Shaping the future of technical expertise at Manchester
23 Oct 2026
Shaping the future of technical expertise at Manchester
Technical expertise plays a vital role in delivering world-leading research, outstanding education and meaningful public impact. As we deliver Manchester 2035 and continue to shape Professional Services for the future, we want to ensure our technical community is equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing research and higher education environment.
The Technical Discovery Project is a University-wide piece of work led by Peter Green and Beth Micakovic to build a shared understanding of the technical expertise which will be pivotal to achieving our research, education, innovation and public engagement ambitions across the University.
This is a discovery project, not a change programme. Its purpose is to bring together evidence, insight and the experiences of colleagues to help us understand the technical profession today and what we'll need in the future. This piece of work will articulate how we position the University of Manchester as a centre of technical excellence, with technical colleagues actively shaping the future of their profession.
Building on existing strengths
Across the University, colleagues make an extraordinary contribution through a wide range of technical roles and specialist expertise.
The project will build on the outstanding work outstanding work that the three faculties have undertaken in recent years as they’ve undertaken their own distinctive reviews, while also looking more broadly at where technical skills, knowledge and capabilities exist across the University.
Importantly, this piece of work will define what we mean by technician at the University. Our technical community has incredible diversity in expertise, skillsets and knowledge, but it has been traditionally ill-defined within our organisation. As we’re seeing increased convergence in skills, we want to ensure that we are being inclusive in our definition whilst intentional in identifying those capabilities and expertise which will define the profession of the future.
Ultimately, we want to develop a vision which ensures the University of Manchester is sector leading in the technical expertise so critical to our research, education, innovation, and public engagement, and to be a world-class employer of choice for those wishing to pursue a technical career.
Looking ahead
Our ambition is to ensure Manchester remains a place where technical expertise is recognised, developed and celebrated.
Through this work, we'll develop a shared vision for the future of the technical profession at Manchester, helping us strengthen the capabilities that support world-leading research, outstanding education, innovation and public engagement, while continuing to be an employer of choice for technical colleagues.
Join the launch event
The launch event is open to all colleagues who would like to find out more about the project and contribute to the conversation.
We know that there will be colleagues within the University who may not have “technician” in their job title, but who share the skills and experience of those who do.
We want this Discovery work to be inclusive and to engage those colleagues as well, and this is why our launch event and future events are open to all colleagues who would like to know more and who wish to contribute to this work.
The success of this work depends on building our understanding together.
Event details
Date: Monday 2 November, 13:30-14:30
Venue: 2B.020 Blended Theatre 2, Engineering Building B, Booth Street East, Manchester, M13 9QS
Hybrid attendance available
Accessibility: AccessAble guide available
Find out more and stay involved
You can read more about the Technical Discovery Project on your SharePoint site, including what it will do, what it won’t do, and the values which will define our approach. Your SharePoint site also includes further background to the Discovery Project, including a one-page infographic, the full project brief, and some FAQs. We will add to the FAQs as questions come through.
You can also sign up to receive regular updates on progress, upcoming workshops, and Forums by registering here. You will receive alerts through SharePoint and by email.