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What will I learn on this module?
During this module you will have an invaluable work placed learning experience in professional practice in which you can apply and further develop the theory that you have learnt in previous modules with regard to the care and preventive conservation of collections of moveable cultural heritage. The placement is for four days a week over a six week period during which you undertake the roles and responsibilities of a member of staff. As a result you will learn about the day-to-day operation of the institution, its administration and management, the respective roles and responsibilities of staff members and the scope and pace of the work involved. You will be involved with whatever is happening during that period whether it is installing or de-installing an exhibition, condition reporting and packing for transit, housekeeping, conservation cleaning, documentation, surveys, risk assessment, integrated pest management, writing reports, developing an emergency preparedness plan or attending staff training sessions or meetings. The learning materials from the previous modules will be available throughout the placement should you wish to consult them. It is your responsibility to secure the placement in advance of semester two and negotiate the placement assignment topic with the institution of your choice, both of which need to be approved by the programme leader to ensure that we are able to support your learning appropriately. Past students have often chosen an institution and placement topic that can contribute to the development of their personal research from which the dissertation may develop.
How will I learn on this module?
You learning on this module will result from carrying out the work of a preventive conservator, discussing it with team members, your module tutor and student colleagues. In line with the ethos of the programme the learning is led by you. This module provides an invaluable opportunity for you to make the connections between theory and practice referring back to the content of previous modules as necessary. You will further develop your critical judgment, practical skills and communication skills as a member of a team whilst involved in planning, developing, implementing and managing strategies for the care and preventive conservation of collections of moveable cultural heritage. This learning will be facilitated by engagement with the day to day work, discussions with team members, the completion of a weekly e journal followed by feedback from your tutor, engagement with the discussion boards and completion of the placement assignment. The placement also enables you to better understand the dynamics of professional practice and the role that you would like to play within in it in terms of your future employment. In the event that a placement is not possible a commensurate virtual experience will be arranged in which you develop an assignment at a distance in partnership with an appropriate institution.
During the placement you have one day a week to work on the assignment that you have negotiated prior to the placement with the institution and had approved by the module tutor. In addition you need to contribute to discussion boards in order to discuss issues related to preventive conservation and collections care with your fellow students. These will be read by the module tutor who will moderate as appropriate but this is essentially an opportunity for you to develop the networking skills that play an important role in professional practice. You also need to maintain a weekly electronic journal. The journal is hosted in a private blog on the elp and provides an opportunity for you to describe what work you carried out during the previous week, reflect upon it and raise any queries. It also provides an opportunity for the module tutor to support your learning during the placement and they will respond to your comments and raise questions where necessary each week. Should any additional queries arise they can be discussed with the module tutor by e mail. The placement will be supported by the Student Placement Team once you have secured an offer in principle and it has been approved by the module tutor. The module tutor will provide feedback on the summative assignment within the timescale required by the University.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
During the placement you have one day a week to work on the assignment that you have negotiated prior to the placement with the institution and had approved by the module tutor. In addition you need to contribute to discussion boards in order to discuss issues related to preventive conservation and collections care with your fellow students. These will be read by the module tutor who will moderate as appropriate but this is essentially an opportunity for you to develop the networking skills that play an important role in professional practice. You also need to maintain a weekly electronic journal. The journal is hosted in a private blog on the elp and provides an opportunity for you to describe what work you carried out during the previous week, reflect upon it and raise any queries. It also provides an opportunity for the module tutor to support your learning during the placement and they will respond to your comments and raise questions where necessary each week. Should any additional queries arise they can be discussed with the module tutor by e mail. The placement will be supported by the Student Placement Team once you have secured an offer in principle and it has been approved by the module tutor. The module tutor will provide feedback on the summative assignment within the timescale required by the University.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding (K&U):
1. Understand the relevance of the history, materials, creation, deterioration, vulnerability as well as the physical and chemical characteristics of items/collections of movable cultural heritage to their care, preventive conservation and interpretation
2. Understand, develop and implement appropriate strategies, policies and procedures for the care and preventive conservation of items/collections of movable cultural heritage
3. Understand the responsibilities of the professional practitioner and demonstrate conversance with any legislation or ethics policies governing the care and preventive conservation of items/collections of movable cultural heritage
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
4. The ability to use critical thinking and reflective practice in an independent pro-active manner that draws upon and synthesises a wide range of knowledge and understanding in order to develop and implement appropriate strategies for the care and preventive conservation of items/collections of movable cultural heritage
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Demonstrate enthusiasm, curiosity, integrity, ethical and professional awareness in all aspects of work, communication and engagement with others
How will I be assessed?
Formative feedback is provided weekly in response to your e journal. Additional formative feedback is provided via e mail in response to any queries that you might have. An online blog is used to provide formative feedback on the development of your dissertation topic as and when required by you during the semester.
The summative assignment requires you to plan, research, develop and present the placement assignment topic. The assignment should be written to the standard of the final dissertation within a 5000 word count. This enables you to get feedback on the style and format in advance of presenting the final dissertation
Electronic submission and swift high quality feedback is provided for both formative and summative assignments according to University guidelines
Module Learning Outcomes
K&U):1,2,3
(IPSA): 1
(PVA):1
Pre-requisite(s)
VA0717, VA 0740, VA 0719
Co-requisite(s)
none
Module abstract
This exciting module provides a challenging immersive learning experience in professional practice in which you work as a member of a preventive conservation team for four days a week over a six week period. You keep an e journal describing and reflecting on the work carried out each week for which you will receive feedback. You share your experiences with your fellow students via discussion boards, which reflects the networking that is so important in professional practice. This module provides an invaluable opportunity for you to make connections between the theory and practice learnt in previous modules and further develop your knowledge and understanding. You must negotiate the placement and the assignment topic with the guidance of your tutor and the Placement and Partnership team. In the event that a placement is not secured a commensurate virtual experience will be provided
Course info
Credits 30
Level of Study Postgraduate
Mode of Study 2 years Part Time (Distance Learning)
1 other options available
Department Arts
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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