Principles and Practice: Conservation Projects gives students the opportunity to consolidate conservation in practice through complex object treatment alongside fostering independent decision-making skills. This is complemented by wider collections and project management knowledge and understanding, supporting the development of skills textile conservators need in the workplace.

4 x 1 hr lecture,

4 x 1 hr seminar,

2 x 3hr workshop,

1 x 4 hr Field trip,

56 x 3hr Practical conservation sessions over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Textile conservation practical element (Continuous assessment over course) - 35%

■ Substantiated Conservation report (3500 words) - 35%

■ Consultant's Report (3000 words) - 30%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the textile conservation practical element, but a flexible deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

■ There is no alternative to the substantiate conservation report, but a flexible deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

■ There is no alternative to the consultant's report, but a flexible deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course aims to:

■ Promote a greater understanding of the contexts within which textile conservation operates.

■ Provide the student with the opportunity to implement varied and complex interventive treatments to further develop and refine practical skills.

■ Enable the student to synthesise observation, research, and analysis along with an understanding of cultural and ethical contexts to formulate appropriate treatment and collection care strategies.

■ Introduce the skills necessary to manage collections of textiles and small projects with an enhanced awareness of the balance between access and preservation.

■ Embed professional skills appropriate for an emerging conservation practitioner.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Employ high quality practical skills to carry out complex object treatments with appropriate levels of independence.

■ Formulate well-argued reports that meet client and 'object' needs using an advanced evidence-based foundation to support observation, interpretation, and reasoning.

■ Effectively apply critical reflection and problem-solving to practice and as part of continuing professional development.

■ Select and design appropriate measures and creative solutions to enhance the preservation of and widen access to a textile collection.

■ Organise and manage practical projects effectively within agreed timeframes to strengthen project management skills.