Preliminary Report: Archaeology Education in Southeast Asia

Between September and December 2018, the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (SEAMEO SPAFA) conducted an online survey on archaeology education in the region. The aim of the survey was to understand the archaeology education landscape in Southeast Asia and identify the current needs in archaeology education and skills training. 330 people responded to the survey, which was available in multiple languages. Preliminary results of the analysis of that survey, authored by Noel Hidalgo Tan (Senior Specialist in Archaeology, SEAMEO SPAFA) have recently been published, in the SPAFA Journal. Among the findings of the study is the identification of conservation of artefacts (in-situ or post-excavation), conducting heritage impact assessments, English language skills, dating techniques, and photography, as the main training needs among respondents who were involved in archaeology in 2018. Several other more specific skills were also identified as relevant training needs. 56% of the respondents indicated that they intended to undertake, or considering, formal archaeology education in the next two years. 40% of these respondents intended to pursue a master’s degree while 23% were considering a PhD. A third of these respondents indicated wanting to do a tertiary, nondegree qualification such as a certificate programme, which is lacking in the region. For additional information, please consult the Preliminary Report: Archaeology Education in Southeast Asia at http://www.spafajournal.org/index.php/spafajournal/article/view/627