INTO is open to partnerships with academic institutions on collaborative projects.

Academic partnerships will typically focus on a specific area of research which is of interest to the INTO network and for which international collaboration can enrich outcomes.

Our academic partnerships offer opportunities for our members to share learning and collaborate across international borders. INTO is interested in partnerships responding to a broad range of research themes, in line with the diversity of organisations in the INTO network.

Examples may include:

• How slavery can and should be interpreted in gardens and houses around the Atlantic.
• How historic houses respond to changing climactic conditions and how we can adapt to mitigate the impact.
• How migratory species can be tracked and protected through winter and summer.

INTO exists to serve its network of heritage organisations, which care for heritage sites across the globe. The global spread of these organisations represents a vast resource for academics intending to engage at the global level.

Research projects for which INTO would make a strong partner will likely seek to move beyond pure research, publications and conferences. They will aspire to provide resources for heritage trusts to better care for their sites.

We are particularly interested in developing partnerships that will:

• be of interest to a wide range of INTO members, from across the global network;
• provide training and convening opportunities in direct response to needs expressed by INTO member organisations;
• provide funding to meet INTO members’ costs. See for example our small grants round in partnership with the University of Bristol; and/or
• raise the profile of INTO organisations.

Partnering with INTO offers academics the chance to work with an international network of heritage organisations that care for places of natural and cultural significance. It facilitates the connection of research questions with real-world practice, opening doors to test ideas with practitioners who manage sites, landscapes and collections every day.

• engage with a global network of more than 100 heritage organisations, creating opportunities for competitive and transnational research;
• develop projects grounded in real organisational need, increasing the relevance and impact of academic work;
• access diverse case studies, sites and communities across different climates and cultural contexts;
• co-create knowledge with practitioners, supporting ethical approaches to international collaboration and knowledge exchange;
• design research that leads to applied outcomes such as guidance, tools, training or small grants that directly benefit heritage sites; and
• increase the visibility and reach of research outputs through INTO’s communications channels and network platforms.

Are you interested in a partnership with INTO?

INTO welcomes expressions of interest from academics and institutions who wish to explore partnerships with the network. If you’d like to learn more, please reach out to info@into.org, including some information about your research.