The annual Times Higher Education Awards celebrate excellence across UK higher education. The Technician Commitment has proudly sponsored the category of Outstanding Technician the Year for the past five years.
Having a category recognising excellence in technical careers as part of such prestigious higher education awards supports the Technician Commitment’s aims to drive visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technical staff and careers.
This award recognises technicians whose exceptional practical skills, commitment and vision have enabled the highest quality teaching, research or knowledge transfer. It is open to technicians working in any discipline in UK or Irish universities and research institutes. Entries can be made by institutions, technicians themselves, their colleagues or students, and testimonies must be provided as part of the supporting documentation.
Submissions may address some, or all, of the following:
- A technician's essential contribution to a project or ongoing piece of work. How was the impact evaluated?
- How the nominee works with academics, students and others to build a strong working environment in which all parties thrive.
- If innovations or efficiencies have been delivered, tell us how this has been done.
- Beyond the day-to-day role, has the nominee been involved in building a strong community of technicians within an institution, or undertaken other activities in line with the aims of the Technician Commitment?
- Does the nominee represent technical staff on institutional committees or boards? If so, explain how they have successfully brought the technician's voice to its decision-making.
The THE Awards are free to enter and open to anyone involved in higher education across the UK and Ireland. Nominations are open now until 12 June and the winners will be revealed at an Awards ceremony on Thursday 7 December 2023. For the first time since the awards launched in 2005, the awards ceremony will take place outside of London, at the ACC Liverpool.
Do you work with a technician whose hard work, innovation and collaboration deserves recognition. Are you that technician? If so, we strongly encourage you to apply.
Visit the THE Awards website to learn more.
Watch our interview with last year's winner, Hong Lin from the University of Reading:
