Useless graduates?: Why do we all think that something has gone wrong with Australian archaeological training?

Abstract

Over the last half a decade or more professional archaeologists have been voicing a deepening sense of dissatisfaction with both undergraduate training and opportunities for graduate skill development. Much of this appears to arise from continuing transformations in industry directions and needs colliding with a period of significant reduction in university staff numbers and capabilities. This paper presents the results of both a qualitative questionnaire and an informal discussion on the AUSARCH-L listserver, setting out the nature of some of these concerns and identifying some possible areas where consistency and agreement might be reached.