Hi - I share Paisley Cato's views about the need for professional
preparation that balances disciplinary education, museum studies
education and professional experience.
 
Here in Canada, the difficulties inherent in the development of
'professionalism' are further complicated by the increasing
tendency of institutions to hire 'on contract'. This approach
makes it difficult for aspiring museum professionals to learn
'on the job'; it encourages a project-based approach to work
that fragments the career path and inhibits an in-depth and
comprehensive knowledge about a single collection or institution;
and it places the onus for professional development on the
individual as opposed to a shared approach with the institution.
At the same time, the contracting process creates a requirement
for more measurable levels of expertise as institutions let work
out 'to tender'.  This transition in approaches to work,
combined with the need for a comprehensive understanding
of the philosophical and theoretical foundations and current
state of the profession, which Paisley described, reinforce
the need for formal and ongoing museum studies opportunties.
 
Nevertheless, professional experience and a practical context
in which to apply and critique such studies is invaluable.  As we
are contemplating the development of a new graduate program
that balances formal studies with a significant amount of
self-directed and independent learning, this seems like a
good time to seek your thoughts and opinions on a program
that would have the following characteristics:
 
- it would be designed for people already working in the museum
field and would be available for completion on a part-time basis,
using a combination of immersion courses, distance education
courses, computer mediated courses, and pratica to allow
relatively easy participation from remote sites
 
- in its research components, it would encourage participants
to focus on the topics of that are of interest and relevance
to their museum work
 
- it would enable participants to transfer a limited number
of credits from related graduate programs in their communities
 
- graduate advisors and committees would draw on the
resources of a number of departments and faculties on campus,
as well as on professionals from museums and other heritage
agencies across Canada and beyond.
 
We will be conducting more formal needs assessments over the next few
months, but any comments that you have had this point would be much
appreciated as we refine the concept. Thanks!
Joy Davis
Cultural Resource Management Program
University of Victoria
604-721-8462
FAx 604-721-8774
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