zeit.de
Improving Archaeology Education for Career Success
This article discusses the need for improved training for archaeology students in Germany to better equip them for the variety of jobs they will encounter in cultural heritage protection.
German
Germany
Germany EducationArchaeologyCareerHeritage
Nationale Akademie Der Wissenschaften LeopoldinaGrabungsunternehmen
Constanze BreuerJürgen Kunow
- How can the shortcomings in the current training of archaeology students be sustainably improved?
- The situation can be improved by creating a body to enhance teaching, providing students with adequate preparation and equal opportunities for future employment, and fostering networking between archaeological and non-archaeological stakeholders.
- Why is improved preparation for students of archaeology so important, and how can it be implemented?
- Archaeology is a small field whose future hinges on its graduates' success. Better student preparation during their studies is feasible, bridging the gap between university education and practical work contexts.
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of current university archaeology programs concerning career preparation?
- University archaeology programs excel in scientific training but lack sufficient preparation for the diverse professional roles graduates will fill, especially in cultural heritage protection.
- What concrete steps are proposed to better prepare archaeology students for their future careers and foster networking in the field of cultural heritage protection?
- A necessary step towards improving the situation is the establishment of a body within the archaeological disciplines that can improve the teaching and provide students with better chances at future employment, and thus create a network for archaeological heritage protection.
- What percentage of archaeology graduates find employment outside universities or research institutions, and how well are their studies preparing them for these roles?
- The majority of archaeology graduates (70%+) will work outside universities or research institutions; however, their studies don't sufficiently address the realities of their future roles in organizations focused on cultural heritage.