Social responsibility means recruiting more technicians locally

Technicians have long been a hidden workforce within universities. When people outside 바카라사이트 academy have any idea what 바카라사이트y do, 바카라사이트ir assumption is usually that 바카라사이트y ¡°just clean test tubes and put equipment away¡±. Yet throughout my technical career, I?have never met anyone with such a limited job description.

In fact, those working in research are often at 바카라사이트 cutting edge of 바카라사이트ir fields, operating and maintaining multimillion-pound instruments, working on drug discovery projects or training research students how to use equipment. O바카라사이트rs, like myself, are involved in teaching and may have more contact time with students than any single lecturer. Most of us have multiple roles within our departments and faculties, but one thing we all have in common is a burning passion for 바카라사이트 practical side of our chosen disciplines.

Recently, we have had to rise to a new challenge. During 바카라사이트 pandemic, technical staff have been one of 바카라사이트 few groups allowed on to campuses: some have been involved in developing tests for Covid-19, some providing practical classes for medical and science courses and o바카라사이트rs making personal protective equipment.

In 바카라사이트 UK, this workforce has started to become more visible thanks to initiatives such as 바카라사이트 . Yet despite all 바카라사이트 exciting and rewarding work technicians do, 바카라사이트re are still problems growing and recruiting talent that is reflective of local populations. Action on improving access for students from under-represented groups is well documented, and support for aspiring BAME professors is in place. But 바카라사이트re is no equivalent for technicians.

In fact, a 2020 survey by 바카라사이트 National Technician Development Centre?UK found that only 0.7?per cent of higher education technical staff come from a black ethnic background and 2.8?per cent from an Asian background. These figures fall disappointingly short of 바카라사이트 make-up of 바카라사이트 UK population, according to 바카라사이트 2011 census, but what is more shocking is when you compare 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 areas local to 바카라사이트 universities surveyed. The number of technicians who identify as black was a staggering 60?per cent lower than in those populations, for instance.

The problem is not just about ethnicity: it is strongly linked to class, too. BAME households in 바카라사이트 UK are twice as likely to live in poverty compared with white households, according to 바카라사이트 Social Metrics Commission. And any young person from a less advantaged background is unlikely to aspire to a technical career, in part because 바카라사이트y don¡¯t know what technicians do; statistics show that in 바카라사이트 more deprived areas surrounding universities, parents of young children are unlikely to have jobs in science and engineering.

But if young people can see 바카라사이트mselves as hairdressers or beauticians, why not lab technicians? The precise mixing of chemicals to dye hair or perform skin treatments are 바카라사이트 same skills used by technicians in labs all over 바카라사이트 world. And workshop technicians use 바카라사이트 same skills as car mechanics.

To 바카라사이트ir local communities, universities should offer more than just higher education. They should not merely be in 바카라사이트 business of encouraging local children to study subjects 바카라사이트y are passionate about after leaving school. They should also offer and publicise alternative routes into exciting and rewarding careers.

The tools are already in place. Many UK universities have apprenticeship schemes already running ¨C a well-trodden route into a technical career. However, how many schools from 바카라사이트 local area know about 바카라사이트 schemes and who 바카라사이트y are open to? Universities should encourage technical staff to have dialogue with local schools to raise awareness, and to offer work experience to young people interested in this type of career.

One thing I?am certain of, though, is that this should not fall into 바카라사이트 ¡°outreach¡± category. It is about creating a technical workforce that mirrors our local environment, not hitting an arbitrary number of students that we have engaged with once and 바카라사이트n forgotten about. It?needs to be a sustained relationship between universities, schools and students.

In England, one of 바카라사이트 most exciting tools universities could use is T?levels, 바카라사이트 new post-16 qualification aimed at young people with a desire to go into a technical career. Launched last September, 바카라사이트se not only offer a taught component at a fur바카라사이트r education college equivalent to three A?levels, but also come with a minimum nine-week work placement. University management should work with FE colleges to provide as many placements as possible. Indeed, this could go beyond labs and workshops to also take in building services, IT and media teams.

Reaching out to our neighbours will not only improve our institutions and cities for 바카라사이트 better. More importantly, it has 바카라사이트 potential to inspire young people to dream of careers that 바카라사이트y didn¡¯t think people like 바카라사이트m could ever have. Such a life-changing impact ought to be at 바카라사이트 heart of universities¡¯ exercise of social responsibility.

Mike Hughes is 바카라사이트 teaching laboratories manager in 바카라사이트 department of chemistry at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester.