Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation

MISSION

The Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation (RLICC) offers an international and multidisciplinary advanced master training in heritage conservation at the University of Leuven (Belgium). This ‘Master of Science in Conservation of Monuments and Sites’ aims at educating young professionals in the preservation and restoration of built cultural heritage (buildings, structures and sites), both by introducing them into the tradition of the discipline and into new scientific methods. The RLICC promotes reflection on the integration of heritage in today’s evolving society for tomorrow’s generations. It is hosted in the beautiful Arenberg Castle at the Heverlee Campus of KU Leuven.  Graduates of the advanced master’s program are passionate about addressing heritage preservation challenges in an interdisciplinary manner at a national and international level. Research at the Centre aims at improving heritage protection, preservation, valorization and (re)integration of heritage in society based on needs identified by the international community. In an educational and research environment, the Centre cherishes interdisciplinary collaboration and intercultural dialogue.  As a proud host of a UNESCO chair, the Centre and its more than 800 alumni from 70 countries, collaborate in a vast network with international and local actors.

ACTIVITIES

EDUCATION

They offer an international environment in which the students are taught in small groups and are in close contact with the professors.  Students obtain knowledge through a variety of lectures, sites visit and project works.

RESEARCH

Research at the RLICC has an international scope and outreach. Similar to the educational activities, research activities study heritage protection and management from an interdisciplinary, international and integrated perspective. Actual themes in the heritage field are tackled and the RLICC’s ambition is to be ready to respond to the need of heritage practice in the near and far future.

UNESCO PRECOMOS CHAIR

Since the establishment of the UNESCO chair on Preventive Conservation, Monitoring and Maintenance of Monuments and Sites (PRECOM³OS) a large part of the research deals with preventive conservation concepts, strategies and tools. This research is supported by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Fund on Preventive conservation established at KU Leuven.

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