Heritage under Threat (Coursera)

Heritage under Threat (Coursera)

In this course you will learn to articulate your own concepts about (threatened) heritage and that of others. What is your heritage? Who defines heritage? Why is heritage under threat? How can we protect heritage? This course, sponsored by the LDE Centre for Global Heritage and Development and the Honours Academy of Leiden University, and the Netherlands Commission for UNESCO gave its support to one of the sections of the MOOC, will explore these issues. We wish to engage global communities and widen the perspective on threatened heritage. You can help us with this.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

WW1, WW2, Cold war politics and contemporary conflicts as well as continuing political and socio-economic inequalities and colonial pasts are all factors playing a role in the global heritage discussions and approaches to (or lack of ) valorization and protection of heritage. Hence, issues behind destruction or threats to heritage are related to complex issues, often connected to complex landscapes of wars, the war-on-terror, fundamentalism, migration, global warming, financial crises, inequality and diverse interests of local communities.

Course Syllabus

Week 1
Welcome to this course
Great that you are joining us! In this course you will learn about your heritage and how you can preserve it. Before you start with studying we invite you to first go through our introduction module and introduce yourself in the forum to meet your fellow learners. If you encounter any difficulties while studying, please let us know on the forum. For technical difficulties or questions regarding the course certificate, you can always contact the Coursera Learner Helpdesk. Good luck & we hope you will enjoy studying in this course!
What is your heritage?
Hi everybody and welcome to the first module of this MOOC! We have an exciting course prepared for you, with a large variety of topics to be discussed. Some of which can become quite technical, but are necessary in order for you to understand the frameworks we are dealing with. For this week however, we are starting somewhat slowly and view cultural heritage from a very personal point of view. This is important because, as you will also learn later, a personal view and inclusive heritage is one of the main ways to go forward and battle for heritage which is under threat. We'd like you to introduce yourself to your fellow students before diving into the content, so make sure to select the next discussion prompt first!

Week 2
Heritage and inequality
Hi everybody welcome to the second module! Last week we talked about the concept of heritage and how heritage can be very personal. This week we will dive into how heritage is actually defined, both within the field of (archaeological) heritage management, as well as for local communities. We will also discuss various forms of inequality which unfortunately can come with defining and framing something as heritage. Please watch the video's we have prepared for you first and then proceed with the quizz and case study!

Week 3
Heritage, communities and ownership
Hi everybody welcome to the third module!Last week we talked about the definition of heritage and how this can sometimes invoke inequality. This week we will discuss the role of communities and the impact of heritage ownership. Please watch the video's we have prepared for you first and then proceed with the quizz and case study!Have fun!

Week 4
Heritage threats
Hi all! Welcome to the fourth module!Last week we talked about local communities and the impact of heritage ownership. This week we will dive into the various threats to heritage, both anthropogenic as well as natural. We also have a very interesting, relevant and timely case study prepared for you! Please watch the video's we have prepared for you first and then proceed with the quizz and case study!

Week 5
Heritage protection
Hi all! Welcome to the fifth module!Last week we discussed the various threats to heritage, both man-made as well as natural. This week we will discuss how we can actually protect cultural heritage and which measures we have at our disposal to do so. Please watch the video's we have prepared for you first and then proceed with the quizz and case study!

Week 6
Inclusive heritage
Hi all! Welcome to the sixth and last module! Did you enjoy the course thus far?Last week we talked about the opportunities we have to protect heritage. This final week we will discuss how heritage can be utilized to create an inclusive, sensitive and thoughtful society. We will also discuss some of the more technological developments going on in the world of video games and virtual reality, all helping to create an open and inclusive heritage discourse. Let us know what you think! Please watch the video's we have prepared for you first and then proceed with the quizz and case study! Good luck with your final tasks!

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Paradoxes of War (Coursera) Coursera
Princeton University

Paradoxes of War (Coursera)

The Paradoxes of War teaches us to understand that war is not only a normal part of human existence, but is arguably one of the most important factors in making us who we are. Through this course, I hope that you will come to appreciate that war is both a natural expression of common human emotions and interactions and a constitutive part of how we cohere as groups. That is, war is paradoxically an expression of our basest animal nature and the exemplar of our most vaunted and valued civilized virtues.

