An Imperial researcher demonstrate a robot at Imperial Fringe

What engagement training opportunities are available?

Imperial delivers a range of societal engagement-related training opportunities, which are designed to support our staff and students in developing high quality engagement work. 

The College's central societal engagement team will be developing and piloting further opportunities during the academic year – so keep an eye out for new sessions coming soon and sign up to our newsletter.

Can’t decide which training would best suit your needs? Contact us.

Societal Engagement training for all staff

College training for students

Imperial College Union
  • The Skills Development Programme (SDP), which is Endorsed by the Institute of Leadership & Management, goes one step further and recognises the skills you have developed alongside your volunteering hours through short, reflective assignments following the training workshops. Upon completing the Skills Development Programme you will received an ILM Endorsed Certificate, which clearly demonstrates to graduate recruiters the practical skills you have developed. 
  • The Pimlico Connection - The Union support students to volunteer to become Pimlico Connection Tutors, providing a half-day training session that aims to impart information about the English school system and the National Curriculum, address importance of clear communication as a tutor, introduce responsibilities and finally plan and deliver tutor sessions. This has also previously included a workshop on public speaking. 
Imperial Horizons & I-Explore

Eligible Year 2 students can choose the Public Engagement: Connecting Audiences and Research module as part of their I-Explore STEMM programme.  Developed and delivered by the Societal Engagement team, this interactive module explores what is public engagement with research, why it matters and what makes it high-quality. Students evaluate a public engagement event and develop their own engagement activity for specific audiences and Imperial research. 

The Imperial Horizons programme offers a wide range of courses for all Imperial College undergraduates. It is designed to broaden education, inspire creativity and enhance professional impact.

I-Explore is a broad portfolio of for degree credit modules, providing an opportunity for students to broaden their knowledge and tackle a subject area outside of their core discipline. Depending on their department, students will take their I-Explore module in either their second or third year of study at Imperial.

Graduate School

Engagement Masterclasses - Our masterclasses (for staff and doctoral students) are a low-commitment, easy way to get familiar with engagement and kickstart your engagement activities. Find out about what public engagement is, why it's important and how to evaluate activities in our Core Masterclass. Then explore our further masterclasses that enable you to build on the knowledge and skills gained in the core sessions such as communication and engagement with controversial issues.  Several of these courses are also accredited by the Graduate School. 

You may also be interested in:

  • Research Impact Programme - The Graduate School runs workshops and courses that provide strategies for creating impact from your research to benefit society, the environment and the economy. Courses range from Impact Essentials to Open Research and Publishing, Public Engagement and Outreach, Policy Engagement and Enterprise. 

  • Postgraduate Student Coaching Programme - The Graduate School's Postgraduate student coaching programme has been established to provide you with an opportunity to talk, independently from your academic department, about challenges you may be experiencing during the course of your studies. The programme primarily focuses on building effective working relationships and there may be other self-development issues that you wish to explore.
Student Recruitment and Outreach
  • Postgraduate Student Coaching Programme – this scheme provides an opportunity for Post Graduates to work with local schools and inspire young audiences to consider studying science, technology, engineering, mathematics and business subjects. There are currently approximately 30 ambassadors enrolled on the scheme.

  • [External opportunity] Royal Institution’s Masterclasses - hands-on and interactive extracurricular sessions in mathematics or computer science. They are designed to  nurture students’ curiosity and inspire them to continue STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) engagement into the future. 
Policy Forum

Imperial Policy Forum can offer a range of support if you are considering submitting a response to any of the below opportunities, including:

  • Support in identifying the elements of the consultation/enquiry relevant to your research
  • Ensuring that your evidence is submitted in a clear way that meets the requirements of the department or Committee
  • Providing useful tips for producing both written and oral evidence
  • Promoting your contributions through our social media and comms channels

Check the full list of training opportunities. 

Book one-to-one advice

Book a 30 minute one-to-one call with a member of the Public Engagement team to help answer your questions and discuss your engagement ideas. 

Sign up to our newsletter

Join our mailing list to find out about the latest engagement news, training, funding and opportunities.