- Jiteen Ahmed spoke at the TALENT Commission Parliamentary Reception on 24 May
- The event celebrated progress to strengthen the future of technical skills and staff in higher education with the TALENT Commission report
- Midlands Innovation universities pledged to action the TALENT Commission employer recommendations within their institutions.
Aston University’s head of technical services was among the speakers at the TALENT Commission Parliamentary Reception to celebrate progress made across the sector to strengthen the future of technical skills and staff in higher education and research.
Jiteen Ahmed spoke to an audience of more than 130 people at the event held on 24 May.
The TALENT Commission report (published February 2022) generated new strategic insights into the skills, roles and careers of the UK’s technical talent and bold vision for the future of the sector.
It outlines 16 overarching recommendations for employers, funders, government, policymakers, professional bodies, learned societies and technicians to collectively ensure that the UK has the technical skills, roles and careers required across academia, research, education and innovation.
Jiteen said the feedback from the technical community has been nothing but positive.
“All the technicians I have spoken to about the TALENT Commission have been very engaged and are keen to work with their employers to make positive culture changes and engage in the opportunities it offers.”
Dr Helen Pain, CEO Royal Society of Chemistry and Chair of the Technician Commitment Steering Board, said the commission recommendations easily align with, and can be implemented into, existing Technician Commitment action plans.
She explained:
“The higher education and research landscape has evolved in the last few years and the TALENT Commission recommendations identifies solutions to the biggest challenges the technical workforce is facing right now around EDI, career pathways and future skills.
“As one of the largest professional bodies representing technical professionals in science, we support the findings and continue to work with our partners in the sector to help create a unified voice for the profession at a strategic level.”
At the event Midlands Innovation universities pledged to action the TALENT Commission employer recommendations within their institutions (Aston University, University of Birmingham, Cranfield University, Keele University, University of Leicester, Loughborough University, University of Nottingham and University of Warwick).
This includes taking a strategic approach to future technical skills and plugging any future skills gaps, addressing existing EDI challenges, costing technicians on grants and proposals consistently, broadening technical career pathways and expanding technician job families, making it easier to attract the best talent to create a diverse technical workforce.
David Sweeney, Executive Chair for Research England, said: “I hope that the report galvanises action and facilitates conversations with all stakeholders within the sector in terms of how we can better understand, value and support our vital technical community.
“Midlands Innovation’s joint statement shows dedication from employers to support and invest in their technical workforce. This will help strengthen the future of the UK’s research workforce and I admire their collaborative approach – one which I hope many other employers also implement.”
- Notes to Editors
About Aston University
Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established university led by its three main beneficiaries – students, business and the professions, and our region and society. Aston University is located in Birmingham and at the heart of a vibrant city and the campus houses all the university’s academic, social and accommodation facilities for our students. Saskia Loer Hansen is the interim Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive.
Aston University was named University of the Year 2020 by The Guardian and the University’s full time MBA programme has been ranked in the top 100 in the world in the Economist MBA 2021 ranking. The Aston MBA has been ranked 12th in the UK and 85th in the world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Sam Cook, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44)74469 10063 or email: s.cook2@aston.ac.uk
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