The Technician Commitment is a university and research institution initiative, led by a steering board of sector bodies, hosted by the UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy.
The Commitment aims to ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for Technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines. Universities and research institutes are invited to become signatories of the Technician Commitment and pledge action to tackle the key challenges affecting their technical staff.
Since its inception in 2017, the Technician Commitment has grown to a global community of 140 signatory and supporter organisations championing technicians and their contributions to higher education and research.
The Commitment includes 4 key areas:
Visibility
Ensure all technicians within the organisation are identifiable and that the contribution of technicians is visible within and beyond the institution.
Recognition
Support technicians to gain recognition through professional registration and external awards schemes.
Career Development
Enable career progression opportunities for technicians through the provision of clear, documented career pathways.
Sustainability
INTRODUCTION
Ensure the future sustainability of technical skills across the organisation and that technical expertise is fully utilised.
At GSA we are incredibly proud of our community of technicians, whose skills, dedication and passion make an enormous contribution to the life of the School and play an essential part in our students learning.
Our technical team is at the very heart of the student experience, bringing to life ensuring that our studios and workshops are places where students feel safe to explore their creativity and innovation can flourish. Their work enables students to push boundaries, investigate new possibilities and gain the hands-on knowledge they need for their future careers as creative practitioners.
JOHN AYERS HEAD OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT
By signing up to the Technician Commitment, GSA is strengthening its support and recognition of the vital role technicians play in creative education. The accompanying Action Plan has been developed through close consultation with the technical team alongside input from stakeholders and students. It sets out steps we are taking to enhance opportunities for personal development, career progression, team building and the celebration of achievement. By embedding the principles of the Technician Commitment, we look forward to further strengthening our technical provision and fostering an environment where all colleagues can thrive.
“Our technical team is at the very heart of the student experience, bringing ideas to life.”
Technical excellence has been at the heart of
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) since the School’s inception in 1845.
PENNY MACBETH DIRECTOR AND PRINCIPAL
Our technical teams are an intrinsic part of our continuing success as a global, internationally significant centre for creative education with their expertise playing a vital role in our distinct studio culture. Technical staff play an essential role in delivering our education, embodying our commitment to deep specialism, interdisciplinarity, collaboration, partnership, and the development of excellence in creative practice research. They are makers, artists, designers, innovators, essential to the teaching and development of our students, creating safe learning environments where they can experiment, question and test the boundaries of their disciplines.
The Technician Commitment and Action Plan, underpinned by both our Education Strategy and People Strategy, demonstrates the importance that we place on the support and ongoing development of our Technical teams, setting our ambitions for meaningful career development, celebrating talent and the coherent integration of our technical staff’s expertise in our academic and research activity. It affirms our commitment to our technical staff and the role that they play in making the GSA a socially and environmentally conscious institution that champions creativity and innovation.
“Technical staff play an essential role in delivering our education, embodying our commitment to deep specialism, interdisciplinarity, collaboration, partnership, and the development of excellence in creative practice research.”
ACTION PLAN 2025-2027
ACTION PLAN 2025-2027
Establish the Technician Commitment at GSA
Establish the TC steering group as a proactive, supportive forum for the technical voice
TC members are given support, time and resources to develop projects and engage with colleagues
information about the TC is included in the tech staff induction
ACTION PLAN 2025-2027
Renew focus on staff development and career development
Ensure the full staff team completes career reviews and engages in the GSA staff dev programme 85+% completion rates for career reviews and mandatory training
Explore professional memberships and accreditation
Schemes are visible and staff are supported in developing applications
Promote and support application to a range of development programmes such as Herschel, in particular for underrepresented groups
Explore and implement the HETT framework
Schemes are promoted and staff are supported to develop applications
Explore and benchmark Spring 25 Map existing roles summer 25 Introduce to new roles 25/26 Fully implement framework 26/27
Develop support for study guidance to signpost how tech staff can access more in-depth study and development options while balancing working (e.g. Masters, PhD study)
Develop a policy on using GSA facilities for developing /producing new creative work
GSA-wide guidance is available and promoted across the technical team
GSA-wide guidance is available and promoted across the technical team and across the school
ACTION PLAN 2025-2027
Develop regular events celebrating and sharing the work of technical staff
Technician Exhibition – Build on the success of the Feb 24 exhibition and plan a biennial exhibition
Explore joint exhibitions with other Scottish art schools
TSD Spotlight Sessions – further develop events to increase visibility and attendance including students, academic and other staff
Dates and venues for exhibition planned for next 2 years
Develop and maintain technical team social media channels
Dates and venues planned for the next two years. Time is protected in the academic timetable
Events included in GSA comms
Students, staff and the public are aware of and able to engage with technical achievements TLs
Continue to nominate Tech staff for GSA People Awards, L&T Awards and external awards such as Times Higher Technician of the Year Award
Tech staff are celebrated internally and externally as high-achieving, supportive, technical and education professionals
ACTION PLAN 2025-2027
Develop initiatives to build team coherence across technical staff
Help staff to feel part of the wider team and students to navigate technical spaces and recognise the technical staff at GSA
Continue TSD all-staff events. Protect time in the year for team development and formal/informal social/sharing events
Staff uniforms integrated into protective clothing - prototype with Studio Team, consult with wider team
Refresh TSD branding & signage to create a coherent visual approach to help students navigate technical spaces, and recognise technical staff at GSA
Develop cross-school events to allow tech staff to visit other workshops or work shadowing
Establish workshop facility tour and induction booking for all new staff
Dates and venues planned for the next two years. Time protected in the academic timetable
All staff are aware of the availability of the uniform option, and it is taken up by those that want it
Develop new signage and place in all workshops
Events are planned and time is protected in the timetable
All staff are aware of the technical facilities available, how to access them and how to access support
Include technical staff profiles on the GSA website
staff can manage their own profiles on the GSA website
Develop a campaign to highlight technical staff stories, showcasing their skills and career paths
Refreshed workshop photography available for use Campaign run
ACTION PLAN 2025-2027
Integrate technical staff into academic planning and research activity
Explore GSA’s research environment to review how technical staff are involved in research, knowledge exchange and innovation, how they can best contribute
Develop skills mapping project to outline skills offer, identify gaps in provision, create opportunities for technical staff to develop new areas of delivery
Map ways that technical staff support the research environment or are otherwise involved in research
Explore Research Technical Professional role as part of HETT framework above
from the skills mapping project inform technical workforce planning
