Studying Archaeology in Europe is a new transnational project being managed by .
Within Europe, professional archaeology is an activity regulated according to local legislative structures. Throughout Europe, however, the purpose of archaeological work is to identify, record and, where necessary, protect the environmental resources that are the archaeological traces of people’s lives in the past and which are characterised within a common theoretical, cultural and chronological framework. This common purpose and framework makes it possible for individuals to study archaeology, and to practice as professional archaeologists throughout Europe. This project will support the experiences and needs of archaeology students across Europe who will become the professional archaeologists of the future.
This project will improve the information and personal support available to students in order to enhance future international exchanges and experience, and potential future employment opportunities through the European Union. For students interested in studying archaeology in countries other than their own, there is no single source of information to support their decision-making process.
This project will work through a partnership of 13 organisations from 10 European nations. This partnership recognises that cooperation within a single transnational project, will benefit a larger group of potential students, many of whom are not well-informed about transnational opportunities.
The project will achieve its aims by gathering and sharing information on;
- the organisation and content of archaeological studies in the partner countries
- the mobility opportunities for students to work or study in other countries,
- the identification of opportunities for voluntary work
- the provision of information, advice and guidance on how best to find employment after studying.
This information will be made public through a dedicated website. A central feature of this website will be that its information can be enhanced and expanded by the project partners in the future and by future participants from other countries at a later date.
To enhance the nature of support available to exchange students, the project will also create a peer-support network for students. It will achieve this through the creation of a student-led and internet-based, social networking site through which contacts and advice can be sought and maintained. This resource will be owned by the student partner organisations.
The initial ideas for this project were developed by Austrian, British German, and Slovene postgraduate students. The benefits will be shared between partner organisations (and linked universities) in a total of ten countries (Austria, Belgium, United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Germany, Macedonia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden). Participation by student organisations from other countries will be actively encouraged, during the course of the project.
Try this portal page is an outline of the project; the full website will be launched in September 2011. To learn more about this, or the possibility of participation, please email or attend the at the European Association of Archaeologists annual conference in Oslo on September 17th.
