some foreign visits have been cheaper despite the additional travel. Several students in the last two years have described themselves as balancing nervously on the edge of financial collapse. With students typically in the 25-34 age group, the course, for some, wrestles for full attention with other responsibilities of home and office. It is a tribute to most candidates that time is found and energy summoned to complete assessment requirements. Examples o{ work by rwo swdcnrs on the Leicester course. SPONSORSHIP Applications from students who have attracted employer sponsorship are rising steadily, suggesting that employers may be acknowledging the need for formal training in conservation. There is some evidence from the last two years of the course that local government officers without specific responsibilities for conservation are being encouraged to apply: a reflection, perhaps, of employers' need to adopt an enlightened approach if valued officers are to be retained. At the time of writing Quly 1990), five ACO members registered with the course are fully supported (fees, travel and subsistence costs), three have negotiated at least the majority of time off with full pay. Four (non-ACO) students, all from private practice, are self-supporting. Over the last two years, several students changing job during their studies have found their new employers willing to provide partial or complete support for the remainder of the course. There are no bursaries or other grants available from, or through, the Polytechnic. POST-COURSE CAREER PROSPECTS Recent graduates have found career prospects enhanced significantly. Almost all those finishing in 1988 and 1989 have changed to more challenging or rewarding employment (some more than once!). Richard Just, from the 1988 graduation, now at the Civic Trust, describes the course as rigorous and the foundation for a more considered understanding of building styles and conservation than ever he would have developed through private study. Heather Emery, from the same year, now with Macclesfield Borough Council, takes a similar view and emphasises the value of the qualification in the job market. An emerging feature is the growing number of employers who make contact with staff for the purpose of inviting applications from graduates or those attending the course. None of the 1990-91 cohort looked forward to the summer term's assessment, but all describe themselves as pleased at their talents and special interests which are emerging. Suggestions have been made that the course requires too much work from what are, after all, full-time professionals engaged in part-time study. The response has been to grant long submission dates allowing some students to take a third year to complete. Students recount stories of lost sleep, frayed nerves, cash shortage and less frequent visits to family and friends. All students, however, retain the belief that their sacrifice is worth the effort. Vincent Shacklock BA(Hons) DipTP, MA, DipLandArch MRTPI is a Senior Lecrurer in rhc School o{ rhc Built Environment and a new contributor to the Diploma course in Architectural Building Conservation. BUILDING CONSERVATION TRAINING COURSES A number of ACO members have enquired about building conservation training courses, specially those providing formal qualifications. The list below is the current draft list drawn up by COTAC CONTEXT 27 (Conference on Training in Architectural Conservation). Any member requmng additional information on courses should contact the centres direct. Architecnirai Association 36 Bedford Square, London WClB 3ES Tel: 071-636 0974. Postgraduate diploma in (a) Building conservation (b) Conse-rvation of historic landscapes, parks and gardens. Duration 2 years (part time). Concinllcd overleaf 17
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjgyMjA=