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University of Huddersfield
School of
Art, Design and Architecture
Further Particulars
Post Reference 9978
Fabric Production Technician
Closing date:
26 June 2007
Interviews for this post will be held on
16th July 2007
Contents
Background Information
The University Profile
The University Centres
Huddersfield
The School
School Mission Statement, Values and Characteristics
School Organisational Chart
Post Details
Job Description
Person Specification
Further details
1. Background Information
The University of Huddersfield was founded some 160 years ago, having existed in various
forms (Mechanics Institute, College of Technology and Polytechnic) before becoming a
university in 1992. Throughout its history it has been committed to meeting the needs and
aspirations of its students and that remains its key focus. We are a successful, popular and
innovative modern university. Offering a wide range of education and training, we are proud of
our achievements.
In the first National Student Survey we scored more highly than any other university in West or
South Yorkshire. By the 2006 survey we were the top “new” University in the country,
according to the Times Higher compilation. We were the top ranking University for teaching
quality among all post-92 UK Universities in the North of England in the Times Higher
Education Supplement League Table in May 2005. All subjects inspected by the QAA since
2000 have achieved among the highest teaching quality rating available. The QAA Audit in
2006 confirmed “complete confidence” in the University’s teaching programmes and the future
management of academic standards. Over 25% of research staff, submitted to the RAE 2001,
work in world-class Grade 5 research groups. Over 75% are rated as nationally excellent.
History, Social Work and Music are grade 5 rated, Materials (Chemistry) and Mechanical
Engineering are grade 4 rated in the last RAE. In six subjects the University gained the highest
grades of any post-92 university in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The University has a history of
close involvement with industry, business and its cultural community. The extent of that
involvement is probably best illustrated by the fact that in terms of its headcount it has the
second highest proportion of sandwich students and the highest proportion of sandwich and
part-time students in the North of England.
The University has contributed to widening access both in terms of providing opportunities to
socio-economic groups under-represented in higher education and to those with non-standard
entry qualifications. Its part-time provision (nearly 7,000 students) plays a significant part in the
process of widening access. The friendliness and professionalism of the staff and the pleasant
environment, both identified as strengths in the recent student survey carried out by an external
market research company, are also key contributors to the University’s success in this area.
The University expects its staff to become involved in scholarship, research and reach-out
activities with a view to ensuring it can attract and retain the best staff, provide opportunities for
them to remain professionally engaged and up-to-date, create opportunities for graduate study,
disseminate knowledge for the benefit of society and produce meaningful case study material
for the undergraduate curriculum. We were one of the first universities in the country to achieve
institutional recognition under the Investors in People Award in 1999 and have maintained that
standard through the next three reviews.
The University celebrates diversity and tolerance and promotes independent thought,
employability and personal achievement. The University focuses on providing opportunities for
all, especially groups not currently well-represented in higher education. The University
connects with the world outside the campus, with links to a broad range of companies and
organisations. Its connections help it to keep its courses relevant to the world of work and
ensure students have good employability skills.
2. The University Profile
The University of Huddersfield has a student population of about 22,600, with about another
2,000 in collaborative provision, in a wide range of subject areas covering the wealth creating,
cultural and social welfare aspects of our economy. It employs over 600 full-time academic
staff, over 500 part-time academic staff and about 800 administrative, technical and support
staff.
A flavour of the institution can be gained from the following analysis of its current student body:
– 57% are female;
– 76% are mature (>21);
– 60% are full-time and 40% are part-time;
– 80% are UK/EU, 15% franchised and 5% overseas students;
– 81% are undergraduate, 17% taught post-graduate and 2% research;
– 18% of all students are on sandwich courses;
– 19% declare themselves as non-white.
