I have been following the discussions about recent graduates with interest as I am an as-yet unqualified, but hopeful, wannabe archvist. I currently work as an assistant in an academic library and have held a few voluntary posts in archives over the last couple of years. I have used my annual leave and limited income to take up these posts in the hope that it will all eventually help me get onto a course and find a job. However, when looking through university websites recently I noticed the introduction of the ELQ rules. These rules for Equal and Lower Qualifications mean that a prospective student who already holds a qualification at the level (or lower) than the course they are applying for is eligable to pay the same as an EU student (anywhere between £10,000 and £13,000).
As I am currently employed by a university I was able to study on one of their courses for free and so I now have an almost completed masters degree. I had hoped this would make me more employable, but now it seems it has made qualifying in archives and records management a distant dream...
My query is this: are people aware of these new rules, which may prevent people training/re-training in the profession, and if so, what is being done?
I am aware of funding and grants available, but would like to raise awareness of the problem and possibly find a solution for myself and others as there are not enough grants and scholarships for everyone! My understanding of these rules is that it is up to the individual universities whether or not they impose the ELQ rules, which I suppose depends on the individual university's current financial situation. I am also aware that there have been many propsals to abolish these rules as they do not support life-long learning. However, what are people in my position to do until they are abolished? Certain subject areas, such as medicine and maths, are exempt from these rules as they are considered undersubscribed. Could it be possible to make archive/library/museum qualifications exempt as well?
Any thoughts and further information would be gratefully received.
Contact the list owner for assistance at [log in to unmask]
For information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday) see the list website at
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=archives-nra
|