College staff take time out to learn new skills

Learning at Work week focuses on the wellbeing of individuals - News

Tuesday 27 May 2008
By Naomi Weston

Maintaining the wellbeing of individuals is the aim of Learning at Work week at Imperial College London last week (19-23 May). Spanning five days this year instead of the usual one day in previous years, the activities were more diverse and popular than ever.

Over 600 staff got involved in over 50 different workshops, from Indian dancing and Tai Chi to reflexology and jewellery making.

National Learning at Work Day was on Thursday 22 May with the theme of ‘sustainable workplaces’. Imperial's Staff Development Coordinator, explains:

“Learning at work is a national initiative but we decided to expand the College activities to a week rather than a day this year due to its rising popularity. We were fully booked and I hope we engaged people from the College we don’t normally reach in the Staff Development Unit.

“The focus of the week was wellbeing at work and we put on a number of activities looking at health issues and how to beat stress for example.”

Mind and body activities on offer ranged from yoga and tai chi to creative meditation. Health and wellbeing activities included food allergy testing, salsa and belly dancing. In addition, experimental drawing workshops were on offer for the more creative types.

Wendy Torto took part in the jewellery making class

Wendy Torto, PA to Professor Mervyn Maze in the Faculty of Medicine, went along to the jewellery making class. She said: “I buy loads of jewellery and thought it would be fun to come along. I found it really relaxing and therapeutic today. It is brilliant that the College give us this opportunity to learn new things.”

New member of staff, Rekha Rao, a research associate in the Business School, also attended the jewellery workshop as well as the first aid course and Tai Chi sessions. “I have found it really interesting today, I paint in my spare time and have enjoyed the creative aspect of jewellery making. We had a great teacher as well which really helped,” she said.

Ken Okona-Mensah, a scientific writer in the Department of Investigative Science in the Faculty of Medicine, attended the Tai Chi class. “I lead quite a hectic life and I want to be more in tune with meditation and keeping good posture for example”, he said. “This week is a great idea and I think it is good that the College is addressing things in a more holistic sense.”

For more information on the Staff Development Unit please visit: www.imperial.ac.uk/staffdevelopment