North West HEaTED Regional Network Good practice sharing in Staff and Professional Development

The Modern Technician in HE Profession no longer gendered - large proportion of women Many now qualified to at least 1 st degree level, many higher. PhDs Engaging with advanced and often cutting edge technology Varied roles bordering on the researcher/academic, critical to REF/NSS etc Demanding and sophisticated skills sets required Demanding work environments

Personal Mastery increasingly needed Whole person holistic development Continuing Professional Development rather than periodic/fragmented training injections or top ups Personal reflection, insight and awareness, self criticality and reflexivity Re-assertion and re-recognition of professionalism and accredited professional practice Part of a community of learners

Individual – balanced performance – inputs + outputs Craft and technical knowledge/ skills Interpersonal Skills Personal Management Skills Professional Accreditation and Orientation Skilled technical performance Effective working with others Self responsibility and accountability The value added – making the difference, being professional

Craft and Technical Knowledge/Skills Situational Knowledge – University structures and processes Discipline Knowledge – lower level processes and systems Scientific Techniques Operating Equipment and Kit Safe Working - ensuring compliance and best practice Etc

Interpersonal skills Working within teams Communication skills, developing rapport, listening, empathising, questioning etc Influencing others, managing the politics Relationship building with wide range of others Management skills Handling conflict Etc

Personal Management Skills Problem solving Time Management Stress Management Presentation Skills Healthy Working/Work Life Balance Managing Their Own Learning and Development Etc

Being a Professional Ethics and judgement Exercising autonomy, taking responsibility Managing own career Developing ‘Habitus’ (Bourdieu) – ‘practical skills and dispositions necessary to navigate within different fields (sports, professional life, art, etc)’ Part of a community of practice – sharing skills and knowledge Professional recognition, accreditation and CPD Etc

Identifying Development Needs – when/how Induction Ongoing reviews Team Discussions Observation of day to day practice Introduction of new processes or kit, any other changes Feedback from others, 360 degree feedback Infinite ways into this

Horses for courses but not courses for everything! Meeting needs Training Courses Self organised seminars Coaching/on the job training Visiting other areas and institutions/shadowing Job swaps Delegation Projects

Meeting needs (cont) Mentoring Reading Keeping a personal reflective learning log Action Learning Groups