22nd November 2005, 10:59 AM
Perhaps some of the criticism aimed at MIFA attainees who appear to lack experience at the 'coalface' could be avoided if the IFA were to eschew the direct entry route to MIFA and make it conditional on 3 years membership of the Institute at either PIFA or AIFA level.
It does sometimes seem opportunistic that archaeologists who have managed to avoid lower grade IFA membership for the whole of their careers suddenly have a 'Road to Damascus' moment regarding the IFA, but decide they only want to come into the Institute at the highest level. I can understand why direct entry was appropriate back in the early 80s when the IFA was starting out, but surely nowadays there can be no excuse not to have joined the IFA at an approporiate level earlier in ones career.
If we are to have status grades in the IFA, 3 years IFA/PIFA 'apprenticeship' accompanied by a log of CPD during that period should be the criteria for MIFA membership.
It does sometimes seem opportunistic that archaeologists who have managed to avoid lower grade IFA membership for the whole of their careers suddenly have a 'Road to Damascus' moment regarding the IFA, but decide they only want to come into the Institute at the highest level. I can understand why direct entry was appropriate back in the early 80s when the IFA was starting out, but surely nowadays there can be no excuse not to have joined the IFA at an approporiate level earlier in ones career.
If we are to have status grades in the IFA, 3 years IFA/PIFA 'apprenticeship' accompanied by a log of CPD during that period should be the criteria for MIFA membership.