B-SHAPES: Landscape as Heritage Summer School for Teachers and Educators

What are borders, and how do they shape our everyday landscapes? Teachers, educators, and heritage professionals are invited to explore these questions during the B-SHAPES: Landscape as Heritage summer school. Organized by the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity (ENRS) as part of the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action project B-SHAPES: Borders Shaping Perceptions of European Societies, this unique educational initiative will take place in Zgorzelec/Görlitz between 22 and 24 August 2025.

The summer school aims to present innovative ways of teaching about borders, landscape, and heritage by involving local communities and utilizing creative methodologies. Participants will gain hands-on experience through interdisciplinary workshops focusing on:
• Photography – Learn how to interpret and convey emotions, stories, and intent through images. Workshops and lectures will explore how photography can be used as a teaching tool in the classroom.
• Border-Landscape Studies – Engage with experts in border studies and discover new ways to define and analyse borders beyond administrative lines. This segment includes interactive border walks and workshops on applying these methods in educational settings.
• Oral History – Understand how individual narratives shape collective memory. Participants will receive a theoretical introduction to oral history as a method for exploring local heritage and historical landscapes.

Through this hands-on programme, educators will develop transferable skills and educational materials to inspire their students to explore history, heritage, and landscape from new perspectives. While the summer school takes inspiration from the Polish-German borderland, its approaches are applicable to any region.

Who can apply?
The call is open to teachers and educators with backgrounds in history, sociology, political science, social studies, anthropology, economy, geography, and related fields. Priority will be given to those working in borderlands or with a special interest in landscape studies, international relations, environment, or education. Participants must be currently employed at a school or institution working with students.

Join the ENRS in redefining borders and landscapes in education!

Apply now via link before 6 May 2025.
For more information, visit their website: B-SHAPES Summer School for Educators | ENRS