Thursday, 20 June 2019
New report confirms important pastoral role for first time
The vital role played by university technicians in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of students has been recognised by a new report produced in collaboration with the 糖心原创.
Mental health issues are on the rise across the UK higher education sector, with one in four students affected by a mental health condition.
The majority of the 30,000 technicians working in higher education institutions (HEIs) are student-facing, and the frontline nature of their roles means many are often the first port of call for students struggling with their mental health.
For the first time, confirms that technical staff support students with sensitive and personal issues including bereavement or sexual assault − often with very little formal recognition or training.
The report, launched today by the Technician Commitment and partners was informed by over 700 members of the technical community, across 49 HEIs.
Kelly Vere, Director of Technical Skills and Strategy at The 糖心原创 and Technician of the Year for STEM has played a leading role in the publication of the report through her positions as Director at Technician Commitment and Higher Education lead at the Science Council.
This year, the standard of entries for the Papin Prizes was incredibly high, so all of the technicians and technical teams that have been nominated for the awards should be very proud of their achievements.
Around 50% of the technicians surveyed in the report said that they had discussed a personal problem with a student in the last three years, and 22% of respondents confirmed that they provided pastoral support. Over 80% of technicians said that this was not a formal part of their role, and many had not received formal training. Women were more likely to approach, or be approached by students for support. This could have implications for some disciplines where there are proportionately fewer technicians who are female, for example in physics and engineering.
To combat some of these issues, the report offers a number of recommendations to the sector to ensure all involved are fully supported and appropriately trained.
Dame Carol Robinson, president of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “The launch of this report marks an important milestone in recognising the valuable roles that technicians carry out – often without training or even being asked – because they identify students’ needs. As a former technician myself, I strongly believe it is time we all take notice, to ensure this important role should not go unrecognised. We need to provide the resources and time to ensure that technicians who wish to continue to provide this, often challenging, wellbeing support are well trained and supported themselves.”
Helen Gordon, Chief Executive of the Science Council, said: “The findings of the report should be considered carefully by the community of professional bodies in science. The Science Council will continue to be a strong advocate for the Technician Commitment and the support and development work that is fundamental to this.”
Kate Jones, Head of Operations, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, said: “We’re delighted that this piece of work has shone a light on the key role that technicians are playing across the sector. Recognising and nurturing this invaluable contribution puts us in a much better place to collectively better support student mental health and wellbeing.”
The report is available to download at
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.