The 4^th Technician Commitment signatory event was an opportunity for signatories to come together to share ideas and their experiences of the Technician Commitment so far – what is working, successful and to be celebrated and what is more challenging and requires further effort, resource and perhaps a re-think. The event also saw 8 new signatories join over half of the UK universities and several research institutes, demonstrating the clear impact the initiative is having.

The morning sessions began with Professor Sally Ann Bradley, the Higher Education Academy (HEA) Academic Lead for Professional Learning and Development enthusiastically encourage technicians to become involved with the HEA as a means of recognition for their roles in learning and teaching.

UoE technicians are specifically urged to engage with the HEA in a recent blog “Recognise ME – teaching AND being a technician are not mutually exclusive! – Emily Salvesen” with signposting of IAD HE Academy opportunities for certification of technician learning and teaching responsibilities with visible recognition of achievement. Please access and make use of the support available.

Student mental health and wellbeing is rapidly coming into sharp focus for all institutions. Kate Jones from the University of Liverpool presented her research group findings Technicians: Providing frontline and vital support for student mental health and wellbeing  Again the message is to get involved. Think about your role as a technician in this type of student support and how it contributes to student resilience and their ability to not only maximise their learning opportunities but their enjoyment and pleasure during their time with us.

Research institutes working together demonstrated the effectiveness of collaboration. Their ‘Research Institutes Technician Commitment group’ are a pilot committee trialling initiatives for passing onto a technician run group in the future. Warm invitations are extended to their event at the Crick Institute on 18^th November where the central feature will be A4 poster presentations.

The Midlands innovation technical skills placement programme presentation detailed the scheme which is open to any technician, of any grade from across the eight member universities with funding covering travel, sustenance and accommodation. The programme provides technicians with an opportunity to work with technicians at other universities on a short placement, in order to develop and share their skills, best practice and experiences and make new contacts that can provide support and advice to help them in their future technical careers.

Running very successfully, this is a possible consideration for UoE in collaboration with other Scottish universities

The Technician Commitment pillars of visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of skills and experience must, of course, encompass awards. Focus here was on the Papin Prizes which aim to provide national recognition and reward for excellence in technical services within higher education and raise the professional status of technicians in higher education

It is important that UoE technicians feature in these and other awards. Please see our awards section on our support for technicians website and think about who you can nominate.

The presentation from Ian Hancox from university of Warwick was very positive and enlightening. Their strategy is to engage with the technical community with regular events, focus groups around the 4 Technician Commitment themes, trialling initiatives with feedback through Technical Services Managers and having a strong media profile. They aim to have a technical career pathway that is transparent and fair with roles evaluated to professional equivalents. Their stance on the difficult issue of technicians being named on papers has been to create a “fair attribution” guide which has been circulated to Heads of Departments. Please access and use.

The day’s presentations ended with news of a very exciting project from the Science Museum. Jon Milton described plans for a gallery about technicians aimed at 11 -16 year-olds. With an understanding of future needs for technicians to meet the bigger challenges of society, the Science Museum initiative aims to create a realistic, personal, memorable visit. The concept is for young people, their teachers, advisors and carers to have an enjoyable, relatable experience which will widen their ideas of STEM and where it can lead. The gallery will feature a careers hub and activities exploring the idea that YOU can be part of making the future success by considering working in different fields such as creative industries and laboratory environments. This will be live and interactive, working with technicians, problem-solving as a team for a relatable, aspirational experience.

Throughout the day, there were floor led group discussion sessions with central feedback.

Key points included:

• Most institutions are reliant on volunteer time for Technician Commitment work. Metrics need to be defined and dedicated resource standard.
• There is a challenge to maintain momentum, particularly beyond the first action plans. There is a real need for follow through on promises to build trust. Continued communication is key to embed the idea that change won’t be overnight but a gradual build of positivity. Incentive schemes, awards and rewards and recognition will all input to driving things ahead. Technician champions in different areas of institutions could coordinate such activities.

Collaboration is another essential element for propelling the Technician Commitment. With groups such as the Newcastle “working in partnership” sharing best practice and building on each other’s progress. Again wider Scottish collaboration is something for UoE to consider.

• Academic involvement is an important requirement for success, with an understanding that fulfilment of the Technician Commitment will benefit ALL university staff and also students. It was suggested that Technician Commitment and Science Council leads should be in contact with university senior management with an awareness campaign and inviting access to Technician Commitment events.
• Working on improving career development opportunities and technician status is at the heart of the Technician Commitment. Not only will this be motivational for current technical staff, but to encourage young blood into the profession, young people need to see a technical career as an aspirational choice.
• As part of the strategy to improve conditions for technical staff, technicians should be recognised alongside academic staff with inclusion in course and programme surveys and the NSS as a student experience measurement of customer service.

To round things up details of the next phase were announced:

• Self-assessment to include reflections on progress and evidence of actions undertaken
• 36 month action plan aligned to the themes of the TCI
• Evidence of the tech voice present in developing the action plan
• New action plan published online
• Signed off by Principal
• Template and guidance document being sent to signatories September 2019
• Phase 2 signatories (including UoE) to submit new self-assessment along with evidence and 3-year action plan October 2020

An enjoyable, informative day, a very proud moment was being presented, along with Natalie Homer and Lee Murphy, with our UoE award of submission.

I left with an overall impression of positivity. There is work to do and we need to pull together to deliver a well devised plan. The ultimate ambition is that, in time, there will not be a need for the Technician Commitment. The ethos will be embedded in University culture. No more sense of “them and us”, but a parity of esteem which will benefit EVERYONE.

Valerie Gordon Technical Officer, Moray House School of Education; Project Coordinator Technician Commitment

Technician Commitment 4th Signatory Event, 24th June, Jaguar Experience, Castle Bromwich – Valerie Gordon / University of Edinburgh Technicians by blogadmin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0

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