WGH TechNet Meeting, 13th June 2019 – Angie Fawkes
The first TechNet event for Edinburgh University technicians based at the Western General Campus took place on Thursday the 13th of June.
What is TechNet I hear you ask?
TechNet is an opportunity for you to join a group that feeds in to a larger network of University of Edinburgh technicians. TechNet meetings are an opportunity to discuss practice, talk about CPD, explore the benefits of professional qualifications and registry with professional bodies, and share resources.
TechNet lets you plug in to what is going on with technicians throughout the university.
TechNet events bring technicians together from across the University, at our first event we had Dr Natalie Homer Chair of Technicians Support Steering Group, Keith Erskine RSciTech, Teaching technician from the Vet School R(D)SVS, Lesley Balharry from the Go Abroad Team and Lorraine Rose from the IGMM.
Lee Murphy, manager of the Edinburgh CRF Genetics Core welcomes attendees to the first Western General Campus TechNet event
Dr Natalie Homer kicked off the meeting by updating us on the work of the Technician Support Steering Group (TSSG). The TSSG met for the first time in November 2016. Initiated by Andrew Arnott from the Department of Social Responsibility and Sustainability, a team of people from various departments of The University have been meeting every 6 to 8 weeks, in order to support the ‘professionalisation’ of technical staff at The University. There are over 1000 technicians at Edinburgh University and the TSSG is leading on the development and implementation of the Technician Commitment action plan.
Next up was Keith Erskine, giving us his thoughts on the benefits of Professional Registration. Keith explained that applying for Professional Registration had made him focus on his career and not think of himself as “just a technician”. Technicians make a crucial contribution to the core research and teaching activities of our institution. We’re a highly skilled bunch and our expertise spans a diverse range of areas. Technicians research, teach, manage, innovate, advise, fix, the list goes on! In short, Technicians Make it Happen.
Keith explained that Professional Registration is awarded by licensed professional bodies of the Science Council and consists of knowledge, competence and commitment to high standards of professionalism. Professional registration captures your career development and is based on experience and ‘on the job’ learning, not academic qualifications.
Next was Lesley Balharry from the Go Abroad team. Go Abroad – Staff provides opportunities and funding for academic and professional services staff to undertake short teaching or training visits to Europe and beyond. We learned that Erasmus is not just for students! Erasmus+ funding is currently available for academic and professional services staff to teach or train in Europe and beyond during the 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years. I’m sure there must be a valid work reason for me to visit the University of British Columbia during the ski season????
Lesley Balharry from the Go Abroad team explained more about opportunities for staff (academic and technical) to visit other institutions.
The last speaker was Lorraine Rose from the IGMM, Lorraine gave us an overview of her varied career, but she specifically focussed on Mentoring, and explained to us about the Mentoring Connections Scheme. The University launched the Mentoring Connections programme in 2014, connecting Mentees with Mentors and providing support to enable effective mentoring relationships. Launched in 2018, Platform One is the university’s new digital community; an online platform that allows students, staff and alumni to gather together in a single location and share advice, knowledge and experiences. I took part in the Mentoring connections programme, as mentee last year, and I’ve signed up to be a mentor this year.
Finally, it was time for coffee and cake, sorry, Networking. This was a chance for us to chat to our fellow technicians about all sorts of things and to have some cake provided courtesy of the IGMM.
I think that the first TechNet Meeting was a great success, there were over 60 technicians present at this meeting, and I look forward to the next one.
Angie Fawkes is Deputy Lab Manager of the Genetics Core and has a particular interest in NGS and new technologies. She loves travel, skiing and Italy. Angie can be contacted on @Angie_Fawkes.
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