Midlands Innovation is a strategic research partnership of eight research intensive universities in the Midlands. Funding was awarded by Research England in 2020 for ‘TALENT’ – a transformation programme to advance status and opportunity for technical skills, roles and careers. The TALENT Commission report was published in 2022.
HEPI is running a series of blogs with Midlands Innovation championing the role of technicians in higher education and research. In this post, Gemma Black, Technical Services Manager for the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment at University of Leicester explains how institutions can lean into their technical staff for resilience in a time of crisis.
Technicians are problem solvers. By the very nature of our roles supporting research and teaching in higher education, we’re used to thinking on our feet and making things happen. We are the people on the ground in laboratories, workshops and studios who ensure students and researchers can access equipment safely, and make sure learning environments are operational and that the right resources are available for lectures.
During times of crisis, people with problem-solving abilities can provide fresh perspectives and valuable insights which help strengthen the resilience of teams and organisations. Institutions that engage with their technical community and listen to technical voices will learn a lot about day-to-day delivery, the benefits of building networks and the best ways to overcome issues, often before they arise.
