Graduate of the study program Conservation of Heritage Materials and Objects • has deep knowledge in the field of traditional and modern materials of heritage objects, knows the relationship between the structure and properties of materials of heritage objects and their stability • has a deep knowledge of the theoretical basics of ageing, degradation and stabilization of traditional and modern materials and objects of cultural heritage with a possible application in science and research • knows of the progression and kinetics of phenomena occurring during the degradation of materials and objects of cultural heritage • knows the basic principles of conservation and restoration of materials and restoration of monuments, current and historical technologies of their conservation and stabilization • masters the physical and chemical principles of methods of analysis and dating of materials and objects of heritage has a theoretical basis for the protection and restoration of cultural heritage, its management, knows the visions and strategies for heritage protection and conservation as well as conservation science and practice • masters the theoretical basics for the creation of heritage conservation technologies, the search for new substances, new methods and devices, equipment, systems to increase the safety and quality of heritage, expanding the capacity and effectiveness of its conservation • has knowledge in the field of informatics, art history, ethics of monument conservation, marketing and communication in an interdisciplinary team
Graduate of the study program Conservation of Heritage Materials and Objects • can perform a material survey and obtain data on the material properties of heritage objects by laboratory methods and process and interpret this data • can analyze the structure, state and time context of the emergence of cultural heritage objects • can perform and interpret analyzes aimed at determining the authenticity of artefacts, the state of their damage, research and conservation of materials and cultural heritage objects • is able to design optimal procedures for preventive conservation and restoration and conservation interventions concerning knowledge of ongoing physico-chemical processes • can apply basic statistical methods for data management and parameter estimation • can process data and create documents in computer office packages, process and evaluate measured data in Excel • can actively acquire new knowledge and information and use them in formulating recommendations for the development of conservation science • can communicate and work creatively in an interdisciplinary team of experts interested in the conservation of cultural heritage
Graduate of the study program Conservation of Heritage Materials and Objects • is independent in solving professional tasks, projects and coordinating partial activities in the field of conservation of materials and heritage objects • is ready to work in interdisciplinary teams, contribute to the correct diagnosis of problems, apply technological processes to the conseration of heritage and contribute to the determination of the most appropriate strategy and procedures for the conservation • is characterized by the ability to take into account and minimize the impact of procedures on the historical and artistic value of artefacts and the environment • is able to lead teams of employees, lead projects, formulate research problems, work in an interdisciplinary team and communicate relevantly with its members • can present his/her own opinions and technical solutions suitably and professionally in front of different types of audiences at different levels of management • can plan his/her further education, organize his/her work and acquire new knowledge independently
The study program Conservation of Heritage Materials and Objects, as the only study program of technically and technologically oriented fields of study, provides interdisciplinary study in the field of natural sciences, physics, chemical technologies with application in the protection of materials and objects of heritage. The graduate of this study program is a chemical engineer specializing in protecting materials and objects of heritage (conservation scientist). He/she is used mainly in memory and fund institutions, in various departments, specialized workplaces and laboratories associated with the needs of museums, archives, libraries, open-air museums, culturally protected objects, i.e. wherever it is necessary to analyze and monitor the condition of materials and heritage objects systematically, as also before, during and after conservation interventions, where interdisciplinary cooperation with concerned experts is needed, such as mainly restorers and conservators, museum curators, architects and archaeologists, collection and library fund managers, in designing, optimizing and evaluating procedures, interventions and technologies aimed at for the protection and preservation of heritage materials and objects. In these areas, the graduate of the study program Conservation of Heritage Materials and Objects will work as a conservation scientist, chemical specialist in research and development, project manager, analytical chemist in analysis, research, identification, authentication of historical and artistic objects and quality control of applied protection, conservation and restoration processes, chemical specialist technologist, providing preventive and conservation protection, cultural heritage specialist – conservationist, chief executive of monument protection. The graduate is characterized by a deep, comprehensive knowledge of the structure and properties of chemicals and materials, traditional and modern, and historical technologies. The graduate can use this knowledge to assess cultural heritage objects' material condition and optimise protection, restoration and conservation interventions to minimise the impact on the treated object often of significant historical or artistic value. The graduate is characterised by in-depth knowledge of the course and kinetics of events causing ageing and degradation of materials and heritage objects, which allows him/her to propose technological measures and effective means for preventive protection, slowing down degradation and stabilisation. He/she masters modern instrumental methods of analysis of materials and objects of heritage, can obtain the necessary sets of experimental data on their properties and condition, can process, analyse and evaluate this data. He/she has knowledge of computer science, art history, ethics of monument protection, law, which allows him/her in interdisciplinary teams to contribute to the correct diagnosis of problems and disorders and determine the most appropriate procedures for protection. The graduate can absorb the latest scientific knowledge in the field and apply it to solve practical problems. He/she can assess the various solution options independently or as a member of the team and choose the most effective and gentle from them.
