tion report on their experiences for publication in a subsequent issue of Context. The most recent student to be supported was Tony Crouch from Bath and North East Somerset ( Context 55 pp.44-45). This was the last sponsored place to be offered under the aegis of the old ACO, but it is also likely that it heralds the last full-fee sponsorship by its successor organisation. With the evolution of the ACO into an Institute, the Council and Education Committee have taken the view that the time is right to review the past practice of automatic sponsorship of two places on the SPAB course and to decide what policy to adopt in regard to future sponsorship initiatives. Two key questions for the Institute are: (i) Should the Institute put money into the sponsorship of training at all? and if so, (ii) What future arrangements might represent the best use of limited resources bearing in mind the Institute's aims and objectives? Currently, the funding of two places on the SPAB course amounts to an annual cost of around £1,000, representing a substantial proportion of the Institute's total revenue. Could this ((Shouldthe Institute put money into the sponsorship of training at all?)) money be used more effectively to spread the benefit of sponsorship more widely and in doing so help to fulfil the Institute's wider educational aspirations? The Education Committee has been giving the matter careful consideration and will shortly be tabling a report to the IHBC Council setting out a range of options. No decisions have yet been made but it is likely that some of the following possibilities will be under consideration, either separately or in combination: (a) part sponsorship of places on established training courses, e.g. SPAB Repair Course, English Heritage Building Recording Summer School; (b) sponsored places on other recognised short course programmes, e.g. Oxford University Building Recording Course; (c) sponsored places or concessionary rates at IHBC Annual School for students or unwaged Members; (d) bursaries for students attending recognised postgraduate or post experience courses; and (e) part funding of targeted training programmes geared to Members' CPD needs, e.g. Building Recording Partnerships with RCHME or Practical Conservation Technology Skills, Partnership with British Waterways. Conclusion As the Institute develops over the coming years it is clear that judicious use of its resources to promote/assist in training of its members will potentially be one of the most effective ways in which it can help to guide the future direction of the profession. The effective and imaginative use of funding in this way would be a clear indication that the profession has established itself and is prepared to take control over its destiny. Any thoughts/ideas about how the IHBC should direct sponsorship should be sent to: !HBC Education Committee, clo Philip Grover, 7 Palmer Road, Sutton-onTrent, Newark, Notts, NG23 6PP. IVISc/DIPLOIVIA IN HISTORIC CONSERVATION Your opportunity to join this popular course offered by the School of Planning at Oxford Brookes University in association with the University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education. Established in 1990, the course is the product of an innovative collaboration between the two major institutions of higher education in Oxford. Covering all of the areas of competence identified by the IHBC,the course aims to be particularly relevant to the role of the Conservation Officer working within the planning system, but also aims to meet the· needs of a wider range of professionalsworking within the public, private and voluntary sectors. The MSc/Diploma in Historic Conservation can be combined with a planning 'foundation' course to give an RTPIaccredited programme. Full, part-time or mixed modes of study are available as are opportuniti~s for MPhil or PhD research. Individual units of the course can be stud_iedas CPD or in blocks to build int; a linked Certificate route. For further information contact: Sarah Farr,Conservation Course Secretary,School of Planning, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane Headington, Oxford, OX3 0BP Tel:01865 483458, Fax: 01865 483559, email: sjfarr@brookes.ac.uk OXFORD BROOI<ES UNIVERSITY Context56 December1997 • UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD DEPARTMENT FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION 17
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