Professor Valerie Higgins discusses the summer professional development program, Advanced Certificate in Cultural & Heritage Venue Protection, delivered in partnership with Trdient Manor (security, risk, and crisis management specialists).

Program Overview

The Advanced Certificate in Cultural & Heritage Venue Protection is an immersive five-day program that addresses the critical need for robust security measures in cultural settings. Participants will explore various adversarial threats and learn proactive steps to mitigate risks. The course includes practical exercises, such as risk assessments of cultural venues, and covers key topics like situational awareness, surveillance detection, and defense strategies.

Who Should Attend

This program is open to all individuals, with or without prior security experience, who are involved in or aspire to work within the heritage, museum, or gallery sectors. The course is particularly beneficial for those currently responsible for or interested in the protection and security of cultural assets.

Course Highlights

Day 1: Introduction to threats affecting cultural venues and an examination of adversarial attack cycles.

Day 2: Development of situational awareness and understanding hostile surveillance methods.

Day 3: Building defense-in-depth strategies and conducting vulnerability assessments.

Day 4: Risk assessment techniques and practical venue risk assessment.

 Day 5: Group presentations on risk mitigation strategies and operational considerations.

Find out more on AUR's course registration page

When we heard about Project EurHope, an initiative put together by five current International Relations & Global Politics students, we were very eager to invite them for a virtual aperitivo to find out more. While all of our podcasts have a global outlook, this one really takes the cake: in this episode we are joined by Adriana, Irene, Miriam, Bashir, Dario, and their professor, Irene Caratelli, zooming in from various corners of the world to discuss EurHope. On top of dealing with their studies being interrupted by lockdown, completing their semesters via remote learning, and preparing for their finals, these students have launched both a project and a petition that seek to push for coordinated action by EU states to tackle issues that affect them all, most pressingly Covid-19, while also opening up constructive dialogue regarding the EU among young people. We were blown away by our students' vision and dedication, and we are sure that you will be too - so be sure to tune in.

Music credits: "Italian Spirit" by Jewel Beat.

Music credits: "Italian Spirit" by Jewel Beat.

Laura and Ellie welcome AUR alumna Yesenia Sera to their first lockdown aperitivo. 

Episode 2 of 'Damn we've got interesting students' sees Rachel Wertz & Maria Gatti, both Seniors at AUR, talking to Laura and Ellie about studying abroad, cats with neckties, junk food, and London pubs.

Episode 1 of 'Damn we've got interesting students' sees Chiara De Mattia, 20-year-old Travel and Tourism Management major, talking to Laura and Ellie about traveling, studying, sharing toothpaste, and authoring her first book at the age of nineteen.

It may never have occurred to you to take any interest in Latin epic poetry but do not skip this episode thinking it will not interest you - this is a tale of brutality and redemption and is explained in fascinating detail by Professor Gwynne.

And there's some discussion of daffodils...

In 1583 five Jesuit brothers set out with the intention of founding a new church and mission in India. Their dream was almost immediately, and brutally, terminated by local opposition. When their massacre was announced in Rome it was treated as martyrdom. Francesco Benci, professor of rhetoric at the Collegium Romanum, immediately set about celebrating their deaths in a new type of epic, distinct from, yet dependent upon, the classical tradition: Quinque martyres e Societate Iesu in India.

Paul's new book is the first critical edition and translation of this important text. The commentary highlights both the classical sources and the historical and religious context of the mission. The introduction outlines Benci’s career and stresses his role as the founder of this vibrant new genre.