Are you a technician? Yes? Then you will know what a technician does. No? Then chances are you don’t know what a technician does. Why is this?
Technicians are highly skilled staff with diverse, complex and specialist roles. In higher education, they are often the first port of call for both staff and students.
In an environment which has a high turnover of other staff, technicians are the permanent enablers of knowledge and expertise transfer. Technicians do not have a general job description. Areas of expertise are hugely wide-ranging. A job that is difficult to define is easily overlooked, can be lost in the system and ignored. With lack of publicity, technicians can be invisible.
The crucial contribution technical staff make to the successful operation of colleges and universities can go unrecognised. Technical staff can go uncredited in newsletters, award ceremonies and national student surveys.
Professional registration can address the invisibility challenge. Getting involved will improve recognition and development of technical staff.
Technicians are enthusiastic, encouraging, researchers, teachers, innovators, advisors. The Technicians Make it Happen Campaign is propelling the roles of technicians into the public consciousness, spotlighting, raising awareness.
Support for these initiatives is vital.
The campaign for improved recognition of technical staff is gaining momentum. Universities and colleges are showing respect for the invaluable contribution to success that technicians make.
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