gain knowledge on the content and methods of
        digitisation and management of museums' and other
        institutions' collections

    Modules and modes of study

    The MSc in Multimedia Systems for Cultural Heritage comprises of
        seven taught modules. These modules are designed to provide
        the foundational skills and knowledge required for the
        discipline as a whole.

            2MLS7H1     Digital Applications for the Presentation of
                        exhibits
            2MLS7H2     Issues of Interaction Design
            2MLS7H3     Digitisation of Collections
            2MLS7H4     3D Digitisation and Visualisation
            2MLS7H5     Content Management Systems
            2MLS7H6     Multimedia Design and 3D Animation
            2MLS78H     Research Methods and Transferable Skills
            2MLS79H      Multimedia in Cultural Heritage Projects

The course is offered in intensive block mode teaching, with the
taught part of each of the seven 20-credit modules ? [20 level 7
credit module] delivered in 'week-release' mode followed by a
self-study week that includes surgeries.

While at a module level there is no distinction between full-time
and part-time studying, full-time students must take 7 modules and
complete a [dissertation? final?] project within a year. Students
who are expected to complete the course in a period longer than a
year--normally classified as part-time students--are expected to
take 3-4 taught modules in their first year of study followed by the
remaining taught modules and the final project in the second year of
their study.

A unique feature of the course is that it brings together two
institutions: the Harrow School of Computer Science (HSCS) at the
University of Westminster and the Department of Cultural Technology
and Communication (DCTC) at the University of the Aegean, with a
great portfolio of courses covering cultural heritage computing,
artificial intelligence, creative multimedia, computer games, music
informatics, business computing, computer networks and
communications, museology, and Cultural Studies. Specialised experts
from both Universities provide students with an in-depth
understanding of the issues involved in the design and
implementation of virtual museums and libraries, cultural digital
products, information kiosks and mobile devices for museums and
sites, and websites, taking into consideration both technical and
conceptual issues. The block mode delivery of the course is planned
to address professionals' needs in getting specialised in an area of
their interest without having to quit work commitments for a whole
year to attend a postgraduate course.

Admission requirements

The course is open to computer literate graduates with a first or
second-class Honours degree in either: a) an arts or humanities or
related discipline (e.g. Archaeology, History, History of Art,
Cultural Studies, Social Sciences) or b) a technology-based course
with a 'creative' component such as multimedia or web development
and/or industrial experience within a creative industry (such as
multimedia or games).

An open-minded attitude will be taken towards entry requirements and
it will be possible to relax the formal educational requirements for
those employed in an industrial or academic context that is
intimately related to Multimedia, Cultural Heritage and Museum
Studies. Where necessary, the relevance of the applicant's first
degree or industrial experience will be determined at the interview
and by the portfolio.

Candidates are required to show competence in both written and
spoken English to university standard. International students will
be required to have obtained one of the following qualifications
(other equivalent English language qualifications may be accepted):

    *   British Council/Cambridge International English Language
        Testing Service (IELTS) (minimum score of 6.5)

    *   American Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score
        of 600. (The minimum overall score for the computer-based
        test is 250)

    *   Cambridge Proficiency Test in English (minimum grade C)

Admission Procedure: Application forms are assessed on the basis of
the above minimum requirements and those who meet these criteria are
invited for interview. The purpose of the interview is to assess the
candidates on perceived ability to deal with the academic demands of
the course and assurance that they will benefit from the course and
are likely to complete it satisfactorily.

To Apply:

    Admissions and Marketing Office
    University of Westminster
    Harrow Campus
    Watford Road
    Northwick Park HA1 3TP, UK
    +44 207 911 5903
    Fax: +44 207 911 5955
    ellardp [at] wmin__ac__uk or
    harrow-admissions [at] wmin__ac__uk

Application deadline Mar 16, 2007

For Academic Advice:

    Dr Daphne Economou
    Course Leader
    economou [at] ct__aegean__gr
    d.economou [at] wmin__ac__uk


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 20:29
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