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Cultural Management

Basic information
Institution
Name of programme (original language)
Cultuurmanagement
Cultural Heritage Area
Planning and Management
Knowledge
Dissemination and Communication
Programme description

The University of Antwerp is characterized by its high standards in education, internationally competitive research and entrepreneurial approach. The University of Antwerp has more than 21,000 students, which makes it the third largest university in Flanders. The international character of the University of Antwerp is revealed by its percentage of international students: 20% of students come from abroad. We have students from 136 different nationalities, mainly from within the European Union. Each summer the University hosts a multitude of Summer Schools with students coming from even more countries. 

The university offers 31 Bachelor, 78 Master, 17 Advanced Master and 20 Postgraduate degrees - all Bologna compliant - organised in 9 faculties and 15 institutes and centres. 29 programmes are entirely taught in English. Doctoral programmes are available in all faculties.

The Faculty of Business and Economics is the largest faculty at the University of Antwerp. The

international accreditations that the faculty has received from AACSB and EPAS testify to the high

quality of its education and research. Our highly valued cooperation with the Antwerp Management

School also ensures a strong link with managers from the world of business. 

Since 1999 the Faculty of Business & Economics organizes the master programme “Cultural

Management”. Each year around 40 students are graduating from the Masters’ program.

Prof. dr. Annick Schramme is the Academic Director since 2009. Our students and researchers contribute to the professionalization of the cultural and creative sectors by doing research on relevant management topics within cultural organisations. Especially in these turbulent times, managerial creativity and entrepreneurship is needed, also because policy makers demand higher quality standards of the cultural organisations.

Is the programme a joint degree programme?
No
Double degree
No
Joint delivery
No
Cooperation with other institutions

The Master on Cultural Management works together with several institutions in the form of short term exchange. For the Summer School on Fashion Management, there is already a 10 year long collaboration with Institut Français de la Mode in Paris. In 2022 the program also signed an MOU with the University of Sao Paulo to work together on topics related to sustainable fashion. In that same year a MOU was signed with the University of Witwatersrand. With this South African University the master applied for a UNESCO co-chair. In 2024 both schools will set up a short term exchange program for cultural management students with the focus on cultural policy and diplomacy.

Qualification provider
Does the E&T programme lead to a formal qualification?
Yes
Name of the qualification (English)
Master of Science in Cultural Management
Name of the qualification (Original language)
Master of Science in het Cultuurmanagement
Education category (HE/VET/HE-VET)
Higher Education (HE)
Education format
Formal
Programme Type
Initial E&T
Academic degree
Master
One time event or regular basis
Programme takes place on a regular basis
Frequency
The programme starts every year in the autumn.
Last time it the programme took place (start date)
Number of annual graduates of the programme
40
Statistics / Formal status
Core function
Management
Supplementary functions
Engagement and use
Governance and Policy-making
Does the programme lead to a regulated profession?
No
EQF
6
Characterization of the E&T programme
Credit system
ECTS
ECTS credits
60.00
Student work load (hours)
1680h
Contact hours
405
Duration
1.00
Years
Years
Study format
Full-time
Are there access requirements?
Yes
Access requirements Description

Applicants must have completed either a professional or academic bachelor or master. Depending on their previous study they can immediately start with the master cultural management, or have to follow a preparation program. Students coming from a professional bachelor need to follow a course of 48 credits before entering the master. Students with either a academic bachelor or master that is not in Economics, need to follow a course of 18 credits that can be combined with the master. Finally: students with a bachelor or master in Economics can enroll in the master without any additional courses.

Teaching language
Dutch
Programme learning outcomes

The following objectives are central to the Master's in Cultural Management.
1. The master has insight into the current scientific knowledge in the field of cultural management, understands its relevance within a cultural organization and can apply it where necessary.

2. The master is able to critically select, process and synthesize sources and scientific literature on a specific management issue in a systematic manner.

3. Based on an open and critical attitude, the master can scientifically detect and analyze complex problems of cultural management and creatively provide solutions from an interdisciplinary framework.

4. The Master can actively respond to social and cultural developments (interculturality, ageing,...) and can assess a situation and/or make decisions in an uncertain local or international context with an eye for creativity and originality.

5. The master masters the methodology of management research and can use it independently in management issues from the cultural sector (such as participation research, audience research and performance analysis).

6. The master is able to use and apply his/her own knowledge in a well-founded, synthetic and independent manner when preparing, taking and following up management and policy decisions in the cultural sector.

7. The master is able to work efficiently and effectively in a team, to display entrepreneurship and to actively use those skills in a network.

8. The master is able to evaluate his own analysis of and solutions to problems and to communicate in a creative and inspiring way with colleagues and laymen and thereby inspire.

9. The master is able to critically examine the institutional and policy context of culture and to take this into account when analyzing a management problem and proposing solutions.

10. The master is able to reflect critically and ethically on culture and society, based on cultural-sociological and philosophical insights, and has an eye for the diversity of cultural expressions in a local and international environment.

11. The master can reflect on his own thinking and working and is able to translate those reflections into constructive activities and to propose more adequate solutions.

Proportion of VET (practice) element (in % of workload)
20%
Is there a mandatory (external) practical training?
Yes
Mandatory practical training description

As part of their master thesis, students must do an internship in the organization for whom they also analyze a management problem as part of their master thesis.

As a practical project, students can opt for a practical assignment within an organization (a) or a research project (b) within the Knowledge Center for Cultural Management & Cultural Policy at the University of Antwerp.

(A) The practical project includes a problem-oriented assignment and a thesis based on it. The project is organized in the second half of the second semester and is realized in a cultural organisation/company from the creative industries or government department involved in culture or creative industries. The problem dealt with is always a management problem. It should relate to one or more domains of the subject matter taught and focus on analysis and policy recommendations.

(B) The research internship includes cooperation in a research assignment for the Knowledge Center for Cultural Management & Cultural Policy within their existing research projects, which always have a strong link with practice. It always concerns possible research projects of external organizations carried out at the UAntwerp within the Knowledge Center for Cultural Management and Cultural Policy. The subject of this research project is also linked to the master's thesis.

Mode of delivery of education / training
Presence
Required qualification of teachers/trainers in the core subjects

University professors or highly trained professionals with a lot of experience in the field.

Quality assurance obligations of the programme/institution
Yes
Description of quality assurance obligations of the programme / institution

We have a 6 year quality assurance cycle at the University of Antwerp. In 2023 the master just underwent a peer review. The report will be on our website soon.

Tuition cost

See: https://www.uantwerpen.be/nl/studeren/inschrijven/bereid-je-voor/studiegeld/studiegelden-2022-2023/. 

  • standard: 253,6 euro + 12,1 euro/credit (979,6 euro for 60 credits)
  • almost scholarship student: 253,6 euro + 4,4 euro/credit (517,6 euro for 60 credits)
  • Scholarship student: 115,8 euro + 0 euro/credit (115,8 euro for 60 credits)
Are grants available?
Yes
Description of available grants
  • almost scholarship student: 253,6 euro + 4,4 euro/credit (517,6 euro for 60 credits)
  • Scholarship student: 115,8 euro + 0 euro/credit (115,8 euro for 60 credits)