Writtle University College has backed a pledge to support its technicians and to safeguard vital technical skills.
The Technician Commitment is a sector-wide initiative led by the Science Council, supported by the Gatsby Foundation, to address key challenges facing technical staff working in research.
The commitment was launched in May 2017 and signed by 36 founding signatories. At New Scientist Live (Excel London) on Thursday 28 September, Belinda Phipps, CEO of the Science Council announced that the number of signatories had reached 60 — representing nearly 50% of UK universities – including Writtle University College.
Tom Toolan, Executive Dean at Writtle University College, who was at the event on Thursday, said: “Technicians are critical in supporting excellence in teaching, learning and research. By signing this pledge, we ensure their contribution is fully recognised and their development is supported in terms of professional recognition and career progression.”
The Technician Commitment includes four target areas: visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians across all disciplines.
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, which is expected to rise by around 70,000 each year. Vice Chancellors and Directors of Research Institutes from leading institutions across the UK have recognised the need to protect skills across their organisations by utilising and developing expertise.
Read more at http://technicians.org.uk/techniciancommitment/