IfA Recession Seminar

[BAJR Host]

Introducing the public into archaeology.
Training - Universities and Contractors
Skills AND CPD - Learning for transferable employment market.

?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[Paul Belford]

So, as I see it, the relevant points from BAJR contributors so far have been...

1. There is still a need to ensure that archaeology is not overlooked in the planning system ? and that archaeology is not ?squeezed? by other pressures along the road to economic recovery, especially with new infrastructure projects. (This includes making sure that archaeologists maintain appropriate professional standards.)

2. Major public projects should be set up in a way that ensures co-operation between units (cf. Frameworks) and between large and small organisations.

3. SMEs need to be made aware of the sort of support (both in cash and kind) they can get from government.

4. Training and CPD needs to be supported and enhanced, with greater interaction between universities and the wider profession, and greater co-operation between employers ? tapping into existing and future government training schemes.

5. Support needs to be given to archaeologists facing an uncertain future, both through promulgating greater awareness of employment rights and options, and through ensuring that the workforce as a whole is trained to appropriate standards.

Bearing in mind that this is a quickly-arranged seminar at which the immediate crisis of the recession is being discussed, then the suggested list of speakers (see above) should be able to make some good points on most of these isses. I would guess that the following speakers will make the largest contributions to the topics above:

1. ALGAO, HS and EH
2. HS, EH, ALGAO and FAME
3. IfA
4. ATF, IfA and to some extent EH and HS
5. IfA and Prospect as well as ALGAO, the ATF and others.

I am looking forward to an interesting day.

[BAJR Host]

I am very happy with that summation. thank you Paul

?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[kevin wooldridge]

I can't make this seminar due to not being in the right country at present, but I think if I could I would try and focus attention on Pauls point 4. I think the present situation is out of the hands of anyone speaking or attending the seminar, but think the profession could go a long way to making sure that there is a future for graduating students and training (or re-training) for working archaeologists.

I already note (and this is not a criticism) that at least one BAJR advertiser has upped their required experience and technical skills level from the last time that they advertised. Whilst this is understandable in the present jobs market, if repeated by many (if not all) advertisers over the next year or so, it would seem to limit the entrance possibilities for many people new to our profession. At a time when there are few feasible alternatives...



With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...

[Paul Belford]

It happened... some bits were good, interesting and useful; other bits less so. Attendance was disappointing. My personal feeling was that it was worthwhile.

A full report (together with action points) will be posted on the IfA website in due course. When I have a moment, hopefully later today, I will post a summary of my own notes on here - if people feel that would be helpful.

[Sparky]

Thank you for the update

'Mum!!! Can you get me the toilet roll, please!'

Noam Chomsky

[BAJR Host]

thanks paul.... fortunately I am currently working on lindisfane ... so appreciateme you have put in.

look forward to what happened... but more importantly what was decided was possible.

?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[Paul Belford]

Best thing is do do a PDF - can you host it and link to it if I email it?

[Paul Belford]

I have now posted an entirely personal account of the day's events on my blog.

Please note that although I have done my best to convey the impressions of the meeting, these notes are entirely personal and subjective and do not constitute an official record, nor do they puport to represent the views, opinions and policies of any of the organisations or individuals mentioned! An official summary of the proceedings will, I am told, appear in due course on the IfA website. I have put this up for the benefit of BAJR-ites and others who were unable to attend and might be curious about the scope of discussion.






[url]http://paulbelford.blogspot.com/"[/url]

[kevin wooldridge]

Thanks Paul that is marvellous. I almost thought I was there.... to the point that I wanted to throw something at Dave Allan and almost fell asleep during Stuart Bryant's presentation.......



With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...