ITP’s 2021 Annual Programme onsite visit starts in March!

Written by Claire Messenger, Manager, International Training Programme

In March 2020, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the British Museum took the very difficult decision to postpone the ITP summer programme and participants were invited to join a rescheduled programme in 2021.  Due to the continued uncertainty regarding travel, testing and vaccination regimes – across the UK and the 2021 cohort countries – last year we reshaped the summer programme into a blended, two-part programme.  The annual programme 2021 split into two parts – online distance e-Learning which was delivered through the latter part of the year and an on-site bespoke programme for British Museum and UK Partner placements.

In 2021 we welcomed 21 colleagues from 18 countries including Bhutan*; Cambodia*; China; Ghana; Greece; India; Iran; Nigeria; North Macedonia*; Pakistan; Palestine; Rapa Nui/Chile*; Sudan; Tajikistan; Tunisia*; Turkey; United States* and Uzbekistan to the ITP network.
(* new to the ITP global cohort)

Now we are preparing for our cohort 2021 to come to the UK.  From 12 March to 10 April 2022, we are looking forward to being joined by colleagues from around the world for the 15th International Training Programme after a two-year break!! 

The group will visit the UK – for BM and UK Partner placements – for four weeks for a series of tailored sessions based on the participants role profiles and current projects and programmes. Sessions will be 1-1; smaller subject specialist groups and departmental time with curators and collections, libraries and archives.

As a result of the blended learning, this year’s programme will look rather different to previous years.  Instead of having whole group sessions, we will be looking to focus on smaller group sessions covering themes that participants have specifically requested and relate directly to their role profiles and professional interests.  Working online with the cohort 2021 has given us great opportunities to learn more about the group and for the fellows to meet us, our departmental and UK partner colleagues and help shape their programmes.

But we will still be enjoying visits to other museums with trips planned to both Oxford and Cambridge.  We’ll also be asking our fellows 2021 to take part in a Museums Project Day giving them the opportunity to enjoy self-guided tours around London museums on a chosen theme.  And the programme, despite being four weeks rather than the traditional six, will include our Object in focus project based on the theme of ‘journey’s’ and with an object chosen for them by our departmental mentors.

We hope you’ll keep watching the ITP website and our social media channels to keep up-to-date with this year’s programme and we’re looking forward to introducing our Fellows to you in the coming weeks.

Exciting times!!