Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to footer
Press release
Anniversary and alumni party: 30 years of conservation and restoration at the University of Applied Sciences
The Conservation and Restoration degree programme at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Since 1995, the programme has been training highly qualified specialists who are dedicated to the preservation of historical objects, works of art and building fabric. To mark the occasion, an alumni party will be held on Thursday 19 June 2025 with specialist lectures, discussions and a look back at three decades of successful work.
A degree programme with cultural responsibility
Embedded in the department of CITY | CONSTRUCTION | CULTURE, the degree programme operates at the interface of art history, natural science and applied technology. It stands for a holistic education that is both scientifically sound and practically orientated - a unique selling point.
The content of the programme is closely tailored to the requirements of monument conservation and museum conservation. Students learn methods for recording, analysing and treating objects in three specialised fields of study, which are geared towards material-specific and technological features: Wood, Stone and Wall Painting. These disciplines are not only concerned with material conservation, but also with understanding, interpreting and preserving the cultural value and significance of an object.
Unique learning environment - regionally rooted, internationally networked
Potsdam University of Applied Sciences offers ideal conditions for a practice-oriented degree programme. The direct exchange with the neighbouring degree courses in Architecture and Urban Design, Cultural Work and Civil Engineering promotes interdisciplinary thinking and working. The proximity to numerous monuments, museums, historical buildings and works of art in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Potsdam, in the state of Brandenburg and in the Berlin metropolitan region enables students to apply what they have learnt directly to real objects. Numerous co-operation projects with heritage conservation institutions, museums and churches contribute to the close link between research and application. At the same time, the degree programme is internationally networked and gives students an insight into global restoration practices.
Prof. Dr. Jan Raue, Professor of Conservation and Restoration - Wall Painting, Dean of the Faculty of CITY | BUILDING | CULTURE: "Conservation and restoration is more than just technology - it is cultural responsibility. In our degree programme, we impart the knowledge that is necessary to preserve material evidence of history and at the same time help shape change in society. The 30th anniversary shows how sustainable this approach is - in the region, throughout Germany and internationally."
Anniversary celebration and alumni festival
The anniversary will be celebrated with an alumni festival on 19th of June 2025. The day will begin at 9.30 am with a ceremonial welcome and a look back at 30 years of the programme's history. Afterwards, former students from the various specialisations will talk about their career paths and current challenges in their everyday working lives.
After the lunch break, there will be a panel discussion with international alumni at 2.00 pm, which will shed light on global perspectives and developments in the restoration profession under the title "Preserving without borders?". The event will conclude with the FHP summer party, which invites alumni, teaching staff, students and guests to socialise.
When: Thursday, 19th of June 2025, start: 9.30 am
Where: University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, main building/room 067
