National Technician Development Centre Launches First Report Based On Findings From The NTDC Technician Survey

The report comprises benchmark data from ten universities within the UK undertaking the NTDC Technician Survey.

The National Technician Development Centre has launched the Technician Survey Report. This report will be the first in a series based on findings from the NTDC Technician Survey. 

The NTDC Technician Survey is designed to capture every element of a technician’s role and experience. This includes contributions to Teaching and Research, Management Responsibilities, Professional Registration status, Career Pathways, Future Career Plans, Technical Skills and Experience, and Training and Development Requests. The survey is based on a database of over three thousand individual technical skills. 

‘The NTDC Survey Team has been delighted to work with many universities who have undertaken the Technician Survey, we know from our conversations with these organisations that releasing benchmark data will be beneficial by highlighting not only the vital work and skills of technical staff across the sector, but also in mapping the profile of the technical workforce and the issues they currently face in their roles at an institutional and national level,’ said Jared Carnie, NTDC Survey Team Lead at the NTDC, ‘we look forward to releasing more data in the future which will further stimulate ongoing conversations around how technical staff within HE can be better recognised and supported in the vital work the undertake to support teaching and research.’ 

Natalie Kennerley, FIScT, CSci, Director of the NTDC, said, ‘since the creation of the Technician Survey in 2018 the team at the NTDC have continued to develop and refine this tool which now catalogues a myriad of technical skills. The evolution of the survey has seen widespread engagement from universities both within the UK and overseas; a vital initiative in enabling institutions to make better and more informed use of technical skills and talent across disciplines. Enabling support for technical staff development initiatives which foster career development opportunities through secondments and apprenticeship programmes. I am delighted to see the publication of the Technician Survey report now available to institutions; the report will provide a valuable glimpse into the current technical landscape.’     

Terry Croft MBE FIScT CSci, Founding Director of the NTDC, said ‘I am pleased to see the launch of the NTDC Technician Survey report which forms part of a series looking at a wide range of issues affecting both the individual technician and their employers. This excellent work by the NTDC team has created a unique database which is helping the sector to understand not only the major contribution that technical staff make to their institutions but also by providing key data to help institutions to make and ensure a sustainable future for their technical staff and services.’ 

The National Technician Development Centre provides organisations with a plethora of resources and tools which support the delivery of high quality and sustainable technical services across all sectors.