Technician Commitment

The Technician Commitment is a sector-wide initiative led by the Science Council, supported by the Gatsby Foundation to help address key challenges facing technical staff working in research. Since its inception in 2017 over 120 universities and research institutions and supporter institutions from across the UK have pledged to championing technicians and their contributions towards research and teaching.

Four target areas have been identified whereby signatories aim to improve the visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.

Technician Commitment at the OU

The Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at The Open University is an Employer Champion and a founding signatory of the Technician Commitment and as such respects its Technical Team and values their vital contribution to the research and teaching programme. In association with the Science Council, STEM is committed to progressing the career development of its staff by supporting them in their continuing professional development and ensuring that their competency is recognised by promoting professional registration. Professional registration of our staff demonstrates to our clients and funders that we have a motivated, contemporary and a continually improving team.

The STEM faculty submitted the Stage1 Self-Assessment & Action Plan in 2018, the Stage 2 Report & Action Plan in 2022 and the Stage 3 Report & Action Plan in 2024.

Feedback on the Stage 2 Self-assessment and Action Plan recognised:

”The Technician Commitment Steering Board are delighted with the progress and impact of the initiative to date and we look forward to continuing to work with you to support the on-going development of technicians at the Open University.”

“Congratulations on your positive progress. In recognition of this submission, The Open University will be presented with an Impact Award at the forthcoming Technician Commitment Signatory Event.”

Key achievements

Apprentices

To ensure a sustainable technical workforce STEM partnered with TIRO in 2018 to create a Level 3 technical apprenticeship programme. This has proved highly successful, and the second cohort of apprentice are currently finalising their apprenticeship.  

Read more about our apprentices here https://ounews.co/science-mct/meet-the-ou-apprentices-readying-to-take-the-science-industry-by-storm/

Awards

In 2019 the Technician Commitment partner with Times Higher Education to create an ‘Outstanding Technician of the Year’ category in the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards. The inaugural award was presented to Dr Barbara Kunz from the Open University’s at the ceremony in November 2019.

Dr Barbara Kunz being presented with the Outstanding Technician of the Year award in 2019 by Kelly Vere MBE and Julian Clary (©Times Higher Education).

In 2022 Dr Simona Nicoara won the OU Research Excellence Award in the category 'Best Technician/Best Technical Team'. Three other members of the STEM technical team where shortlisted showing the strong commitment to excellence among the OU's technicians.

Dr Zeeshan Mughal a Project Officer in Electron Microscopy has won the 2nd Prize in the 2023 Royal Microscopical Society (RMS) International Scientific Imaging Competition with his entry 'Peek-a-boo, a snail in the nano world'.

A number of individuals and teams have won STEM Recognising Excellence awards over the past two years.

Technical Attribution

To recognise technical contribution to research resulting in peer review publication in 2020 the STEM faculty initiated a Fair Attribution policy for publication.

Professional Development

STEM signposts professional development opportunities to technicians and actively encourage CPD and professional registration as a benchmark of skills. In 2022 three members of the technical team completed the Herschel Programme for Women in Technical Leadership.

Final celebratory and networking event of the 2022 Herschel Programme at Church House Westminster, London (©Christine Barrass)

In 2019 fourteen and in 2023 nine STEM Technicians were awarded the National Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (NEBOSH). Holders of this accredited qualification can identify, evaluate and control a wide range of workplace hazards. The qualification encourages a pragmatic approach to managing risk and covers the legal requirements for health and safety in the UK. The dedication of technical staff to undertake such training indicates STEM's commitment to providing a safe working environment for all lab users. 

First cohort of OU STEM technicians with their NEBOSH certificate. (©David Johnson)

Contact

If you have any questions regarding the Technician Commitment at the Open University, please get in touch with our Technician Commitment lead Dr Barbara Kunz (barbara.kunz@open.ac.uk)