23rd October 2008, 03:09 PM
Dirty Dave; "what's the point of a degree in the job if the people then turn up on site wanting a job and not knowing how to do it?"
I think that you're mixing up the purposes of academic and vocational qualifications. A degree in archaeology is not a qualification to do archaeological fieldwork in the UK, nor is it intended to be; most graduates do not become archaeologists.
Bricklayers do specific vocational qualifications which train them to do a very limited job. Academic degrees should teach people how to think and train them in a range of techniques and ideas, rather than give industry-specific training.
There did used to be vocational archaeology qualifications, and the IfA is bringing in an NVQ.
I think that you're mixing up the purposes of academic and vocational qualifications. A degree in archaeology is not a qualification to do archaeological fieldwork in the UK, nor is it intended to be; most graduates do not become archaeologists.
Bricklayers do specific vocational qualifications which train them to do a very limited job. Academic degrees should teach people how to think and train them in a range of techniques and ideas, rather than give industry-specific training.
There did used to be vocational archaeology qualifications, and the IfA is bringing in an NVQ.