16th April 2012, 05:14 AM
Marcus Brody Wrote:I know that this is off the main topic of this thread, but I do wonder whether the increased uni fees will result in a return to the situation where a degree is no longer a necessity for working as a digger. After all, it's questionable whether it's sustainable to expect someone to take on debts of ?27,000 in preparation for a job than may only pay ?16k, possibly rising to ?30k after a number of years if they're lucky. Some of the best archaeologists I've worked with don't have degrees, having come into archaeology during the MSP of the 80s. They learned their trade on the job, and it may be that this sort of model becomes more prevalent in the future.
ummmm...I can see where your idea is coming from but wonder if the reverse isn't true. In this time of increased student fees and decreasing employment opportunities shouldn't the profession be arguing for a raising of academic standards for new entrants rather than a lowering. I am just thinking that the kind of kick that archaeology needs to get out of the rut of 16k salaries and closer to the national average wage is actually a shortage of available staff and a batch of cash-desperate MA graduates with 50 or 60k debts rather than the piddling 27k that undergrads bring to the table...
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...