The University of Huddersfield takes pride in managing itself effectively. Its culture is one of
collaboration and support with a governance structure that reflects its academic diversity,
devolved nature and responsibility and yet common institutional purpose. The University is
composed of seven academic schools, each led by a Dean, and a number of services. The
schools are:
• Applied Sciences (10% of FTE);
• Computing and Engineering (14% of FTE);
• Art, Design and Architecture (11% of FTE);
• Education and Professional Development (14 % of FTE);
• The Business School (17% of FTE);
• Human and Health Sciences (24% of FTE);
• Music and Humanities. (9% FTE).
The eight main services are:
• Computing and Library Services;
• Estates and Facilities;
• External Relations Group;
• Financial Services;
• Human Resources;
• The Registry;
• Student Services;
• Vice-Chancellor’s Office, including Health and Safety and Planning and Information
Services.
The University operates a highly devolved structure. The resource allocation model is
approved annually by Senate and the University’s Planning and Resources Committee. The
allocation to Schools is made on the basis of that which they earn they keep – albeit they have
first to make an appropriate contribution to the infrastructure costs of the University. The
allocation to services varies according to the changing nature of their duties in the context of
the total income available.
3. The University Centres
The University secured almost £12m of funding from HEFCE’s Strategic Development Fund,
from the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and from the European Regional
Development Fund for a trans-regional project to set up two new higher education centres in
Barnsley and across the Pennines at Oldham in Greater Manchester. The project aims to
increase opportunities for higher education in the two towns that currently have low participation
rates.
The University Centres recruited their first intakes in August 2005. Existing HE courses in the
local further education colleges transferred to the two centres. Student numbers are planned to
increase to up to 4,000 over the next ten years. Staff who worked on the higher education
courses at the colleges have become University of Huddersfield employees.
The funding award to the Barnsley initiative involves the purchase and renovation of 6,000m2 of
buildings. The property was purchased in July 2005. The funding for Oldham includes the
construction of an additional building to be completed in September 2008, to meet the
anticipated increasing demand.
4. Huddersfield
The University is located close to the centre of the thriving West Yorkshire town of
Huddersfield. In recent years Huddersfield has seen a wave of new retail and social
development with many new shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. Near to areas of outstanding
natural beauty publicised in TV programmes such as ‘Last of the Summer Wine ’and ‘Where
the Heart Is’ we are also in easy reach of Leeds and Manchester. Both are just 45 minutes by
road and with quicker access via the regular cross Pennine rail service. Surrounded by a
number of attractive villages in the Holme and Colne valleys and within easy reach of the
Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District and the major urban centres of Leeds and Manchester; the
cost of housing compares very favourably with other regions in Britain. The choice of where to
live is outstanding. The town is well known for its musical traditions, including the world famous
Choral Society and the internationally renowned Contemporary Music Festival. The Lawrence
Batley Theatre and a large sports stadium host various cultural and sporting events
respectively.
Our striking town centre campus straddles the refurbished Huddersfield Narrow Canal
and offers extensive views of the wooded Pennine foothills. The campus combines
both new and historic buildings. The University has won Civic Trust Awards for the
imaginative refurbishment of historic mill buildings for the teaching of Computing,
Engineering and Architecture. A purpose-built Students’ Union and new Media and
Drama facilities are examples of the recent build. A dedicated Arts and Music building
is the latest development in an ambitious construction and refurbishment programme.
The School of Art, Design and Architecture
The School has recently renamed itself and will be formally launched in September 2007. The
new name reflects the breadth of the School’s curriculum and the evolving philosophy and
interdisciplinary nature of the creative industries. From September 2007 the School will be
structured into three departments each having a cognate group of disciplines in which identity
and specialist support is developed. Each department will be responsible for developing the
highest levels of academic excellence, research and knowledge transfer and will have
responsibility for undergraduate and postgraduate provision. The intention is that shared and
innovative practices in teaching and learning will be implemented across departments and will
engage staff and students in a sense of belonging and the exchange of ideas.
The University Centres at Oldham and Barnsley are integrated into the departmental structure.
Collaborative activities include St Helen’s College, Huddersfield Technical College, Dewsbury
College and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore.
