The Savannah Technical College Center for Traditional Craft in partnership with the Preservation Trades Network and the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism (INTBAU) USA, will host the 5th International Trades Education Symposium (ITES) May 14–16 2015 at Savannah Technical College in Savannah, Georgia USA. The theme of the conference is:
Foundations – Building A New Culture For Building Craft Education and Industry
With the recent economic downturn, an increased focus on the trades and trade education has been espoused by government and societal leaders. How have educational providers responded to these calls for a greater trained workforce in traditional crafts? What can educators, institutions, government agencies and non-profits learn from their counterparts’ experiences? What are the platforms and pathways that can be and are being created today that will lead craft education in the future?
The goal of this conference is to create an environment for collaborative exchanges between educational providers, institutions/organizations, government and industry and to permit educational providers to build greater partnerships with their peers. Abstracts and panel discussion proposals are currently being accepted for the following themes:
Defining Pathways for Trades Education in the 21st Century
- Government
- Industry, business and higher education
- Craft practitioners, teacher and the public
- Potential for development of skills exchange, and partnership efforts
- Collaboration on community, regional, national and international levels
- Building a new culture for building craft education and industry
- Finding and Remembering the Reasons for Building Craft
This conference is designed to build on the collaborative learning set forth during previous ITES events including Lincoln UK (2011), Leadville Colorado (2009), Tallberg, Sweden (2007) and St. Clairsville Ohio (2005).