Master of Management Studies
in Heritage Management

Context and Objectives

Heritage today is recognised as an enabler of sustainable development. However, in the fast-changing world, heritage organisations find it difficult to adapt. The Master of Management Studies in Heritage Management Programme aims at providing the theoretical models and practical tools that would enable heritage professionals to manage change in a holistic approach, benefiting from some of the latest developments in the areas of heritage management and business management.

The nearby UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ahmedabad, Dholavira, Champaner Pavagarh, Rani Ki Vav (stepwell in Patan), along with the rich craft traditions of Gujarat, offer unique learning opportunities for the programme. The programme is aligned with the Competency Framework for Cultural Heritage Management adopted by UNESCO.

CONTENT

• The programme deals with all types of heritage, yet focuses on living heritage, community-centered approaches to heritage management, tourism and sustainable development. Living heritage sees (tangible and intangible) culture, nature and people as a unity. It embraces historic cities, religious and traditional settlements, national parks, rural areas, as well as traditional arts-crafts, design, fashion and sports.
• The programme connects heritage and business entrepreneurship. In order to secure economic viability and contribute to the sustainable development of the local and the broader community, heritage organisations need to adopt business management, strategy and marketing models and tools.
• The programme attempts to craft applied solutions to the needs of a changing and fluid world.
• The imperative of heritage organisations is to sustain innovation in an increasingly competitive market, and also achieve agility against severe crises such as the economic crisis, the pandemic crisis and climate change.

WHO CAN JOIN

• Anyone with a Bachelors degree in any discipline (such as architecture, history, archaeology, sociology, museum studies, traditional arts-crafts, tourism and business) and with a demonstrated interest in heritage studies
• Working professionals and international applicants

COMPETENCE

The courses address a wide range of competencies: i.e. core, managerial, technical, and personal (as per the UNESCO’s Competency Framework for Cultural Heritage Management).

• Students benefit from the inter-disciplinary initiatives of Ahmedabad University: Take courses from other centres-departments such as: Amrut Mody School of Management; School of Arts and Sciences; Global Centre for Environment and Energy; Centre for Inter-Asian Research; and Centre for Learning Futures;
• Connect with VentureStudio (Ahmedabad University Incubation Centre for New Business) to develop new business products and services 
• Present at international conference; and publish at international Journal of Heritage Management (SAGE) 
• Connect with projects at UNESCO World Heritage City of Ahmedabad 
• International students may undertake fieldwork and thesis research in their home country.

PhD Applications are also accepted

OUR GRADUATES

By the end of the programme, our graduates are able to

• Have a firm understanding of heritage governance and business management.
• Conduct original research, and publish at international conferences and journals.
• Craft business plans for heritage organisations.
• Develop critical thinking and entrepreneurship skills, towards setting up their own cultural and tourism enterprises.

Our graduates have been placed in museums, libraries, archives, local and national authorities and international organisations, and also run their own architecture, crafts and tourism enterprises. Some of the organisations include: Aga Khan Trust for Culture, INTACH, UNESCO Category 2 Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, and Tribal Co-operative Marketing Developing Federation of India Limited.