Update from the Technical Development Network

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Jimmy Muldoon, Chair, UCD Technical Development Network

On 13 June 2018 the UCD Technical Development Network, in conjunction with UCD Staff Development, hosted a one-day National conference of Technical staff from Third-level institutions throughout Ireland. 

Three concurrent lecture streams were held in the UCD Health Science Building, on the themes of Technical matters, Professional/Personal Development and Health and Well-being. 

A range of speakers from both within UCD and external discussed topics such as Protein Purification (Lars-Johan Larsson, Bio Works / Apex Scientific), YMC Solutions for Bio-LC (Anna Rousek, YMC / Apex Scientific), Good Pipetting Practice and Good Centrifuging Practice (Michael Cassidy, Focus Scientific), GDPR and IT (Paul Kennedy, UCD), Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (Marcellina Fogarty, UCD) Nutrition (Heather Leeson, Glenville Nutrition), Resiliance (Ray McKiernan) and Health Insurance (Dermot Goode), with the day rounded off by a Yoga session kindly hosted by our colleagues from UCD Sports Centre. 
Our colleague Elaine Murphy from Science facilitated a showcase tour of the state-of-the-art laboratory facilities in the O’Brien Centre for Science, which garnered enthusiastic praise from participants.

Additionally, we were delighted to host an Agile White Belt training session facilitated by our colleague Olga Murdoch from UCD Agile (ably assisted by TDN committee member Sabine Harrison).

The conference received a definite positive response overall from attendees, with positive feedback regarding the opportunity to engage with TOs from other National third-level institutions. Attendees requested further Agile (green belt) training, indicating a desire for structured CPD opportunities. The mix of streams was popular, reflecting the diverse interests and learning / networking needs of TOs and the necessity for active discussion of more personal themes such as EDI and Resiliance along with technical matters, along with current topics such as GDPR and IT security. 

We are tremendously grateful to Joe Carthy and UCD Science for their backing and support, in particular to UCD Staff Development and also to our industrial sponsors Apex Scientific who facilitated the Technical stream of talks.