Engaging with Archives and Heritage: charting the student experience at the University of Birmingham Helen Fisher, Archivist, Cadbury Research Library: Special Collections
Aims To enhance the student learning experience To add to the existing archive To develop multimedia and public engagement activities To work towards a long term aim of producing a cultural and social history of the University
Initial steps… Project with final year BA History students and MA West Midlands History students Funded by University of Birmingham Annual Giving Programme Cadbury Research Library took part in the archive strand to run workshop using material from the university archives
Student recruitment PG students in the College of Arts and Law October 2012-March 2013 Initial workshop then regular follow up meetings Student led activities with academic and archivist support
Project activities Archives skills – indexing and survey Contemporary collecting – film making, gathering memories from alumni Research Day schools
Evaluation Research based on student life and experience Archive skills development Strengthening collaboration with individual students and staff xAspects of contemporary collecting – need better planning with Alumni Office