ducation training Educationandtraining fora newInstitute John Selby outlines the priorities for the immediate future for the IHBC Education Committee. This issue of Context is devoted largely to the work of the Education Committee of IHBC. We have been working hard during the past year and this brief introduction explains what is being achieved. We have provided a revised 'areas of competence' to guide the assessment of applications for membership. Philip Grover's article in this issue explains the importance of this and the use to which the areas of competence will be put. It has been developed to be compatible with the new NVQs in conse1vation, explained in more detail by John Preston and Ingval Maxwell below. The success of the NVQs will depend on whether there is a market for them. For those IHBC members without a qualification, but with experience, it offers a means to get that experience recognised. The Education Committee has met the Course Directors' Forum and has visited education and training establishments. We have now invited all institutions offering historic building conservation courses in the UK to apply for initial recognition by the Institute. This recognition will depend on the extent to which the courses teach the skills and knowledge out14 lined in the approved areas of competence. At the time of writing, there has been little response, but I hope to be able to publish a list of courses which have received initial recognition in the new year. Full recognition will only follow after a more detailed scrutiny of the courses. This will involve visits and discussion with external examiners. We are exploring the possibility of arranging visits with other professional bodies and, indeed, we are looking at ways in which we can achieve greater co-operation between Institutes concerned with building conservation. To this end, I consider it important that IHBC joins the Construction Industry Conference (CIC). This could provide a useful mechanism to progress the development of the Institute. It might also help in developing CPD. We feel that, to be of use, CPD training must be relevant to historic building conservation. It must also give opportunities for proper learning, which could be assessed, and for real 'hands-on' opportunities, rather than a means of watching others do the work. As a result we are in discussions with British Waterways, RCHM(E)and West Dean College, and the articles by Nigel Crowe, Bob Hook and Chris Wood give further details. In the last issue of Context, Anne Holden explained the courses now offered at Cressing Temple in Essex and we are keen to see similar opportunities available across the country. Again there will be more on this in future issues of Context. We are aware of the difficulties experienced by students in getting work experience. To help, we are devising a 'placements register' and I would appeal to all of you to try to help with this by responding to Sarah Higgins' questionnaire which is detailed elsewhere in this issue. There is still more to be done and we expect 1998 to be busy. The IHBC Education Committee comprises: Philip Grover (Oxford Brookes University) Sarah Higgins (Ryedale District Council) Rob Pickard (Northumbria University) John Preston (Cambridge City Council) John Selby CS.Cambridgeshire District Council) Jack Warshaw (Consultant, Headley, Hants) John Selby is !HBC Education Officer, (Head of Conservation, 5. Cambridgeshire DC). Context56 December1997 j -
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