This one day conference is for all members of the Technical Services job family.

The programme will focus on 3 main themes:

• Technical Developments at Nottingham

• National Developments for Technicians in Higher Education

• Technicians and the University's Strategic Plan (breakout sessions)

The breakout sessions are designed to enable staff to explore ways in which they can both support the University to achieve its aims and develop their own potential, as well as providing an opportunity to meet colleagues from Schools and Departments across the University. To ensure you take part in the breakout sessions that are of interest to you, please ensure you book on to one workshop, per breakout session. Links to all the workshops will be provided within your joining instructions.

Pre-Requisites The Breakout sessions provide an opportunity for participants to discuss various aspects of the University's Strategic Plan and how they are and can input to the success of Nottingham, China and Malaysia campuses.

Breakout Session 1 options 
12:00 - 12:45
(Choose one session only):

Do Technicians Teach?
Facilitated by Dr Anna Bertram, School of Chemistry and Christine Grainger-Boultby, School of Pharmacy

Theme of the Session:
Nottingham has a strong record in developing learning technologies and enthusiastically embraces the appropriate use of the latest innovations for enriching teaching and learning at all levels, as well as to enable mobility, flexibility and wide access.

This session will explore the various ways technicians facilitate teaching, from setting up labs, to giving presentations and lectures.  It will also begin to focus on the learning and development opportunities required to support technicians in this area.

Facilitated by Thomas Napier, School of Physics and Astronomy

Theme of the Session:
The members of our academic community endeavour to produce world-changing research.  Success entails developing ideas, creating new discoveries and generating value and benefits by exchanging knowledge which generates real economic, social, environmental and cultural impact.

This session will examine the role technicians play in developing novel and innovative research as well as how they might engage with business.

Breakout Session 2 options
14:15 - 15:00
(Choose one session only):

The International Technician
Facilitated by Teresa Needham, School of Geography and Dr Suzanne McGowan, School of Geography in Malaysia

Theme of the Session:
Internationalisation is at the heart of this University.  We have been described by The Times as 'the closest the UK has to a truly global university' due to our campuses in the UK, China and Malaysia, which acts as hosts to a genuinely global academic community in all three countries.

This session will explore the opportunities available to UK based staff in China and Malaysia, as well as developing ways to engage with technical staff based at the international campuses.


Technicians and the Community
Facilitated by Claire Kempson, Professional Development

Theme of the Session:
A sense of social responsibility and general improvement runs through many of our activities and is reflected in our research agenda, recruitment practices, international strategy and relationships with the communities.  The University is particularly committed to the city of Nottingham and our local communities, and believes it is essential that staff and students see themselves as part of the larger, global community.

This session will examine ways participants might want to get involved in community projects, such as after school clubs, NUAST or recruit apprentices via the Trainee Technicians programme.

The Environment & Sustainability
Facilitated by Dr Eddy Faber, School of Archaeology

Theme of the Session:
Nottingham has a longstanding commitment to the environmental agenda and to institution-wide environmental excellence.  We have significant internationally recognised research strengths and course provision in the environment-related field.  Our estates operations are built on a strong environmental ethos and by adopting progressive environmental strategies in our capital projects we have embedded sustainability at the heart of our operations.

This session will explore ways participants can offer a technical perspective on developments around the University and how they can help with the sustainability and environmental impact across campuses.