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English Heritage has always
responded to requests from archaeological bodies of all types to help
in the provision of training courses which will assist in raising the
standards of work within the profession. As archaeologists comes to terms
with the commercial world in which they operate, such support has never
been more necessary and, increasingly, English Heritage is recognising
that it has an important role to play by providing financial and other
support to help develop a professional infrastructure. In 1997-8 we were
able to respond to requests from several bodies to help with organisation
and funding of training sessions aimed at particular groups of professionals.
Particularly successful were the series of training courses which arose
out of the reviews of need amongst researchers into Roman and Medieval
Pottery. These were undertaken in conjunction with the Medieval and Roman
Pottery Research Groups and the University of Southampton.
With its increasing awareness
of the need for professional training, however, English Heritage in partnership
with the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers, the
Council for British Archaeology, the Institute of Field Archaeologists,
the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, SCAUM and SCUPHA, has
embarked on a path which, it is hoped, will eventually lead to an integrated
strategy for training and career development within the archaeological
profession. Along with these organisations, English Heritage has agreed
to participate in a new forum which co-ordinates funding for professional
training. The Archaeology Training Forum first met at the end of 1997,
chaired by Geoff Wainwright (it is now chaired by David Miles). It agreed
that the first step was to attempt to understand exactly what training
was offered at present and by whom, and to try and establish whether the
training received had any impact on the subsequent career development
of the recipient. Consequently, in late 1998 a rapid survey was commissioned
to obtain a picture of current professional training provision and to
make recommendations about future steps which the profession needs to
take to develop an integrated structure for training and career development
. English Heritage is committed to providing secretarial and other support-in-kind
for the Forum during the initial phases of its existence.
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