24th July 2012, 04:26 PM
Chiz
I completed an undergraduate course in 1984. The University was explicit ........ I was being educated not given vocational training. I believe that was the position with the vast majority of undergraduate archaeology course then and has remained the case since, barring perhaps a few who might claim otherwise (although I can think of no courses that have offered experience that might prepare students for employment in the commercial sector).
So to be fair, when it comes to the universities, the profession has no grounds for complaint. It is dissapointing that many aspiring field archaeologist now find it difficult to gain voluntary experience, as that was a means for the more self-motivated to improve skills and prepare for employment. So it does come down to employers. If they want employees to meet business requirements they have to take responsibility to provide the training and stop looking for someone else to subsidise their costs.
I completed an undergraduate course in 1984. The University was explicit ........ I was being educated not given vocational training. I believe that was the position with the vast majority of undergraduate archaeology course then and has remained the case since, barring perhaps a few who might claim otherwise (although I can think of no courses that have offered experience that might prepare students for employment in the commercial sector).
So to be fair, when it comes to the universities, the profession has no grounds for complaint. It is dissapointing that many aspiring field archaeologist now find it difficult to gain voluntary experience, as that was a means for the more self-motivated to improve skills and prepare for employment. So it does come down to employers. If they want employees to meet business requirements they have to take responsibility to provide the training and stop looking for someone else to subsidise their costs.