Working together: how effective collaboration between universities and the commercial sector benefits us all
Location: Reading
Date: 27 October 2017
Following on from the British Academy ‘Reflections on Archaeology’ report, the aim of the workshop is to promote closer working between CIfA and the academic sector and to highlight case studies where effective collaboration already exists between university archaeology departments and archaeological practices working in the commercial sector.
The fact that what might be termed the ‘academic’ and ‘applied’ sectors in archaeology have drifted apart in the years since the publication of PPG16 is often lamented but what are we doing to promote the benefits of a closer relationship?
Pressures on individual departments, falling student numbers, increased emphasis on employability and the need to demonstrate ‘Impact’ as part of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) in the academic world, coupled with the current capacity challenge in the ‘applied’ sector and an expanding dialogue around the research potential and research value of ‘commercial’ archaeological work (as highlighted by synthesis projects like the Roman Rural Research Project) provide a new context for this debate.
Timetable
10.30 – 11.00 Coffee/registration
11.00 – 11.30 Introduction
11.30 – 12.30 Workshop part 1: The role of university departments in educating and developing the archaeologists of the future, including
- Accredited degree pathways
- Degree Apprenticeships
- Continuous professional development
- Continuing education and the voluntary sector
12.30 – 13.30 Workshop part 2: The research benefits of closer collaboration between the academic and applied sectors
- How ‘commercial’ work can contribute to academic research
- How academic research can inform commercial practice
- Why technical and ethical standards are applicable to both
- The contribution of community led research and citizen science
13.30 - 14.00 Lunch
14.00 - 15.00 Workshop part 3: Presenting the value of archaeology
- Impact, evaluation and measuring social value
- Advocating for archaeology to government, other decision makers and the public
15.00 - 15.30 Discussion
15.30 - 16.00 Coffee
16.00 - 17.00 CIfA AGM
Bookings for the workshop can be made via our Eventbrite page. There is a £5 fee to cover refreshments and lunch.
The AGM is free to attend for all CIfA members. We would be grateful if you could also book your place through Eventbrite so we are aware of numbers for refreshments.
