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Pete Walker - Internet Development Manager, University of Bristol (ILRT)(With thanks to Christian Carter – Personnel Manager, University of Bristol)

http://www.ilrt.bristol.ac.uk/publications/conf/

Organisational Development in Higher Education

Thursday 13th May 2004

Survey tools and needs analysis

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Today’s presentation• CROS & BOS – Online survey projects

background• Creating a survey (brief demonstration)• How survey results made a difference to

Contract Research staff• A survey for Technical staff• Recommendations and actions• Questions and Answers

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CROS – project aims (1)• Deliver a common online survey to as many UK

HEI’s as wish to take part and who are willing to share results.

• Making taking part free• Allow HEI’s to pose their own questions• Get feedback from Contract Research Staff on

issues such as– Induction, supervision, review & support– career progression and aspirations– training & development – Communication

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CROS – project aims (2)

• Provide real-time online reports showing the responses CRS responses…

• …plus those of all other HEI’s taking part• Build relevant policy development and action• Encourage HEI’s to learn from each other and

share good employment practice• Evaluate local impact of actions through

regular participation in CROS• Contribute to overall improvement in

management of UK HE research

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CROS history• 1996 - Research ‘Concordat’ (Research Councils / CVCP)• 1999 - Bristol Web-based survey• 2000 - Bristol and Leeds surveys• 2001 - HEFCE/OST funding for UK pilot• 2002 - Jan/Feb – 17 HEI’s, 24% of CRS responded• 2002 – July - extended HEFCE funding, independent

evaluation (Strathclyde), 2002 Personnel Today Awards finalist ‘Excellence in HR using technology’

• 2003 – Jan/Feb – 47 HEI’s, 30% of CRS responded (6000 research staff)

• 2003 – July - extended HEFCE funding• Current - CROS 2004

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Bristol Online Surveys (BOS)• 2003 - CROS reused to produce ASSET survey for the

Athena Project and became BOS• BOS used in Bristol for

– Technicians survey – Post-graduate survey– Departmental survey (IIP)– 360 degree appraisal– UK Economics lecturers– Student course feedback– Conference evaluation

• 7 Universities / Research Councils now using BOS

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Creating a survey – demo

• Bristol Online Survey www.survey.bristol.ac.uk

• CROS results data – a quick view

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How has Bristol used CROS data?

• Supervisor development– Compulsory 4 hour workshop for all CRS supervisors – 800 people – 35% complete– Focus on issues that CROS said made a difference to

CRS and where supervisor are key

• Staff review– New staff review forms for CRS focussing on career

aspirations– “Benefits of staff review for CRS” Web site– Review is a topic on Supervisors training

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How has Bristol used CROS data? (2)

• Training & development– Training needs analysis for CRS fed into Personnel budget – Extra £30,000 for CRS training and development– Range of transferable skills activity– Teaching and management qualifications for CRS

• Career development– Appointment of a 0.5 FTE CRS Careers Adviser (1:1’s,

workshops, supervisor development, employer contact)– CRS Career development Web site– Topic on Supervisors training session– Research Career paths at Bristol (Roberts money)

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How has Bristol used CROS data? (3)

• Induction– Induction Coordinators in all departments – Newly designated University induction– Range of transferable skills activity– Topic on Supervisors training

• Communication– CRS web site (www.bris.ac.uk/personnel/crs)– CRS email lists from Personnel database– CRS “Events” – conferences etc– Leaflets and posters to advertise services

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Web surveys for Technicians

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Technical staff numbers at Bristol

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Project Objectives

• Build on CROS with survey aimed at Technical staff

• Technical staff working party with the following objective– ‘To present a paper to the October 2003 meeting of the

University Staff Committee (sub-committee of University Council), that highlights issues that are of concern to the University in relation to Technical staff now and over the next 5 years, together with a series of costed recommendations’

• Significant part was the identification of training needs

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Project approach

• Staff perspective– BOS survey launched 5th July 2003– Letter to HODS to encourage participation– University newsletter article– Survey open until 31st July 2003– 52% response rate

• Manager perspective– 1:1 meeting with 20 HODS and Tech managers

• Statistical data– Range of valuable data from Personnel database

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Our survey said…

• Very quick view of Technician’s Survey data at Bristol

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Recommendations (Oct 2003)…

• Establish a ‘Bristol Technical Training Scheme’ (pilot of 5 traineeships from Aug 2004)

• Reduce the number of Fixed Term Contracts• Classify ‘roles’ that Technicians undertake• Examine why over 50% do not attend the ‘Welcome to

the University’ day• Ensure all departments have an ‘Induction Coordinator’• Develop an advice document around ‘new role induction’• Promote benefits of staff review process• Improve link between Staff Review and departmental

objectives• Establish a programme of ‘transferable skills’ training

opportunities

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Recommendations ….contd• Collaboration with other SW HEI’s to provide specialised

training opportunities• Establish a ‘Bristol Technicians’ Web site, and maintain e-

mail list• Expand relevant NVQ provision• Offer accredited management training to all Tech Managers• Establish a ‘Technical Manager Group’ for

support/development• Offer careers guidance for Tech staff• Draw gender/grade/job security issues to Equal

Opportunities committee• Tech WP should oversee implementation reporting to HR

Director

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Action so far• 'Technical Manager Group’ started (Dec 2003)• 4 Tech Manager sub groups (reward, training,

communication and recruitment)• £5000 for transferable skills development• Expanded NVQ provision• ‘Train the trainer’ residential • First line management qualification for technicians (Sept

04)• Technical staff Website• Technical staff e-mail list• Technician Annual Conference (Jan 05)

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HEI collaboration ideas

• BOS for technicians administered regionally?

• Regional Staff Development Coordinator?

• Regional “Specialist” development position?

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Thank you

Questions?

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Contact Details• Pete Walker

Institute for Learning and Research Technology8 -10 Berkeley SquareUniversity of BristolBristol BS8 1HHpeter.walker@bristol.ac.uk

• Christian CarterPersonnel ServicesUniversity of BristolSenate HouseTyndall AvenueBristol BS8 1THchristian.carter@bristol.ac.uk