Knowledge transfer and capacity building: Dutch support of heritage professionals

Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands

Many people associate Dutch heritage with buildings or other objects in the Netherlands – but, as the RCE website states: 'heritage doesn't stop at national borders'. Our heritage can also be found outside the Netherlands; think of Dutch art in foreign museums, colonial buildings, and Dutch shipwrecks. "That's all heritage we care about, but can't always do something with: you can't claim a building, for example," Remco explains. "But we do receive questions about, for instance, maintenance and restoration of that building."

Remco has been working at the RCE for a year and feels completely at home there. "I accidentally found my dream job, it's truly fantastic what I'm allowed and able to do here." Previously, he worked for a long time at the Institute for Housing Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he regularly dealt with the RCE. During that time, he also got to know Risbo, for example by obtaining his University Teaching Qualification (UTQ, or BKO in Dutch). Additionally, IHS and RCE enlisted Risbo's help to convert the Urban Heritage Strategies project into an online program during the coronavirus pandemic, and after the pandemic into a hybrid program.

Remco and his RCE colleagues primarily focus on knowledge exchange and capacity building, for example by training museum professionals in other countries. This has changed over the years, Remco explains: "Cultural diplomacy has long had a 'flavor' of influence and cultural or intellectual superiority. With time and changed insights and relationships, this has evolved into: how do we deal with shared challenges, such as climate and tourism, and what can we learn from each other?"

Capacity Building

The Netherlands, and the RCE in particular, preferably works on projects that support other countries in their own knowledge and capacity building in the field of maintenance and management of cultural heritage. This is reflected, for example, in the Dutch restitution policy for objects that were (unlawfully) taken to the Netherlands during the colonial period. It's not just about returning the objects in question: If the receiving local partner requests it, the RCE can also support future management of those objects. "It regularly happens that we then roll out a series of trainings to strengthen that local partner in the necessary knowledge and expertise," Remco explains.

One of his tasks is to centralize and professionalize the organization of RCE's training programs for foreign partners. Didactics naturally plays an important role in this, at various levels. He and several colleagues have started developing a basic curriculum for collection management training. For this, Remco worked closely with Esther Schut and William Pitz from Risbo, who facilitated several design sessions. The basic curriculum revolves around managing a collection and everything that entails. The exact content is interchangeable and adaptable to the context, collection, and professionalism of the respective partner being trained.

Train-the-trainer Sessions

"For our trainers, it's important to learn to work with that basic curriculum. They need to be well-versed didactically – for example, in the field of activating work methods and presentation skills – but also have sufficient tools to tailor that basic curriculum," Remco explains. "They need to know well how to ensure constructive alignment, but also plan space for group work and presentation time, for example."

To this end, Risbo organized several '4T sessions': Train-the-trainer trainings. These are sessions aimed at training RCE's trainer pool: the colleagues who are sent out to give trainings abroad. Remco himself also attended the 4T sessions. "I have my UTQ, of course, but I don't have a museum background. By participating myself, I refresh my didactic knowledge and simultaneously learn about collection management."

That 'Risbo toolkit' also helps in the rest of Remco's work. Soon he will travel to Japan for the RCE for several knowledge exchanges with two Japanese national museums where making complex, sensitive history discussable is central. "Through my Risbo trainings, I not only know well how to position myself in a workshop and what contributes to conversation leadership," Remco explains, "but I've also learned how to use activating work methods that contribute to a good work session."

Practice what you preach 

Remco is very pleased with the collaboration with Risbo, particularly with Esther and William. "Risbo is a very pleasant partner. I actually find all Risbo colleagues I've worked with over the years to be nice, open people who are good at their work. They're punctual, they work structured, also in following up on contact. Content-wise, it's pleasant that they're flexible in the forms of support. I can really come to them with all my questions. They also take work off your hands on many fronts, but also always provide materials you can continue with yourself."

What does he mean by open? Remco elaborates: "They're not afraid to give honest feedback, so to confront you with something, but they always do this respectfully and constructively. They explain well what they mean. They practice what they preach. It's not for nothing that I enjoy working with them, and I certainly want to continue doing so."

Tekst: Hanna van Impelen-Emmering

Would you like to know more about the Train-the-trainer-Training sessions?

Do you deliver training sessions or regularly guide colleagues during workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions, or instructions? Would you like to strengthen your role as a trainer? The Train-the-Trainer-Training (4T) sessions provide you with practical didactic tools to design and deliver your training in an effective, engaging, and professional way. This training is based on the content of the University Delivery Qualification trajectory, but is specifically developed for professionals fulfill roles as trainers, facilitators, or project leaders. The focus is on strengthening didactic and presentation skills in an interactive and safe environment, without assessments or lesson observations. Esther and William are happy to tell you all about it!