GW4 launches webinar series for technical staff

The GW4 Technical Staff Webinar Series aims to encourage collaboration and sharing of best practice across the GW4 Alliance universities by bringing together technical staff and external speakers to discuss key topics in a webinar format.

The webinars will run monthly, starting this month through to July 2021. Each session will be focused on a different theme including digital skills, professional registration, and sustainability in research. The webinars are aimed at all those employed as technical staff at the GW4 universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff or Exeter.

Dr Jane Khawaja, GW4 Director, said: “We are delighted to launch our new GW4WARD webinar series for technical staff. By providing a rich programme of webinars, we aim to support professional development across a variety of relevant skill areas, and provide a valuable networking opportunity for colleagues from across the GW4 Alliance.”

The launch event will take place on Wednesday 27th January, with  guest speaker Kelly Vere MBE discussing the progress and impact of the Technician Commitment and the work of Midlands Innovation Technician TALENT programme.

The first session will be hosted by Dr Anneke Lubben, Chair of the GW4 Technical Infrastructure and Knowledge Group and Head of the Material and Chemical Characterisation Facility at the University of Bath.

Dr Lubben said: “I am delighted to see GW4 recognise the important contribution technical staff make to research and teaching. The GW4 Alliance already provides a fantastic platform for research collaboration, equipment sharing and training so I am pleased to see them build on this with a specific programme for technical staff. It is an honour to be involved with GW4WARD and help to support fellow technical staff across GW4 in achieving their full potential and being recognised for their significant skills and experience.”

All four GW4 institutions are signed up to the Technician Commitment designed to ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.

In line with our institutions’ pledge to the Technician Commitment, the aim of GW4WARD is to enhance the visibility and development of GW4 technical staff. The scheme supports technical staff to gain recognition of their knowledge, experience, and leadership skills within and across the GW4 institutions.

The GW4 Alliance has around 1300 technical staff working across the four institutions, often acting as the linchpin in University departments, operating and maintaining facilities and providing valuable expertise and intellectual input to enable high quality teaching and research.

Find out more about the webinar series and register via the GW4 events page.