The University of Birmingham Technical Academy, the dedicated platform for all technical staff, officially launches today.
The Technical Academy is designed to deliver the skills and career development essential to supporting those in technical roles across the University, both today and in the future.
Honorary graduate Helen Sharman OBE will deliver a keynote address at the launch event held in the Great Hall, Aston Webb Building on the Edgbaston campus. Helen is Britain’s first astronaut and is currently Operations Manager for the Chemistry department at Imperial College London.
The demand for highly skilled technical staff is increasing and diverse and specialist technical skills are needed more than ever.
There is a need to ensure the future sustainability of the technical community across the UK. In response to this a number of nationwide initiatives have been launched. Notably, these include the HEFCE funded Technical Development and Modernisation project and the Science Council's Technician Commitment, of which Birmingham is a founding signatory.
The creation of a Technical Academy at the University of Birmingham firmly supports the national agenda.
Professor Tim Softley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Transfer, at the University of Birmingham, said:
“Technical staff are perhaps some of the ‘unsung heroes’ of our institution. Their skills and expertise enable the innovative teaching and pioneering research that takes place across campus and beyond. They are highly experienced professionals who are very much experts in their own right.
“I hope that the inauguration of the Technical Academy is the first of many positive steps we will take in recognising and supporting the invaluable and dedicated work of technical colleagues at the University of Birmingham.”
The Technical Academy is part of the Birmingham Professional, which affirms the University’s commitment to, and its expectations of, Professional Services staff across the institution.