Hi Zoe
Susan's point was exactly the one I was going to make. Part time distance
learning courses offer you the option of earning enough to live on by
working while also completing your training. The best way is to try to get
one of the trainee posts which are available to people either looking for
pre-course experience, or increasingly while studying part time. Most of
these posts are 1 year, although I was lucky to get a two-year post which
saw me through my diploma at the University of Dundee. Aberystwyth also does
a distance learning course, and I think Northumbria does one in Records
Management. I would thoroughly recommend the course at Dundee (which,
incidentally, Mike was on with me), and found it manageable with a full time
job. It requires about 15 hours of study a week so it's fairly intense, but
if it's something you're passionate about then you find the time.
The main benefits of part time distance learning are that you earn while
studying; you can pay for the course by monthly installment; there is quite
a wide range of options available after you have done the core modules; you
have the flexibility of taking a break if you need to as you have up to 5
years to complete the course; and if you can find an archives assistant post
while qualifying then you come out with two years experience at the end of
it as well. In my opinion, on the job training with academic study by
distance learning is an important addition to the development of the
profession, and one which should be encouraged.
I spoke about this at last year's Society Conference, so I'm expecting some
dissent.
Does the Society have a list of suitable posts for pre-course experience or
during distance learning, or can people offer suggestions to Zoe?
Caroline
>From: "Healy, Susan" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: "Healy, Susan" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Finding funds for postgraduate study in Archives
>Administration
>Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:07:30 +0100
>
>Congratulations on being accepted on a course! But is it not worth
>considering part-time distance learning so that you can combine earning a
>living with studying? It is gruelling, admittedly, but can be a good way of
>learning. There are some good distance learning courses around.
>
>Susan Healy
>
>SPEAKING IN A PERSONAL CAPACITY, NOT REPRESENTING THE VIEWS OF MY EMPLOYER
>
>Information Policy Consultant
>Public Sector Information Division
>The National Archives
>Tel 020 8392 5330 ext 2305
>Email [log in to unmask]
>www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Archivists, conservators and records managers.
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Zoe Darani
>Sent: 30 March 2007 11:34
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Finding funds for postgraduate study in Archives Administration
>
>
>Dear all
>
>I have accepted a place to study an archives administration course; this is
>a full time course and will begin in September 2007.
>
>I graduated from University in 2005 with a 2:1 history degree and a £12000
>debt, finding some sort of charitable funding would therefore be extremely
>helpful to me.
>
>I explored options such as AHRC funding and bursaries at the University
>that
>I am going to study at; competition for these resources are so fierce that
>my modest degree qualification prevented me from applying to these.
>
>I have applied to my Local Authority and numerous local and national
>charitable organisations for some financial assistance to help pay for the
>tuition fees which will be c. £3,100, finding any kind of help is proving
>impossible; many organisations are dedicating their financial resources to
>first degree study (which I can understand and do have full sympathy for
>new
>undgraduates having to pay for top up fees).
>
>I am currently saving some money to help pay for the course, though I count
>my self fortunate to have found paid work experience in an archive, saving
>money to do the course on an Archives Assistant salary is not easy.
>
>It seems that it is becoming increasingly difficult to enter the archives
>profession.
>
>I wonder what other peoples thoughts are on this matter and whether anyone
>can recommend any charities that postgraduates studying the archives course
>can apply to.
>
>Many thanks
>
>Zoe
>
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