Recently....

The IfA has began a major new initiative to establish an Academic Special Interest Group (SIG)

The IfA Registered Organisations Committee is keen to encourage registration of all historic environment educational organisations

I would like to explain the background and rationale of these developments

The IfA is a professional organisation for all archaeologists and others involved in protecting and

understanding the historic environment

The IfA, acts in support of its members works to improve pay and conditions represents the interests of archaeology and

archaeologists to government, policy makers and industry

keeps members up to date on developments in archaeological practice

sets standards and issues guidelines promotes and organises training improves individual career prospects provides a wide range of membership services

Through its Registered Organisations scheme the IfA improves employment practices and raises standards

of work

When the IfA was established in 1982 as the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA) the proportion of

academics amongst its membership was much higher than it is today. These academics played a major role

in the founding and early development of the IfA. Many of the original members from the higher

education sector remain in membership, but over the intervening years the Institute has by and far largely

failed to attract the succeeding generations of

university staff

Today....

Around 10% of the archaeological workforce is employed in education and research by universities

Less than 5% of the IfA’s 2,800 current members are employed in such a capacity by Universities (Students make up an additional 7.5% of membership)

The perceived reasons for this are that academics do not see practical benefits in membership, whether in

tangible terms (e.g. academic journal) or intangible terms (e.g. a need to join in order to help progress through the world of higher or continuing education)

think of themselves as academics rather than archaeologists

feel that the IfA is not relevant to them since they do not carry out any or any extensive fieldwork

feel they are better represented by other bodies (including learned societies)

resent the prospect of further regulation in the field of higher education which is already highly regulated

fear that the IfA might seek to regulate how and what they teach

The immediate challenge the IFA faced at its founding was the development of commercial archaeology with

the many challenges it brought. As a result the IFA focused on this sector by developing standards and

creating an environment to ensure they were adhered to. Inevitably this came at the expense of priorities of

other archaeology sectors

It was never the intention of the IfA to neglect the challenge of other archaeological sectors

With this in mind the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA)repositioned itself  to reflect that it is no longer simply an institute of field

archaeologists with membership coming from all over the historic environment

to enthusiastically embrace convergence and integration of historic environment practice and to work for all historic environment professionals

to convince people of how comprehensive archaeological practice is

to convince all archaeologists, whatever their focus or place of work that it can represent them and they are welcome to join

As an expression of this process the Institute has

rebranded itself as the

Institute for Archaeologists

a professional institute for the study and care of the historic environment

It is in this context that the IfA wishes to become more relevant to the academic community engaged in the

historic environment and to serve it

The IfA believes that

to be effective the academic, curatorial, and commercial sectors of archaeology need to work together

there are real advantages for both the academic community and the IfA to work together

Those involved in academic roles have an important part

to play in the development of the profession

ensuring that research plays an integral part in all archaeological work; that such work is carried out to professional standards (including appropriate academic standards) and that the results of such work are of academic value

educating the next generation of archaeologists disseminating the results of archaeological endeavour working in partnership with the wider profession

constantly to develop the theory and practice of archaeology

In addition,

through the RO scheme a natural forum exists to further the Knowledge Transfer agendas that are so important to universities

the IfA can be a meeting ground for all academics engaged in the historic environment, not just archaeology

the IfA can act as a forum for university departments and learned societies

the IfA has a number of Special Interest Groups, most, such as the Geophysics SIG, have a strong academic dimension

the IfA can be a meaningful context for students to interact and prepare for effective careers

with its new international agenda the IfA can be a major support to extensive archaeological research and education with an international dimension

The IfA would like to engage with the academic community, both universities and learned societies.

This engagement can take a range of forms

There are two vehicles through which an academic agenda can be advanced through the IfA

individually academics through membership of IfA and its Academic Special Interest Group

organisationally by becoming a Registered Organisation

Registered educational organisations have improved access to and a more central position within the wider profession. Registration helps

institutions keep abreast of developments within the historic environment, strengthen links between the academic and commercial worlds and demonstrate commitment to professional standards. Access to

employers across the sector is a strong selling point with potential students

Currently the proposed Academic SIG’s purposes are to disseminate information and advice with regard to academic or

educational issues of concern to IfA members to provide a forum for members of the Group to promote a better understanding amongst the academic community of the

work of the IfA and of other professional issues in archaeology and the heritage sector

to promote the formulation and application of common standards in all areas of endeavour in the heritage sector

to advise IfA Council and its committees on any issues affecting the academic community and upon how the IfA can best serve the academic community

to advise IfA Council and its committees on issues affecting students and student membership of the IfA

to develop and promote academic agendas for IfA SIGs generally to develop an interface between the academic community and the

commercial sector to encourage and foster closer relationships between the academic

community in the heritage sector and curators, professional organisations and other university departments

The IfA invites you to join as members

and for your organisation to register as an educational Registered Organisation