Dear all, 

With the start of autumn term, I’d like to warmly welcome all of our community – new students, returning students and staff – onto campus. After welcoming our Business School students last month, it’s fantastic that we will now be back on campus, learning, studying, working and socialising together in person.  

The start of term is always exciting, bringing a wave of energy as students arrive and teaching picks up. For me, there’s no better time of year, and I’d urge all members of our community to embrace that energy and immerse themselves in everything Imperial has to offer. 

Imperial has such remarkable strengths and achievements. My ambition over the next year is to protect and build on them through the development of a refreshed institutional strategy. This must recognise and adapt to the dramatic global changes of the last five years while capturing and driving our collective ambition for the future. I will be working closely with students and staff as this strategy is built and will share progress with you over the coming months. 

I am also taking advantage of this time to continue exploring our campuses, meeting students and staff, and celebrating our world-class teaching and research first-hand. In my visits so far, I’ve been struck by what I’m calling the ‘Imperial Experience’: our teaching, our research, and our spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship and dedication. These elements all support and enable each other and connect us to one another. They help shape our community and make Imperial a truly unique place to study and work.  

While I am excited about the term ahead and the opportunities in front of us, it’s important to say that there will also be challenges. For any difficulties you may be facing, remember that support is available for both students and staff, and that it is a sign of strength, not weakness, to ask for help.    

I hope you have an enjoyable first week at Imperial, and I wish you the best of luck for the term ahead.  

Best wishes, 

Hugh

Hugh Brady, President