A few specific responses to points made in the debate about graduate
funding.
Susan Healy wrote:
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.
Of course, part-time does not have to be at a distance: at UCL (and
elsewhere) it is possible to study part-time face-to-face and work at the
same time. But any part-time study will take longer to complete than one
year full time and it does not suit everyone.
On career development loans:
Many of our (UCL) students have funded themselves with a Career
Development Loan, which is the only government scheme available for loans
for graduate study in England. The AHRC Professional Preparation Masters
grant scheme is extremely competitive, and few applicants are successful.
One criteria is the need for a first class or excellent 2.1 first degree,
and our experience has shown that there is little benefit in applying
unless you have such a qualification, whatever your other attributes. It
is increasingly difficult to find public funding to support graduate
study in all disciplines, but at least when you are qualified in archives
and records management you can get an interesting and rewarding (if not
especially financially rewarding) job: we calculate that 97% of our
graduates find relevant work within 3-6 months of qualifying, and most
find work much more quickly than that.
Kevin Bolton asked:
Has the Society
ever looked at a Positive Action Traineeship? I know the Museums
Association runs such a scheme.
UCL and TNA jointly offer two trainee posts, one of which is reserved for
applicants from minority ethnic groups. This is a fairly new scheme,
which is now in its third year, but it has proved an excellent way of
recruiting graduates who might not have comsidered archives as a career,
as well as encouraging those who have. It is widely advertised for an
annual application, and provides a year's tailored experience at TNA and,
subject to satisfactory references from the work experience, a place on
UCL's MA in Archives and Records Management. Further details are
available from programme director, Dr Andrew Flinn at UCL.
Elizabeth Shepherd
################################################
Dr Elizabeth Shepherd PhD, MA, BA, DMS, DAS, Fellow of the Higher
Education Academy (FHEA), RMSA
senior lecturer in archives and records management
School of Library, Archive and Information Studies
University College London
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT
tel: +020 7679 2945
fax: +020 7383 0557
Please note that Elizabeth works part-time. Her usual work days are
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.