A group of experts led by the University of Oviedo has created the first tool to evaluate from a qualitative perspective the educational programmes carried out by Spanish museums. This research project, led by professor Roser Calaf, researcher of the Department of Educational Sciences, has analyzed the educational activities carried out by a total of 14 museums with a wide range of collections. Researchers, heritage educators, museums representatives, students and lecturers will meet together on March 4 and 5 in a Workshop dealing with the results of the project Qualitative Evaluation of Educational Activities in Spanish Museums (ECPEME).

The multidisciplinary team, consisting of researchers from 5 universities has outlined an evaluation strategy that includes management, human resources, methodology and teaching contents of the programme. "We have analyzed several museums with different characteristics and we have come to the conclusion that we must strengthen the relationship between Museum and School", Roser Calaf explains.

The selection of exhibition sites includes historical, artistic, industrial or scientific heritage centres, with different management systems. Among those 14 museums, there are two Asturian centres, the Jurassic Museum of Asturias and the Railway Museum of Gijón. In addition, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the National Sculpture Museum of Valladolid, the Patio Herreriano Museum of Valladolid, Museo do Pobo Galego, Ekainberri, Museu d'Art Modern of Tarragona, Museum of Caltayud, Cemento Rezola Museum, Museu d'Historia de la Inmigració de Catalunya, Museum of Huelva and the Museu de les Mines de Cerc have also between subject to the analysis.

Researchers think necessary to strengthen links with schools and create human teams devoted to cultural dissemination.

The fieldwork developed has led to the confirmation of the great significance of the visits of school children in the exhibition sites. Moreover, having a balanced work team devoted to the development of the cultural actions offered at museums is a key aspect to achieve good results in this field, in addition to a mixed evaluation, internal and external.