IMPACT development programme

• Increased confidence
• Raised career aspirations
• Improved cultural competence
• Ability to demonstrate leadership abilities through projects
• Strategies and support to enhance your careers
• Networking opportunities with other Imperial staff
• Support and reviews to help you achieve your career objectives
• Increased awareness of your personal strengths and confidence in your abilities
• Improved preparation for internal progression or promotion

We assess each application based on the following criteria using a weighted scoring system. The more of these you meet, the more likely you are to be accepted on the programme. The criteria have been listed in order of importance.

1. What you are looking to get from the IMPACT programme and what you believe your personal barriers are – we want to ensure that your development needs will be met by the programme and that the programme will align with your goals and help you address your personal barriers.
2. Whether you have other leadership, management or talent qualifications – priority is given to those who do not have other such qualifications, as we want to give the opportunity to those who have not benefited from similar programmes before.
3. Whether you can commit to the duration of the programme – we require delegates to attend all the sessions to complete the programme, so unless there are extenuating circumstances we do not normally accept delegates who cannot commit to the whole programme.
4. How long you have been working at Imperial – priority is given to those who have been working at Imperial for longer, as we would encourage those who have only been at Imperial for a short time to get to know the organisation better and explore other training and development opportunities first.
5. Your job level/grade – priority is given to staff members who are more junior, as this is a development programme intended to boost the confidence of those who may not have had the chance to develop their leadership skills.
6. How your manager will be supporting you through this programme – we want to see evidence that you have considered the time commitment required for the programme and that you will be supported in managing this alongside your normal workload. If you have any concerns about this, please email the EDI Centre to discuss before you apply. 

The IMPACT cohort will be divided into project groups of four or five. Each group will be given a facilitator from the EDI Centre.

Aside from attending all the workshops, the graduation preparation session, and the graduation ceremony listed in the schedule above, we also expect delegates to attend four project group meetings. These are 1-hour sessions scheduled with your project group at a time that works for all of you.

As a group, you are expected to design a project and deliver a 10-minute presentation about it at the graduation ceremony. Project tasks will be split up evenly between the group to reduce the impact on workload for all.

Your group project should focus on a way of utilising Imperial Values as a tool to address the potential/perceived barriers that underrepresented staff face in your departments/areas.

When looking at structuring the project, we are looking for clear outputs. We do not expect the project to be implemented by the end of the programme, but it should be able to be taken up post-IMPACT. Your 10-minute group presentation at the graduation should outline the following key points:

• Defining the project using SMART objectives (see below)
• Proposed sponsors to carry the project forward after IMPACT
• Opportunities & risks
• Deliverables

To set a SMART objective for your project we expect for it to show the following:

• Specific – Who, what, where, which. Clearly define the project and what you hope to achieve.
• Measurable – From what, to what. How can you track or measure the success of the project?
• Achievable – How. Is it reasonable enough to be able to accomplish?
• Relevant – Why. How will this project meet the needs of the College/department?
• Time-bound – When. Can this be completed beyond the IMPACT programme?

Those enrolling on IMPACT are expected to attend all the sessions of the programme.

If you cannot attend any session of the programme, you must email the EDI Centre as soon as possible.

Cancellation fees do apply:

• If a cancellation is made less than ten working days before the programme start date, a cancellation fee of £100 will be levied.
• If you miss one session as a delegate, a £50 charge will be levied, but you can stay on the course and complete the other sessions.
• If you miss more than one session, a £150 charge will be levied. You will be taken off the programme, and will have to re-enrol next year unless agreed with the course organiser.

Cancellation fees do not apply in cases of extenuating circumstances.