In 2008 the School will move Fashion, Creative Imaging, Multimedia and Business Design
courses into a purpose built specialist creative arts building (CAB) which will be a flagship
building for the University and the School. At a cost of £14 million it will provide exceptional
resources for staff and students, exhibition space and form the heart of the Schools
management. The School also has excellent space in other buildings all located within easy
proximity of each other. Architecture is housed in an award winning converted mill, Textiles
and Fine Art will be in refurbished buildings opposite CAB (due for completion summer 2007).
Other moves in 2008 will allow the School to operate in three zones to allow for spatial
cohesion and to provide the best learning environment for the three departments.
Significant Challenges over the next three years include:
• Introduction of additional income streams
• Smooth estates moves to ensure appropriate accommodation for the school
• Leadership in the new Art, Design and Architecture pedagogy and its impact on
workloads supported by effective structures and processes
• Review of overseas activity
• Working towards a 2011 business plan
Department of Art c500 students
Creative Imaging BA (Hons) Creative Imaging (Advertising)
BA (Hons) Creative Imaging (Graphics)
BA (Hons) Creative Imaging (Illustration)
BA (Hons) Graphics Top-up
Fine Art BA (Hons) Fine Art : Painting & Drawing
BA (Hons) Fine Art with Contemporary Writing
BA (Hons) Fine Art with Community Education
FdA Fine Art (at UCB)
BA (Hons) Art & Design (Interdisciplinary) FT/PT (at UCB)
FdA Fine Art (at UCO)
Multimedia BA (Hons) Multi-Media Design
BA (Hons) Virtual Reality Design with Animation
MA 3D Digital Design
MA Smart Design
FdA Multimedia (at UCO)
Department of Design c800 students
Business Design- BA (Hons) Advertising, Media & Design Management
Aware BA (Hons) Fashion, Media & Promotion
BA (Hons) Fashion & Textile Buying, Management, Retailing
Fashion Design BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Marketing, Manufacture & Promotion
BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Textiles
BA (Hons) Fashion Top-up
Textile Crafts BA (Hons) Textile Crafts
BA (Hons) Costume with Textiles
Textile Design BA/BSc (Hons) Textile Design for Fashion & Interiors
BA (Hons) Surface Design for Fashion & Interiors
Department of Architecture c650 students
Architecture Foundation in Architecture
BA (Hons) Architecture/Architecture (Home/International)
BA (Hons) Architecture (Urban Design)
BA (Hons) Architecture (Smart Design)
DipArch/M Architecture (Home/International)
BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology
MA Architecture
MSc Sustainable Architecture
FdSc Construction FT/PT (at UCB)
FdSc Architectural Technology & Interior Design FT/PT (at UCO)
FdSc Construction FT/PT (at UCO)
FdSc Architectural Technology & Interior Design FT/PT (at UCO)
BSc Construction & Project Management FTPT (at UCO)
Interior Design BA (Hons) Interior Design
BA (Hons) Exhibition & Retail Design
MA Spatial Design
3D Design BA/BSc (Hons) Product Design
BA (Hons) Product Design with Animation
DipHE Product Design
BA (Hons) Transport Design
BA (Hons) Transport Design with Animation
Technical, administrative and secretarial support is provided by a team of 25 technicians and
20 administrative/clerical staff. As well as the secretarial and administrative support located in
the departmental offices, there are central core School services, such as Finance & Planning,
School Office and Marketing & Recruitment which have cross-School responsibilities alongside
School-specific teaching and learning resources. Teaching & Learning Resources include the
‘Trend Hub’ which is a reference point for Design futures, archives and research; the Technical
Reference Bureau for Architecture and Design: the use and proliferation of Blackboard VLE, a
loans service and CAD&IT support.
Computing and printing is a School support service that works across departments, as well as
providing particular specialist support to disciplines.
