TPDF Case Studies

How Technical Professional Development Funding is Strengthening Skills Across the University

The Technical Professional Development Fund continues to empower technical staff across the University by enabling access to high quality training that supports professional growth, improves local systems and strengthens our wider technical community. This case study highlights a successful applicant who has already completed their development activities and begun sharing their learning across their department.

1. Strengthening Project Management for Research Coordination

Emily – Department of Genetics

Stepping into a new role as Research Coordinator, Emily recognised the importance of strong project management skills to support multiple large grants and international collaborators. Through the APM Project Fundamentals course, funded by the Technical Professional Development Fund, she gained practical tools for structuring and managing complex research activity.

Emily has already embedded her learning by:
•    creating organisational charts to map collaborators, responsibilities and project structures
•    developing trackers for timelines, contracts and agreements
•    helping establish a steering committee for a PI research grant
•    improving communication flow by targeting updates to the most relevant people
•    applying project management methodologies to support departmental sustainability initiatives, including introducing a LESP and working toward the Gold LEAF award

She continues to share her learning through ongoing conversations with PIs, research groups and members of the Sustainability Committee. Her new frameworks and tools are already improving clarity, planning and coordination across multiple active research projects.
 

Emily