Engaging with Archives and Heritage: charting the student experience at the University of Birmingham

Helen Fisher, Archivist, Cadbury Research Library: Special Collections

Aims• To enhance the

student learning experience

• To add to the existing archive

• To develop multimedia and public engagement activities

• To work towards a long term aim of producing a cultural and social history of the University

Initial steps…• Project with final year

BA History students and MA West Midlands History students 2011-2012

• Funded by University of Birmingham Annual Giving Programme

• Cadbury Research Library took part in the archive strand to run workshop using material from the university archives

Student recruitment• PG students in the

College of Arts and Law

• October 2012-March 2013

• Initial workshop then regular follow up meetings

• Student led activities with academic and archivist support

Project activities• Archives skills –

indexing and survey

• Contemporary collecting – film making, gathering memories from alumni

• Research • Day schools

Evaluation Research based on

student life and experience

Archive skills development

Strengthening collaboration with individual students and staff

x Aspects of contemporary collecting – need better planning with Alumni Office