Reports Reveal Culture Change Progress & Impact As National Technician Initiative Welcomes New Supporters
New data reveals that a national initiative which advances visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of technicians in higher education and research is making genuine impact for technicians within institutions across the UK.
More than 100 universities, research institutions, professional bodies and supporter organisations have now signed up to the Technician Commitment which has proven to generate positive changes.
An evaluative study, carried out by York Consulting, examined the impact and progress of the Technician Commitment which found that a good range of governance and support has been put in place to develop the Technician Commitment at institutional, regional and national level.
Also, considerable activity has been undertaken to raise awareness and enhance collaborative and organisational structures; this has resulted in increased visibility and recognition of the role technicians play.
Outcomes for individual technicians have been experienced in relation to increased pride, motivation and aspirations: technicians have been professionally registered; received awards for their achievements; accessed improved CPD; and had individual roles recognised and upgraded.
The report findings were published at a special event with signatories and supporters on 23rd November at County Hall in London to celebrate the progress and impact the Technician Commitment is continuing to make across the sector.
Kelly Vere MBE, Programme Director for Technician Commitment said the report findings were testament to the individuals and communities within the signatory and supporter organisations who were really driving the culture change.
“Over the last four years we have made significant progress raising awareness and visibility of the technical community and the vital contributions technical colleagues make to research, education and innovation. There is, however, still work to be done.“I’m confident that the Technician Commitment will continue to advance status and opportunity for the technical community now, and in years to come, whilst strengthening the wider culture and environment within which we all play our parts. We’re delighted to continue to welcome new signatory and supporters to the initiative and we look forward to continuing our collective work together to drive this important agenda.”
Technician Commitment Awards were presented to more than 60 institutions and organisations in recognition of the work taking place to advance the Technician Commitment within their organisations. Northumbria University and Ulster University are the latest signatories – Ulster being the first Irish institution signing up.
Professor Louise Bracken, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Northumbria University said:
“Technicians play a big part in our research strategy which is focused on tackling challenges of the future. We’re delighted to have joined this national initiative which is clearly making a difference and we’re excited to implement our own action plan in Northumbria University.”
Damian McAlister, Chief People Officer, Ulster University commented:
“At Ulster we are extremely proud of our technicians and the valuable role they play in supporting our teaching and research excellence within the University. We are delighted to have joined the Technician Commitment as a new signatory and look forward to implementing our action plan to both make positive change to and raise the profile of our technician community.”
The Royal Academy of Engineering is a new supporter of the Technician Commitment.
Professor Karen Holford CBE FREng FLSW, Chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Committee, says:
“As the UK’s National Academy for engineering and technology, we are delighted to be a supporter of this commitment to make positive changes within the sector. Technical staff are vital across the breadth of engineering, and it’s crucial that they are appropriately recognised, valued and supported.”
Submission Award: This is awarded to institutions that have submitted their stage 1 self-assessments
- Anglia Ruskin University
- University of East Anglia
- Brunel University
- Buckinghamshire New University
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Cardiff Metropolitan University
- University of Huddersfield
- University of Brighton
- University of Hull
- Babraham Institute
- University of Derby
- UKRI
- Coventry University
- Durham University
- Falmouth University
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
- University of Southampton
- Staffordshire University
- University of Bath
- York St John University
- The Sainsbury Laboratory
Impact Award: This is awarded to institutions that have submitted their stage 2 self-assessments
- University of Cambridge
- Cardiff University
- Cranfield University
- University of Exeter
- Imperial College London
- University of Lincoln
- John Innes Centre
- Keele University
- Newcastle University
- University of Plymouth
- University of Warwick
- University of York
- The University of Sheffield
- University of Hertfordshire
- King’s College London
- Institute of Cancer Research
- University of Essex
- University of Nottingham
- University of Reading
- Queens University Belfast
- Aston University
- University of the West of England
- University of Leicester
- University of Manchester
- Loughborough University
- University of Bristol
- University of Chester
- Nottingham Trent University
- University of Glasgow
- Royal Holloway
- Harper Adams University
- University of Edinburgh
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Francis Crick Institute
- University of Liverpool
- University of Leeds
- University of Kent
- Oxford Brookes University
- De Montfort University
- University of St Andrews
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Read Technician Commitment Evaluation Report.
On the same day The Role of Technicians in Knowledge Exchange – An Explorative Study was published which highlights the impact the role of technicians play in strengthening the UK’s Knowledge Exchange (KE) ecosystem.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The Technician Commitment is a higher education and research initiative, led by a steering board of sector bodies, with support from the Science Council and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.
The Technician Commitment was established in May 2017 to create a more positive culture for the technical community in higher education and research by working collaboratively across the sector to advance visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of technical skills, roles and careers.
