mage taken in 2021 of Brianna Gillanders (L) and Erin Macfarlane (R) with ‘Faig Ahmed, Liquid, 2014, wool.’ Image courtesy of Chelsea Nichols (Senior Curator at The Dowse Art Museum).
Photo Credit
- Victoria University of Wellington
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- Museum and Heritage Studies Programme
- Register your placement options here
Victoria University of Wellington's Museum and Heritage Studies Programme produces graduates with the knowledge, skills, critical and creative thinking which are demanded in today's cultural sector. The Programme offers a range of flexible qualifications and courses which balance taught classes and work experience, academic research and professional skills. Students will acquire a broad grasp of this interdisciplinary field which combines history, theory and practice with opportunities for independent research and workplace projects.
Victoria University of Wellington are inviting key professionals and organisations from the wider sector to register their interest in hosting a student during the year. Although many of the projects can be undertaken at different times of the year, online registration of Interest must be registered by Friday 4 March 2022.
If you relocated out of Wellington, offers to cover travel and accommodation costs are also highly attractive.
Programme overview
The Museum and Heritage Studies Programme offers three courses that involve practical hands-on work in organisations.
MHST503 Practicum A
This compulsory course in Part I of the MMHP or the PGDipMHP or PGCertMHP includes a 120 hour work placement. The majority of students undertake this placement as a four week block in June/July.
MHST519 Project
Students enrolled in Part II of the MMHP have the opportunity to complete a 300 hour project that is more advanced and independent. The timing of these projects is flexible and can happen at any time of the academic year and can be either on a full time basis or part time basis.
MHST525 Internship
Students enrolled in Part II of the MMHP have the opportunity to undertake a 600 hour internship in Trimester Three, between mid-November and end February, although these can be scheduled through any part of the year to suit the organisation and student, once the student has completed Part I of the MMHP. The internship could include an approved project working with collections, programmes or policy and is very flexible in terms of the topic. We have an increasing number of students looking for internships that cover travel and accommodation costs, and any host organisations that have resources to pay students are also highly attractive.
The benefits of hosting students
Practicums benefit both students and their host organisation in a range of ways. Students gain real experience in the museum and heritage sector and receive guidance, advice and constructive feedback on personal and professional development.
Host organisations receive the following benefits:
-Discrete piece of work -Exposure to emerging talent and fresh thinking -Catching up with the latest museum and heritage theory and practice -An opportunity to shape and guide emerging museum and heritage professionals -Increased opportunities for problem-solving and learning -Enhanced communication and knowledge sharing at all levels -Opportunity to link student development needs with organisational objectives -Improve ability to attract and retain talented individuals -Continuous exchange between theory and practice, university and sector -Develop and maintain links with Victoria University of Wellington’s Museum and Heritage Studies Programme, Te Kura Toirangi.
If you have a project or several projects that you think would suit the needs of a student undertaking a supervised placement, project or internship, please complete the Registration of Interest. This online form will enable you to describe the opportunity with enough detail to allow us to undertake an effective matching process. If you have more than one project please complete a separate registration for each one but you will not need to go into detail about your organisation etc in the subsequent registrations.
Covid
We understand that the current pandemic is creating challenges for workplaces and staff. Please note that all of our students are fully vaccinated. There may be constraints under the current Red setting that could impact on a placement in any way. For example, needing to delay a project or limit the hosting of a student in a workplace/requiring them to ‘work from home'. If this is the case, please let us know in the ROI form.
MHST Placement Registration of Interest