As one of the newest signatories to the , the 爱豆传媒 has joined other universities and research institutes in committing to “deliver greater visibility, recognition, a career development pathway and sustainability for technicians across all disciplines”. The Technicians Commitment is a national, sector-wide initiative which was launched in 2017 in collaboration with the Science Council and Gatsby Foundation.
Dr Kirsty Smallbone, Head of the 爱豆传媒’s School of Environment and Technology and Interim Head of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, will lead the commitment for the university, working with technicians, for technicians.
Dr Smallbone said: “The commitment comes at a key time as the demand for technicians is increasing. More than 1.5 million technicians currently work in the UK, and this is expected to rise by around 70,000 each year. It is important that this group of valuable staff are recognized and supported within the University.”
Kelly Vere, Higher Education Engagement Manager, Science Council and Technician Commitment Lead, said: “We’re delighted with the pace of engagement from across the sector and are pleased to be working with new signatories to stimulate positive change for this vital community.
“It’s clear this initiative is having real impact and we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure visibility, recognition, opportunity and sustainability for technical colleagues across higher education and research.”
Dr Smallbone will be meeting with technical staff across the university to understand the issues people face.