recently.... the ifa has began a major new initiative to establish an academic special interest...
Post on 17-Dec-2015
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Recently....
The IfA has began a major new initiative to establish an Academic Special Interest Group (SIG)
The IfA Registered Organisations Committee is keen to encourage registration of all historic environment educational organisations
I would like to explain the background and rationale of these developments
The IfA is a professional organisation for all archaeologists and others involved in protecting and
understanding the historic environment
The IfA, acts in support of its members works to improve pay and conditions represents the interests of archaeology and
archaeologists to government, policy makers and industry
keeps members up to date on developments in archaeological practice
sets standards and issues guidelines promotes and organises training improves individual career prospects provides a wide range of membership services
Through its Registered Organisations scheme the IfA improves employment practices and raises standards
of work
When the IfA was established in 1982 as the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA) the proportion of
academics amongst its membership was much higher than it is today. These academics played a major role
in the founding and early development of the IfA. Many of the original members from the higher
education sector remain in membership, but over the intervening years the Institute has by and far largely
failed to attract the succeeding generations of
university staff
Today....
Around 10% of the archaeological workforce is employed in education and research by universities
Less than 5% of the IfA’s 2,800 current members are employed in such a capacity by Universities (Students make up an additional 7.5% of membership)
The perceived reasons for this are that academics do not see practical benefits in membership, whether in
tangible terms (e.g. academic journal) or intangible terms (e.g. a need to join in order to help progress through the world of higher or continuing education)
think of themselves as academics rather than archaeologists
feel that the IfA is not relevant to them since they do not carry out any or any extensive fieldwork
feel they are better represented by other bodies (including learned societies)
resent the prospect of further regulation in the field of higher education which is already highly regulated
fear that the IfA might seek to regulate how and what they teach
The immediate challenge the IFA faced at its founding was the development of commercial archaeology with
the many challenges it brought. As a result the IFA focused on this sector by developing standards and
creating an environment to ensure they were adhered to. Inevitably this came at the expense of priorities of
other archaeology sectors
It was never the intention of the IfA to neglect the challenge of other archaeological sectors
With this in mind the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA)repositioned itself to reflect that it is no longer simply an institute of field
archaeologists with membership coming from all over the historic environment
to enthusiastically embrace convergence and integration of historic environment practice and to work for all historic environment professionals
to convince people of how comprehensive archaeological practice is
to convince all archaeologists, whatever their focus or place of work that it can represent them and they are welcome to join
As an expression of this process the Institute has
rebranded itself as the
Institute for Archaeologists
a professional institute for the study and care of the historic environment
It is in this context that the IfA wishes to become more relevant to the academic community engaged in the
historic environment and to serve it
The IfA believes that
to be effective the academic, curatorial, and commercial sectors of archaeology need to work together
there are real advantages for both the academic community and the IfA to work together
Those involved in academic roles have an important part
to play in the development of the profession
ensuring that research plays an integral part in all archaeological work; that such work is carried out to professional standards (including appropriate academic standards) and that the results of such work are of academic value
educating the next generation of archaeologists disseminating the results of archaeological endeavour working in partnership with the wider profession
constantly to develop the theory and practice of archaeology
In addition,
through the RO scheme a natural forum exists to further the Knowledge Transfer agendas that are so important to universities
the IfA can be a meeting ground for all academics engaged in the historic environment, not just archaeology
the IfA can act as a forum for university departments and learned societies
the IfA has a number of Special Interest Groups, most, such as the Geophysics SIG, have a strong academic dimension
the IfA can be a meaningful context for students to interact and prepare for effective careers
with its new international agenda the IfA can be a major support to extensive archaeological research and education with an international dimension
The IfA would like to engage with the academic community, both universities and learned societies.
This engagement can take a range of forms
There are two vehicles through which an academic agenda can be advanced through the IfA
individually academics through membership of IfA and its Academic Special Interest Group
organisationally by becoming a Registered Organisation
Registered educational organisations have improved access to and a more central position within the wider profession. Registration helps
institutions keep abreast of developments within the historic environment, strengthen links between the academic and commercial worlds and demonstrate commitment to professional standards. Access to
employers across the sector is a strong selling point with potential students
Currently the proposed Academic SIG’s purposes are to disseminate information and advice with regard to academic or
educational issues of concern to IfA members to provide a forum for members of the Group to promote a better understanding amongst the academic community of the
work of the IfA and of other professional issues in archaeology and the heritage sector
to promote the formulation and application of common standards in all areas of endeavour in the heritage sector
to advise IfA Council and its committees on any issues affecting the academic community and upon how the IfA can best serve the academic community
to advise IfA Council and its committees on issues affecting students and student membership of the IfA
to develop and promote academic agendas for IfA SIGs generally to develop an interface between the academic community and the
commercial sector to encourage and foster closer relationships between the academic
community in the heritage sector and curators, professional organisations and other university departments
The IfA invites you to join as members
and for your organisation to register as an educational Registered Organisation
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