Further technical support is provided by skilled technicians in workshops relating to the
curriculum and includes extensive resources in Fashion, Textiles, 3D, model-making and
CAD&IT. The School operates out of six buildings in co-located zones that focus on the
departments and the ability to maximise high level investment whilst at the same time offering
students the opportunity to work across departments.
School Mission Statement
The mission of the school is to foster the next generation of creative practitioners, who will
maximise their contribution to the cultural, social, and economic well being of society. We
believe that creativity is the currency of our time and it has no boundaries.
All graduates of the school will have well developed creative, technical and cognitive skills as
well as business knowledge and understanding. All graduates will understand their own
position in relation to the ethical and sustainable drivers of our society.
We passionately believe in providing a dynamic and interactive learning community which
allows students and staff to nurture develop and exploit their creative talents towards their own
professional intent. At the heart of our provision is an ideas led approach to creative risk,
exploration, questioning, entrepreneurship and collaboration towards the pursuit of the most
innovative and creative work.
Our students are ready for employment and or further study by the unique way we structure our
courses to reflect the way in which the creative industries work, thereby offering students a
multitude of experience in real life situations. We work closely with employers and professional
statutory bodies to ensure currency of the curriculum at all times.
School Values
We value:
• creativity as the currency of our time and that it has no boundaries
• the development of core creative skills ,concepts, and business awareness that can
be applied in a variety of creative industries contexts
• being able to provide a high quality learning environment that is contemporary and
supportive
• being able to work collaboratively within the creative and cultural industries in the
pursuit of entrepreneurship, innovation and curriculum currency
• being able to develop skills needed for lifelong learning and the continued study
within the school.
• The importance of the knowledge base of all our staff and their ability to transfer that
knowledge to others
• Reflective and critical approaches to the exchange of ideas within an equal
opportunity context including the understanding of cultures, diversity, individuality
and creative practices
• The ability to make a difference to the society in which we live and work.
School Characteristics
• Innovation and risk in relation to creativity
• Artist/designer as a leader
• Individuality, creativity, skill, talent
• Diverse and rewarding careers
• Overarching aim to make better lives for people through solutions to problems
• Responsible and socially aware outcomes
• Emerging and defining trends and issues
• Ideas driven – linked to commercial contexts (Work in a wide contextual, theoretical
and business context)
• Cross disciplinary knowledge( virtue of the estate)
• Dynamic and interactive environments and exchange of ideas
• Creative arts based
• Flexibility of teaching and learning styles
Organisational Chart
DEAN of
SCHOOL OF ART, DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
ASSOCIATE HEAD of HEAD of HEAD of
DEAN DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT
ART DESIGN ARCHITECTURE
Technical Support
Finance & Planning
School Office
Recruitment & Marketing
Post Details
The role of the fabric production technician is to provide support, advice and guidance to
students and academic staff in specialist areas of woven and knitted fabric production across a
range of disciplines within the School.
The role involves a wide range of activities supporting student and academic activity. Typical
areas will include:
Demonstrate the use of computerised looms, jacquard hand looms, power looms,
CAD/CAM Automatic knitting machines and domestic knitting machines
Support the translation of design into woven and non-woven fabric
Machine repair and maintenance
Setting up exhibitions
Providing help and support to other technical staff in the area of health and safety to ensure
their facilities have a safe working environment. This may include support in developing
risk assessments, advising on safe working practices and analysing COSHH and MSDS
sheets that will feed back into the assessment process
Produce documentation in conjunction with academic staff in support of the delivery of
woven and knitted fabric production modules
Researching and introducing new techniques
Other events associated with the wider activity of the School or University
You will work closely with your fellow team members and academic subject specialists and
managers from across the school. Although the post is based in Huddersfield, travelling
between the University Centres in Oldham and Barnsley should be expected and wherever this
is required standard rate travelling expenses will be paid.
