University of Strathclyde – Technical staff development
Introduction
The University of Strathclyde employs 188 technicians. Most work in STEM areas
including 90 in Science and 78 in the Engineering Faculties. There are a further 13 in
professional services and 7 in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty.
The University has worked towards developing technicians in line with the strategy of
the institution. The focus is on allowing technicians to take ownership of their
development. This approach has seen a turnaround from apathy to enthusiastic
engagement. While it can sometimes be difficult to engage with this group of staff,
the University is in a growth phase and so the mood is generally upbeat and a good
driver for engagement. The approach of the Principal, Professor Jim McDonald, is
also important as he ensures he meets with every member of staff at least once a
year through attendance at team meetings. As he has been at the University for
many years, and is an engineer by discipline, he is on first name terms with many of
the technicians.
Accountability and Development Review
There is a heavy emphasis in performance and development reviews (PDRs) on
development and each employee must produce at least three development
objectives which need to be linked to the strategy of the University taking into
account the institution’s culture and values. The University of Strathclyde has a
distinct culture and in 2013 rolled out comprehensive new set of organisational
values which were based on a nine-month consultation process with staff. The five
key values that best encapsulate Strathclyde are:
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People oriented.
Bold.
Collaborative.
Innovative.
Ambitious.
The University uses an online PDR system which allows staff to select which
strategic objectives they are linking their development to and provides line managers
with an overview of the development objectives within their team. The HR team also
uses the information to plan what it needs to offer in terms of staff development
opportunities in the forthcoming year.
HEatED and technician development
The University has a budget for the development of technical staff and manages
grants for technicians to get out of the University to gain new skills; one example
being an international travel bursary. The University also provides teambuilding
exercises for all staff groups and supports technical managers to enhance their
coaching and leadership skills. The University runs a Modern Apprenticeship
programme and currently has seven technical apprentices (out of 27 apprentices in
total).
In developing technicians the University takes full advantage of its HEaTED
membership and emphasises the importance of technicians being networked into a
wider community. HEaTED events are funded in the University and importantly staff
are given the time and space to get involved.
A catalogue of courses available to staff is accessible on the University’s
website/intranet and staff can also book places online. To further encourage uptake
of these courses Strathclyde has its own HEaTED representative. The University
also funds technicians to attend the HEaTED annual conference.
Professional registration
Strathclyde funds professional registration for all staff including technicians; but so far
it has had little uptake among this group. The feeling among staff was that the
process was too time consuming and so the University is now looking at group
approach to help motivate and encourage accreditation.
Further information
Based on a presentation by Janice Lee, Organisational and Staff Development
Manager, University of Strathclyde (jan.lee@strath.ac.uk) at the joint UCEA/Trade
Union event ‘Growing talent from within: the support and technical workforce’ on 13
October 2014.