Nov 16th 2026
13-24 Weeks
Afrique et mondialisation, regards croisés (Coursera) Coursera
Sciences Po

Afrique et mondialisation, regards croisés (Coursera)

Au-delà des relations internationales classiques, le processus de mondialisation mobilise quantité d'acteurs économiques, sociaux et culturels, individuels et collectifs, qui agissent dans l'espace mondial. Nous étudions ensemble, Africains, Latino-américains et Européens, comment il en dérive de nouvelles relations internationales. Ce cours prend sa source dans les approches sociologique et historique françaises des relations internationales, comme celles promues en Afrique et en Amérique latine.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage (Coursera) Coursera
Sapienza University of Rome

Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage (Coursera)

Archaeology has as its objective the recovery and revival of humankind past, and as its aim the rescue and preservation of cultural heritage. Archaeology is, among human sciences, the discipline with the strongest importance for the rediscovery, but also for the preservation and protection of cultural heritage, as Humankind’s universal patrimony. You will be introduced to the way we ourselves reflect on and are engaged with the study of human past: from the practical and material recovery of ancient traces in the field to the study and interpretation. On the other hand, the discovery of human past implies the correct conservation and presentation for both experts and general public: the study and protection of the past we share every day prevent from any possible destruction, misuse, abuse and thus cancellation of human memory.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
International migrations: a global issue (Coursera) Coursera
Sciences Po

International migrations: a global issue (Coursera)

The world is moving, but not all opinions and governments are willing to accept this poorly understood reality. The issue affects both states and the planet, in a process of globalization and of regionalization of migrations, and raises new questions for international relations, now including the South. This course aims at improving knowledge of the subject, addressing the key issues raised by international migration, and assessing the trends of tomorrow.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
What is Climate Change? (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

What is Climate Change? (Coursera)

In this course, learners will become familiar with the scientific evidence that demonstrates human-caused climate change. We will explore how greenhouse gases cause the Earth to warm, and why our recent warming is attributed to human activities. We will also discuss where our climate is headed, including anticipated future temperature, precipitation, and sea level. Learners will engage with the consequences of these changes on our ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities.

Nov 2nd 2026
3 Weeks
Challenges of Agribusiness Management (Coursera) Coursera
Università Bocconi

Challenges of Agribusiness Management (Coursera)

The goal of this course is to understand the challenges and opportunities of agribusiness nowadays. From farms to retailers, from input providers to traders, all the diverse players of this value chain interact a complex business environment in which nature, policy, technology and management strategies have to be considered to overcome future challenges and seize upcoming opportunities.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Archaeology and Heritage of Africa (Coursera) Coursera
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Archaeology and Heritage of Africa (Coursera)

Would you like to know more about the new methods archaeologists are using to study African archaeology? And to learn directly from case studies with researchers working on the continent? Are you interested in knowing the role local communities have in the preservation and protection of heritage sites? By enrolling in this course, you will have the opportunity to learn and explore these and so many other subjects in African Archaeology and Heritage and discover the rich and diverse heritage of Africa.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks
Financial Intermediation (Coursera) Coursera
University of Naples Federico II

Financial Intermediation (Coursera)

By taking this course, students will learn the role played by financial intermediaries in modern economies, their vital role to finance investments and the sources of risk associated with such intermediation activity. The course is structured to provide students with both theoretical notions, through the derivation of models developed by the literature, and empirical application, that are based on real data analyses.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Philosophy, Science and Religion: Philosophy and Religion (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Philosophy, Science and Religion: Philosophy and Religion (Coursera)

Philosophy, Science and Religion mark three of the most fundamental modes of thinking about the world and our place in it. Are these modes incompatible? Put another way: is the intellectually responsible thing to do to ‘pick sides’ and identify with one of these approaches at the exclusion of others? Or, are they complementary or mutually supportive? As is typical of questions of such magnitude, the devil is in the details. For example, it is important to work out what is really distinctive about each of these ways of inquiring about the world. In order to gain some clarity here, we’ll be investigating what some of the current leading thinkers in philosophy, science and religion are actually doing.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Anti-Racism III (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Anti-Racism III (Coursera)

Anti-Racism III is the third course in CU Boulder's Anti-Racism specialization on Coursera. You will be asked to apply and deepen what you've learned about race, racism, identity, and inequality in the first and second courses to a more global context that understands systemic racism and white supremacy as a human rights issue. You will also be invited to consider how you might engage in anti-racist practices in your own life, and you will be challenged to design a community outreach project that leverages your own experience and skills as an anti-racism advocate. Anti-Racism III will be available in Fall 2021.

Nov 2nd 2026
3 Weeks
The Economics of AI (Coursera) Coursera
University of Virginia

The Economics of AI (Coursera)

The course introduces you to cutting-edge research in the economics of AI and the implications for economic growth and labor markets. We start by analyzing the nature of intelligence and information theory. Then we connect our analysis to modeling production and technological change in economics, and how these processes are affected by AI. Next we turn to how technological change drives aggregate economic growth, covering a range of scenarios including a potential growth singularity.

Nov 3rd 2026
5-12 Weeks