Job Description
Job Title: Fabric Production Technician
Reporting To: Soft Materials Team Leader
Scale: 6
Job Function
To provide day-to-day support to staff and students across the full range of woven and knitted
fabric production areas within the School. This post has specific responsibility for supporting the
CAD based constructed textiles equipment and the power looms within the School,
demonstrating their use and application to students on all textile-related courses.
Main Duties
Resource Support
1. To be responsible for demonstrating to and advising staff and students on the use of
computerised looms, jacquard hand looms, power looms, CAD/CAM Automatic knitting
machines and domestic knitting machines
2. To assist with the translation of practical and technical issues of students woven or knitted
designs
3. To develop a range of support materials such as samples, display boards and technical files
to illustrate structures, techniques and yarn use for constructed textiles
4. Under the direction of the team leader, to take responsibility for managing developmental
projects within the team to ensure their integration into School operations to meet the needs
of academic programmes
5. To organise and maintain an efficient and effective working environment whilst supporting
the needs of the academic staff and students
6. To identify the need for equipment maintenance and repair and make the necessary
arrangements to ensure that facilities are maintained at a satisfactory operational standard
7. To keep abreast of developments and changes within the industry which are relevant to the
technologies supported and circulate regular update information to other staff
8. To actively participate in the range of activities of the team
H&S
9. To take responsibility for the safe and effective use of equipment within the assigned area
and to ensure that advice and assistance is given to users of the facilities to ensure they are
used in a safe manner
Financial
10. To assist the Team Leader with maintenance of the local asset register in the area of
assigned responsibility in accordance with University inventory procedures
General
11. To maintain and develop relevant subject area knowledge in the area of expertise and to
keep abreast of developments and changes within the industry which are relevant to the
technologies supported
12. To undertake any other duties pertinent to the grade of the post that might from time to time
be requested
Person Specification
Attributes Essential Desirable Evidenced
Experience
• Experience of working within a design related environment Yes
• Understanding/experience of weave structure and double weave (including drafts and pegs) Yes Application
• Understanding/experience of Scot Weave or other weave CAD software Yes and
• Understanding/experience of power looms Yes interview
• Industrial/commercial experience in relevant subject Yes
Qualifications/Training
• Degree, professional qualification or equivalent hands-on relevant experience in either a design-related Yes Application
subject or a teaching and learning/training environment
Special Knowledge/Ability
• Experience and knowledge of power looms, computerised looms and jacquard looms Yes Application
• Understanding/experience of domestic knitting machines and CAD/CAM automatic knitting machines Yes and interview
• Awareness and understanding of current trends and developments related to woven and knitted fabrics Yes
• Ability/experience to support students in their personal briefs and research Yes
• Understanding of the requirements from academic programmes Yes
Communication
• Able to communicate effectively, face to face, by telephone or in writing with Yes Application
o people at all levels within the University – academic, support staff, students and interview
o people outside the University – professionals, resource providers
• Ability to communicate solutions to complex problems that are both theoretical and practical Yes
Personal Qualities
• Approachable, friendly personality Yes Application
• Thorough, methodical and organised in approach to all areas of work Yes and interview
• Patience allied to the ability to deal with people and situations under pressure Yes
• Ability to work both independently and within a team Yes
• Ability to initiate, prioritise and take responsibility for completing work Yes
• Enthusiastic, energetic and flexible in working methods Yes
Physical Requirements
• Prepared to assist in exhibitions/events that are an integral part of the school programme Yes Application
• Able to assist in occasional lifting and moving of materials and equipment which may require working and interview
above head height Yes
Further Details
If you would like informal discussions about these posts please contact:
Sue Ripley, Soft Materials Technician Team Leader
Telephone 01484 472642
e-mail ku.ca.duh@yelpir.s
Further details about the University and the area are available on our website www.hud.ac.uk,
including a statement from our Chancellor Patrick Stewart OBE.
Further details on the local area including education and childcare services, can be obtained
from the local authority web site www.kirkleesmc.gov.uk