Indication of career The graduate of the study program Conservation of Heritage Materials and Objects is ready to perform the profession/hold the position of a conservation scientist. He/she is an expert in conservation science, technology and industry with knowledge of conservation ethics, principles of cultural and natural heritage conservation and protection, natural sciences, historical technologies, past and present conservation technologies and practices, environmental and other aspects that allow him/her to contribute creatively to research, diagnosis and the effective conservation and restoration of cultural heritage in an interdisciplinary teams of experts of various professions, he/she can work in specialized worksites of memory and fund institutions and laboratories of diagnostics and quality control of performed protection interventions, in job positions requiring university education of the second degree. He/she can also work, for example, as (according to the System of Occupations at sustavapovolani.sk): Chemical specialist in research and development Chemical specialist technologist Analytical chemist Cultural Heritage Specialist – conservationist, higher manager in institutions of monument protection. He/she is prepared for the 3rd degree of university study in the study program D-TPOLMI, or others at FCFT (D-ATEM, D-FCH) and elsewhere.
Graduates of the study program Conservation of Materials and Heritage Objects have been successfully applied in practice in memory and fund institutions and in the academic and scientific spheres for 11 years of it existence. In memory and fund institutions, for example, Ing. Ondrej Híreš in the Slovak National Library, Ing. Stanislava Trginová in the Slovak National Gallery, Ing. Nikola Šípošová in the National Library of the Czech Republic. Several graduates successfully work in the academic and research spheres, for example, Ing. Matus Zemlicka, PhD. at SAS, Ing. Katarina Haberova, PhD. at Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, Ing. Katarina Cizova, PhD. at Slovak University of Technolgy in Bratislava, or continue in PhD. study: Ing. Izabela Vajova, Ing. Lucia Kršiak Ponická
The study program Conservation of Materials and Heritage Objects prepares graduates who could be employed in jobs requiring a second-level degree. Employers positively evaluate the capability of graduates of the study program Conservation of Materials and Objects of Heritage to creatively apply theoretical knowledge to solve specific problems and challenges in cultural heritage protection. Thanks to their broad-spectrum scientific expertise and technical approach, they can apply themselves in specialized workplaces of memory and fund institutions and laboratories for diagnostics and quality control of performed protection interventions in job positions requiring second-level university education. The quality of the study program is undoubtedly enhanced by the close cooperation between the faculty and memory and fund institutions aimed at ensuring that students are already confronted with the challenges they will face in their future employment. Employers emphasize the quality of training in laboratory skills, the ability of graduates to be able to face various technical problems and find suitable solutions, the ability to work independently, as well as in interdisciplinary teams of experts from various professions. Employers positively evaluate the capability of graduates of the study program to actively participate in teamwork in solving specific problems and challenges in protecting materials and heritage objects, emphasizing their contribution as a conservation scientist and technologist.This is not the case for regulated professions
