The Flinders University Intensive Program in Underwater Cultural Heritage Management (FUIP-UCHM)

"This paper examines the impact of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001 Convention) on leadership in maritime archaeology in the Asia-Pacific region. This paper describes one model for the implementation of Article 21 (Training in Underwater Archaeology) of the Convention 2001, which involves teaching and training of maritime archaeologists in the Asia-Pacific region. The model involves the AusAID funded Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) – Fellowships Flinders University Intensive Program in Underwater Cultural Heritage Management (UCHM). The Maritime Archaeology Program at Flinders University was awarded funding from AusAID, the Australian federal government’s overseas aid organization, to bring 11 mid-career professionals involved in maritime archaeology from the Asia-Pacific region to Australia for a 6 week training program in early 2009. Mid-career professional training fits squarely into the philosophy of flexibility that underpins the teaching of maritime archaeology at Flinders University, as well as going some way to fulfilling social justice and equity aspirations. It is hoped that this model can be adopted and adapted by other countries and organizations in the Asia-Pacific region as the basis for effective collaboration and co-operation in the training and teaching of underwater archaeologists."