About us

We believe the research ecosystem is currently undergoing an important paradigm shift towards a more human-centred model of science: one that recognises, elevates and enhances the value of everyone who contributes to scientific and technological advancement. The technical community is at the heart of this paradigm shift. Achieving this structural change requires strategic alliances, shared learning and collective action at the highest level, so that recognition of technical professionals becomes embedded in the culture, policies and practices of research organisations.

The principles of the Technician Commitment closely align with our own mission to advance visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technical professionals. Being part of this international community provides an opportunity to translate shared values into concrete action: supporting professional development plans, promoting best practice across public research organisations, strengthening collaboration with international networks, and helping to create more consistent and attractive career pathways for technical staff.

Our goal is for technical staff to carry out their work in sustainable and supportive environments, with appropriate recognition and attractive conditions that enable them to fully unlock their talent and contribution to the R&D and innovation system. Joining the Technician Commitment is an important step in advancing these aims. It enables TecOPIs to contribute to, and learn from, a growing global movement that is working to change the way technical careers are understood and supported.

We are proud to collaborate with the Technician Commitment community to share knowledge, build alliances and strengthen the professional identity of technical staff across research systems.

Ultimately, we aspire to a science ecosystem that is more human and welcoming for everyone who is part of it, anywhere in the world. By recognising technical professionals as essential contributors to research and innovation, we can help build stronger institutions, better science and a fairer future for technical careers anywhere in the world.

Technicians represent a significant proportion of any university community with around 9,000 working within the Russell group, over 630 in my own university representing just over 8% of our staff. They are a highly trained group of individuals with the great majority skilled to degree level or above. They play key roles through their support of, and contribution to, research, the training of PhD and postdoctoral researchers, and undergraduate teaching.  More than that, as they pass on their knowledge and skills, so they equip each new generation of students with a range of abilities that not only enhance their career prospects, but the skills base of the future workforce whether in academia, research and development or industry.  The work, knowledge and professionalism of our technicians, provide a rich skills resource we couldn’t live without.

Given universities' reliance on our technicians, it has been interesting to observe the way in which the drive to develop an Industrial Strategy for the UK, has been a catalyst to reenergise the longstanding debate and concerns around a skills deficit and how this might be addressed in a modern economy in a highly competitive world. These are debates and concerns we surely share.  As universities, we need to think carefully on how we maintain and sustain the pipeline of technical skills essential to our success.  While there are many answers to this, not least our ability to attract talent from around the world, I think it underlines the critical importance of nurturing the talents of our technicians, now, ensuring that their roles are presented as an attractive, challenging and fulfilling career option for this, the next, and future generations of technicians.

This document aims to do just that by encouraging all of us involved in higher education to support and sign up to the commitment and so align ourselves with the five key drivers it promotes: Visibility, Recognition, Career Development, Sustainability and Evaluating Impact.  It’s encouraging that so many in the sector and associated with it, have already signed up and I would certainly encourage others to follow suit. If there have been perceptions in the past that our technicians are either ‘undervalued’ or our ‘unsung heroes’, it is time to dispel and address these perceptions in real ways: the Technician Commitment shows the way forward and I commend it to you.

At Nottingham, we have been working to ensure increased visibility and recognition of our 500+ technicians through a number of initiatives. We have created opportunities for early career talent through trainee technician programmes, and invested in accredited teacher training to ensure development opportunities for those in student-facing roles. Technicians can gain professional registration through the Engineering Council and Science Council through which we have also achieved Employer Champion status – a mark of our dedication to the quality and practice of science through the professional development of our STEM technicians.

In 2015, we hosted the inaugural Higher Education Technicians Summit, in association with the Midlands Innovation consortium, which attracted more than 450 delegates from over 40 organisations. We are delighted our Midlands Innovation partner, the University of Warwick, is hosting the event in 2017. Nottingham’s technicians are also profiled in two national campaigns: the Department of Work and Pensions’ #NotJustForBoys; and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation’s #TechniciansMakeItHappen.

We are proud to be a founding signatory of the Technician Commitment and look forward to working with colleagues across the sector to build on our progress and ensure the future sustainability of the technician community in the UK and beyond.