A Core Course on (Site Management Planning and Management of Conservation Projects for Professionals) was held between 09.06.2013 and 27.08.2013 in the Old City of Nablus in partnership with Al-Najah University.

Six international and eight local experts participated in the training of various subjects within the course. The course was attended by 8 trainees. The theoretical section of the course included the following topics:

• Introduction to the principles of architectural preservation, documentation and registration and information management.
• Techniques and materials used in historic buildings in terms of: characteristics, scientific investigations and assessment of the condition of the buildings.
• Introduction to historical development in the Old City of Jerusalem
• Documenting and recording architectural heritage
• Introduction to the structural analysis of historic buildings and assessment of the structural behavior of these buildings
• Site management planning and management of architectural conservation projects and maintenance programs

The Course also offered practical training in the field of conservation based on Arab Fund funded restoration projects, along with a field trip to several sites offering models of Roman, Umayyad, Abbasid, Frankish and Mamluk architecture.

At the end of the course, trainees were divided into groups to work on a selected case study and their work was presented in a report which was reviewed by a Technical Jury for evaluation and assessments.

This course is part of the efforts to establish an applied training institute for practitioners and professionals in the preservation of architectural heritage , and offer capacity building and applied training for engineers, architects, contractors and skilled labour involved in conservation.