INFORMAL TRAINING MODELS FOR IMPLEMENTATION STAFF IN THE CONSERVATION OF ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE

Implementation works for conservation and restoration are endeavors that require exclusive specialization and experience, because of the variety of work items, the unexpected challenges that may emerge during implementation and the possible irreversible damages of incorrect interventions. However, in Turkey, - just as in the case of new constructions- inexperienced, and unqualified workers are often being employed on conservation and restoration sites. It is not possible to expect conservation and restoration work of the desired quality with the absence of qualified workers. Traditional building crafts and architectural conservation practises, which in the past used to be transferred from master to apprentice, appear today as a vocational and technical education field. By the end of 2012, 15 vocational high schools and 29 junior technical colleges were operational in Turkey for vocational and technical education in restoration and conservation. Despite the rapid growth in the number of such programs in the past years, vocational and technical education has not fulfilled the expectations and objectives. Vocational and technical training (VET) is a model that is based on the relationship of education, industry and employment. However, the expected correlation of these sectors is not achieved under the present conditions. A solution to the problem of implementation staff in Turkey is pursued over two distinct channels: arrangements for formal education and efforts to improve informal training. Along with projects to improve the education offered at VET schools, efforts are also being spent to train intermediary staff for architectural conservation via informal courses. Within the study, the initiatives of KOREFD (Association of Conservation and Restoration Firms), KUDEB (Directorate for the Inspection of Conservation Implementations) and CEKUL (the Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage), will be introduced, as informal training programs in Turkey with tendencies of sustainability; the problems regarding the target group, certification, local characteristics and sustainability will be specified; European examples of informal trainings will be introduced, and a new model will be proposed for improving the quality of informal training in architectural conservation in Turkey.