Our project called HBIEB unites the two colleges, the BKK in Recklinghausen and the Malta College for Art, Science and Technology.

During the DRIC project the participants improve and enlarge their respective knowledge under a common European perspective by studying different ways and methods of working in their sectors in the cooperating countries Malta and Germany.

In both countries there exists a rising need for measures in heritage skills and conservational measures. Furthermore, both partners count among the regions with the highest density of population in 'Europe and so find themselves in a comparable situation concerning the necessity of the protection of their buildings. Therefore the procurement of qualifications concerning the conservation of buildings gains a rising importance in the building and construction sector of both countries.

With the help of this project existing qualifications concerning the recording and documentation of the substance of historical buildings can be enhanced with the help of the building chosen by the respective partner. Furthermore intercultural knowledge will be procured and widened concerning an environmentally friendly conservation of buildings.

The integration of the project results is intended to become part of the national curricula.

An enduring cooperation is being intended by the department of Building technology in Recklinghausen and the Institute of Building and Construction Engineering of MCAST.

The beneficiaries of this project are two lead tutors who teach within the Institute of Building and Construction within MCAST. The objectives of this Leonardo project are the following:

1. To undertake a programme of teaching and practical training to support the delivery of a range of building and construction courses, mainly in heritage skills, which will be accredited.

2. To identify opportunities for student and staff exchanges with the purpose of adding value to the student experience from both colleges.

This project is essential since it will allow MCAST, which is the largest VET institution in Malta, to offer an education with an ever-increasing international dimension.

This project will take place in Recklinghausen, Germany between the 4th and the 25th September 2003.