Welcome to Technically Speaking! Informative event for
technicians organised by technicians. Lots of information about
opportunities for technical staff. Information stands and lunch
will be in the ESLC. Most speakers are exhibiting at lunch time
please visit their stands. 2 Breakout sessions if you havent made
your selection yet please go to the registration desk at break
time. Questions - we have a jam packed programme! Instead of asking
questions at the end of talks please add any questions to the
flipchart board in C15 using the post it notes provided.
Slide 3
A Look to the Future for University Technical Staff Kelly Vere
[email protected] @kellyvere
Slide 4
University Technical Staff Over 20,000 technicians working in
higher education in the UK. Over 600 of these work here at UoN!
Technical staff make a vital contribution towards our Universitys
aims to deliver excellence in research, teaching & the student
experience. We work in a diverse range of areas from archaeology to
zoology. (We dont all wear white coats!)
Slide 5
Technicians 350 years ago. Boyle & Hooke 1657 Guerickes
early air pump early 1660s.
Slide 6
University Technical Staff Over the years our role has
diversified - we are not simply the stereotypical technician in a
white coat wheeling equipment from lab to lab. Alongside the
provision of traditional technical duties many technicians today
collaborate on cutting edge research and make a substantial
contribution to the student teaching & learning experience.
Were also well qualified - over 50% of technical staff in the UK
are educated to undergraduate degree level or above. Many have
postgraduate qualifications and we have an expert and experienced
skills base. Crucial resource for the University.
Slide 7
Traditionally the role of the technician has not received the
appropriate professional recognition for the variety of roles we
undertake. Perhaps because the term technician covers a broad range
of roles, skills, and disciplines? We are a hard group to define
and communicate with! Has led to technical staff reporting a sense
of invisibility and a perceived low social status attached to the
role are we the Cinderellas of HE? The Cinderellas of Higher
Education?
Slide 8
Changing External Environment Across the HE sector there is
increasing acknowledgement that technical staff do not receive
appropriate professional recognition for the role they undertake.
More value must be placed on the technical contribution to HE.
Things are starting to change.several exciting initiatives in
place
Slide 9
External Opportunities
Slide 10
Fantastic that these developments & opportunities are out
there... ..but we dont know about them! No clear source of
information dedicated to the Universitys Technical Services Staff.
Despite there being so many of us we dont really talk to each
other! (perhaps because theres no clear mechanism to do so!) As
technicians we tend to hide in our own labs, offices &
workshops. Important that we break down departmental &
geographical barriers and share information a much more efficient
way of working! Useful to know what is happening in the wider
University and the higher education sector. Essential that as
technicians we create and maintain a professional identity for
technical staff at the University of Nottingham.
Slide 11
Formed in October 2013 representation from across the
University: Elaine Watts/Teresa Needham Geography Tommy Napier
Physics & Astronomy Eddy Faber Archaeology Christine
Grainger-Boultby Pharmacy Andy Lee Medicine Anna Bertram Chemistry
Paul Antcliff/Kevin Padgett Engineering Susan Woodward Biosciences
Scott Hulme Veterinary Medicine Kelly Vere Life Sciences Claire
Cawthorne (nee Kempson) Professional Development Technically
Speaking University of Nottingham Technical Focus Group If you are
interested in being involved in future TFG activities please
indicate this on the evaluation forms that will be collected at the
end of today.
Slide 12
Objective: To create a professional identity for technical
staff at the University of Nottingham by: Providing a mechanism and
network for technicians to share information, resources and
expertise across the University. Providing technicians with a voice
in the University and the opportunity to contribute ideas to
professional service units and management. Championing technical
staff across the University and to build on the high quality
technical support that we offer colleagues and students here at
Nottingham. TFG is very new - It is up to us all to come up with
ideas and proposals for how to move it forward please input your
ideas on todays evaluation forms. As well as engaging with external
opportunities already mentioned we have had several ideas on how we
as technicians can interact with the University on a broader scale.
Our ideas so far.. Technically Speaking University of Nottingham
Technical Focus Group
Slide 13
Internal Opportunities
Slide 14
Technically Speaking Conference 9 th January 2014. Technically
Speaking Newsletter Technically Speaking Seminar Series Technical
Skills/Expertise Database Technically Speaking Workspace Technical
Training Opportunities & Professional Registration Workshops
Mentoring Scheme
Slide 15
Technical staff play a crucial role in research and teaching
here at Nottingham. Creating a professional identity for ourselves
is key to raising our profile. To do this we as technicians need to
increase and widen our interactions with our university just as our
university needs to ensure it increases its interactions with us!
Therefore, were very pleased to welcome the Deputy Vice Chancellor
Professor Karen Cox to tell us about the value of technical staff,
the Universitys future strategy & how we as technicians can
contribute.