The Arqus micro-credential “Living Labs, Heritage and Society” goes into the field

The University of Minho hosted the face-to-face component of the Arqus micro-credential “Living Labs, Heritage and Society” from 22 to 29 June, welcoming Master’s students and lecturers from different Arqus partner universities for an immersive learning experience dedicated to cultural heritage, community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The micro-credential, coordinated by the University of Minho in collaboration with the University of Granada, is designed to equip participants with innovative methodologies for the co-construction of heritage knowledge alongside local communities. Throughout the on-site week, participants were based in the village of Extremo, where they engaged directly with residents through fieldwork and participatory research activities.

Combining perspectives from archaeology, architecture, anthropology, sociology and communication, students explored how Living Labs can foster collaborative approaches to documenting, interpreting and safeguarding cultural heritage. By working alongside the community, participants gained first-hand experience of the role that local knowledge plays in preserving heritage and addressing contemporary social and territorial challenges.

The programme encouraged participants to apply ethnographic methods, including observation, interviews and visual documentation, while also exploring the potential of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to support heritage documentation, dissemination and sustainable cultural tourism. Working in interdisciplinary teams, students developed proposals aimed at responding to real heritage challenges identified by the community itself, strengthening the connection between academic research and societal impact.

By bringing together students, academics and local stakeholders, the initiative demonstrated how Living Labs can serve as collaborative spaces for knowledge exchange while contributing to the sustainable preservation and valorisation of Europe’s cultural heritage. The programme will continue online throughout July, culminating in the presentation of participants’ final projects.

Article and pictures by João Pedro Gonçalves