Oxford University students are warmly invited to undertake micro-internships with the Heritage Partnerships Team and Historic Houses in March 2023. This micro-internship was organised through the Careers Service Micro-Internship Programme.
This micro-internship is organised in association with Historic Houses, which represents around 1,500 historic houses, castles and gardens in independent ownership across the UK. These are listed buildings or designated gardens, usually Grade I or II* or equivalent, and range from world-renowned historic houses such as Blenheim Palace and Highclere Castle to more intimate places such as Traquair in Scotland and Plas Dinam in Wales. Most of our member properties open their doors to visitors for days out, special tours, school visits, weddings and events, or as film locations. In 2022, Historic Houses member properties welcomed over 30 million visitors.
Historic Houses was established in 1973 and helps its member properties celebrate the past, secure the future, and speak with one powerful voice through important lobbying, advisory, marketing, and technical work.
One of the services we offer Historic House member properties is free of charge access to our Learning Advisory Panel. This is currently comprised of 6 volunteer experts who, between them, have a wealth of experience across a variety of education, learning and outreach projects. During the pandemic, educational visits understandably dried up and whilst they are beginning to return, we are keen to ensure that we understand the scope and variety of our members’ existing education and outreach offerings so we can offer the best possible services to them.
As part of this, we would like to host an intern to research our members’ learning and outreach programmes and compile a full report on them so we can better tailor our events, seminars and engagement with properties to suit their needs and interests.
This would involve
- Internet (and where appropriate, phone) research on the learning, outreach and engagement activities and programmes run by Historic Houses member properties. This might include, but is not limited to
- School visits (primary / secondary)
- Learning (non-academic) i.e. apprenticeships, vocational/technical skills courses or activities i.e. filmmaking, podcasting, art
- Forest schools / outdoor learning
- Adult education (this can be academic i.e. lecture series or non-academic i.e. pottery classes, woodworking, cookery, painting etc)
- Wellbeing activities (Parkruns, yoga, pilates, mindfulness, walking groups)
- Community engagement (running projects with local community groups or regular events e.g. parent & toddler groups)
- Recording this data in a clear, comprehensive and easy to navigate format for internal distribution to the Historic Houses team and Learning Advisory Panel.
We would also welcome any thoughts or reflections that the successful candidate might have, having completed this research, on their findings.
The successful candidate will have the choice of working remotely with a mid-week site visit to the Historic Houses Offices in London on Wednesday 15th March, or of spending the week working in-person at the Historic Houses Offices.
What you will gain:
By the end of the internship you will have gained experience of research for a public-facing organisation and an insight into how research informs heritage projects and practice. You will also have the opportunity to compile a research report and discuss your findings at the end of the week with members of the Oxford partnership team and Historic Houses staff.
Applicant Profile:
Candidates will be considered from any Humanities subject area, from second-year undergraduate level and above. Candidates must demonstrate good written communication skills, experience of using archival research material, an ability to work both independently and as part of a team, and a keen interest in working in – or with – the heritage sector. This opportunity is being offered as a micro-internship (please contact the Internship Office for further details).
Further details & how to apply:
Please note that this placement will take place in Week 9 (13th-17th March 2023). The successful candidate may either choose to work remotely, with a mid-week site visit taking place on Wednesday 15th March, or in-person at the Historic Houses head offices in London for the entire duration of the week. In either case, travel costs will be reimbursed by the host organisation. Students are required to commit to the full micro-internship - as with any professional placement - and any concerns about dates should be raised with the Internship Office in advance of making an application.
Further details & how to apply
Application closing date: 30th January 2023, midday
Apply via: https://oxford.targetconnect.net/leap/jobs.html?id=135401&service=Career...
Students are required to commit to the full micro-internship - as with any professional placement - and any concerns about dates should be raised with the Internship Office in advance of making an application.
For more information and to apply, visit the Careers Service website.
Students are asked to provide:
- A personal statement, explaining both why they are interested in the placement and the organisation, and why they would be well-suited to the post
Explore all arts and heritage micro-internship opportunities via the sector list.
Find out more about the National Trust Partnership here.
Found out more about the TORCH Heritage Programme here.
