New professional standards for technicians in higher education29 June 2012

New standards for technicians working in higher education have been announced by the University of Sheffield, which is working with The Institute of Science and Technology (IST) and the Science Council.

The goal, according to the university, is to help secure futures and create new career opportunities that will revolutionise the sector.

If all goes to plan, technicians at universities throughout the land will, for the first time, be recognised with a professional membership, qualifications and continuing professional development scheme.

Professor Keith Burnett, CBE, vice-chancellor of the University of Sheffield, makes the point that for decades these technicians have had no formal structures, partly as a result of which numbers are declining.

Creation of new professional standards and a Technicians Register will help secure the future of the UK's multi-billion pound research and development industry for years to come, he believes.

In brief, workers will be able to become Registered Science Technicians (RSciTech) with the Science Council before progressing to Registered Scientists (RSci), awarded through a licensed professional body, while continuing their professional development and learning new skills.

"The future vitality of higher education in the UK will depend on the creative abilities of our technical staff," comments Prof Burnett.

"They are the people at the cutting edge of the research and teaching that drive so much of the innovation we need. They are often the unsung heroes of the advances in science, engineering and medicine," he continues.

"There are few things more important to us than ensuring this talent is properly nurtured and sustained by our universities and colleges."

And Terry Croft, MBE, chairman the IST and the university's director of technical development and modernisation, adds: "The Science Council's new registers have given us the opportunity to formally recognise highly motivated, highly qualified and professional technical support staff in the HE sector, which has been neglected for the last 20 years.

"I have been saying for years that we need this: the lack of professional recognition is stopping people from coming into the sector, particularly graduates. People aren't aware that careers like this are available."

The scheme is to be launched at the inaugural National Association of Professional and Technical Specialists in Education and IST Conference on the Future of Technical Support in Higher Education on the 4—5 July 2012 at the Richard Roberts Building, the University of Sheffield.

Brian Tinham

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