Category: Events

Education Day – Monday 22 April

This year’s event ‘Creative Curriculums: Crossing Boundaries’ centres on concepts of curricula and spaces which foster and nurture creativity in education.

A panel of speakers will provide examples of innovative and creative curriculum designs, followed by a round table session with an opportunity for questions and discussion. The afternoon will finish with our keynote speaker Daniel Tan, Director, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Nanyang Technological University – an exciting opportunity to share good practice across our institutions. The day will conclude with a wine reception.

The event is open to any member of staff with an interest in teaching. If interested, please register online.

Final Education and Student Strategy Consultation Open Meeting – Thursday 14 February

Professor Debra Humphris Pro Rector (Education) is inviting staff and students to attend the second of two open meetings to contribute ideas towards the development of the College’s Education and Student Strategy.

No registration is required. The meeting takes place in the Pippard Lecture Theatre, Level 5, Sherfield Building, South Kensington Campus on Thursday 14 February from 17:00 – 18:00.

Further information on the development of the Education and Student Strategy, and an opportunity to contribute online, can be found on the Education Office website. Questions should be directed to Jenny Cooke.

Postgraduate Graduation Ceremonies on Wednesday 1 May

Over 2,500 graduands and their guests are expected at the 2013 Postgraduate Graduation Ceremonies, which will take place in the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 1 May.

  • The morning ceremony commences at 11:00 for graduands from the Imperial College Business School and the former Department of Humanities.
  • The afternoon ceremony commences at 14:15 for graduands of the Faculty of Engineering.
  • The evening ceremony commences at 17:30 for graduands of the Faculties of Medicine and Natural Sciences.

Receptions will be held at venues across the South Kensington Campus following the ceremonies.

Academic staff are asked to register to attend by 15 April by completing the form available at the Graduation website.

Olympic preparations affecting four London rail stations on Tuesday 10 July

Simulated queuing and passenger diversions will be in place at London Bridge, Cannon Street, Charing Cross and Victoria on Tuesday 10 July in preparation for the Olympic Games. Passengers are encouraged to plan their journeys as usual, but should be aware that they may experience delays.

See the Evening Standard article for further details.

Error in Imperial Festival survey: please complete again to win a £50 John Lewis voucher

Last Thursday’s Staff Briefing contained an incorrect link to the Imperial Festival staff and student survey, which meant that responses were not properly collected. Staff and students are therefore encouraged to complete the survey again for the chance to win a £50 John Lewis voucher.

Responses are anonymous and all staff are encouraged to offer comments, irrespective of whether or not they attended the event. The survey results will inform future plans for the Festival, which is intended to become an annual event. Questions regarding the survey should be directed to: festival@imperial.ac.uk

Complete the survey here

Exhibition Road closure 1 February

On Wednesday 1 February at 16.30 the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, will officially open the new-look Exhibition Road. The road will continue to be open to pedestrians so staff and students may wish to watch proceedings.

To ensure the safety of the participants and spectators, Exhibition Road will be closed to traffic between Prince Consort Road and Cromwell Road and between Cromwell Road and Thurloe Place from 14.00 and 18.00. Residents parking will be suspended during this time, and there will be limited access for residents.

A map showing the road closure is available here

Rector’s Away Day outcomes

The Management Board reviewed the outcomes of the Away Day, held on 21 October 2011, which focused on the Student Experience and covered many of its aspects: undergraduate and postgraduate, academic and pastoral etc.  While a number of action points emerged from the Away Day, the two most significant and pressing related to the undergraduate experience and in particular: the quality and timeliness of assessment and feedback; and the quality, price and distance from College of student accommodation.

It was agreed that:

  • Faculty Principals should require their Heads of Department to provide action plans outlining measures already in place and measures that they would be introducing during the current academic year to improve the undergraduate student experience.  These plans would be collated by the Faculties and presented at the Management Board’s December meeting.
  • The Chief Financial Officer and Director of Commercial Services should together produce a plan for the refurbishment (where appropriate and necessary) of existing accommodation and the development of new accommodation – with recommendations for suitable social amenities at or close to this accommodation, as well as suitable catering facilities at the South Kensington Campus.
  • Faculties and Departments should also provide action plans for improving both the undergraduate and postgraduate student experience, including identifying any necessary investment, as part of the Planning Round in Spring 2012.  This would enable the Management Board to form a strategic view of requirements, whether capital (perhaps for accommodation) or otherwise (perhaps for assessment and feedback), for improving the student experience at the College.

Road closures around South Kensington Campus in August.

Staff are advised that two pre-Olympic test events in August will affect roads around the South Kensington Campus.

A triathlon event will be held on 6 and 7 August in Hyde Park, which requires all of Hyde Park Corner to be closed from 05.00 to 12.00 on Saturday 6 August, and from 05.00 to 16.00 on Sunday 7 August.  TfL’s announcement can be found here (scroll down past the map).

The London-Surrey Cycle Road Race will be held on 13 and 14 August 2011, affecting roads in the Knightsbridge area. More information, including a detailed map of the road closures and restricted access roads, can be found here.

Summer Ball – Saturday 18 June – changes to activities on South Kensington Campus

The Imperial College Union Summer Ball will take place on Saturday 18 June. This year there will be no marquee, but live acts will perform on the ‘Metric Stage’ on the Queen’s Lawn.

Due to preparations for the ball and the event itself, there will be no access for staff parking on the South Kensington Campus from 17.00 Friday 17 June until Monday 20 June.

Tickets are still available for the ball and can be purchased here