Imperial in 2022–23: People
We aim to build a supportive, diverse and highly motivated staff community that will help us to retain talent. Our staff are working to enhance our students’ experience and foster a secure, communal environment.
We recognise that the rising cost of living is having an impact on many Imperial students and staff and we give careful thought on how we can offer help where it is most needed. At Imperial, we use benchmarks to help inform the overall remuneration package that staff receive. When it comes to benchmarking, we aim to pay in the median-to-upper quartile compared with those we’re benchmarking against.
Our staff are working to enhance our students’ experience and foster a secure, communal environment. Through building strong relationships with our alumni and friends, we maintain a mutually beneficial exchange of ideas and provide extra support for research undertaken by our staff.
Achieving true equality, diversity and inclusion across our staff and student communities is a challenge we continue to face, and we have a way to go. Our drive to achieve this is reflected in activities such as our Shifting the Lens series celebrating diversity at Imperial and development programmes such as Imperial Positive About the Cultural Talent (IMPACT) course supporting staff from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and the Calibre course supporting staff identifying as neurodiverse, disabled or with long term physical or mental health conditions.
2022–23 in focus
Promoting positive mental health and wellbeing
Good mental health and wellbeing are crucial for everyone at Imperial and we are focused on working together to create a mentally healthy environment for our whole community.
Our new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy was launched in June 2023, outlining our goals for creating an inclusive, respectful and compassionate environment that supports our students and staff in their work and study. This strategy, developed in collaboration with students and staff across Imperial College London and Imperial College Union, sets out our ambition to create a mentally healthy environment where everyone can reach their full potential.
Graduating with an IMPACT
Imperial’s flagship development programme for minority ethnic staff, Imperial Positive About Cultural Talent (IMPACT), has seen another cohort graduate.
This programme aims to increase confidence and raise career aspirations and in 2022, 16 staff took part. Delegates took part in a series of training courses, workshops and mentoring over the course of four months.
"For me, joining IMPACT was a chance to build my confidence professionally, and hear the experiences of others. I had expectations that I would gain new skills, meet new people and overall, I've had a really positive experience."
Eno Umoh, IMPACT 2023 graduate and Scientific Coordinator, School of Public Health
Abdus Salam Library
The Central Library was named the Abdus Salam Library in honour of the Nobel prize-winning physicist. The library was named after Professor Salam as part of the University Management Board’s response to the History Group’s report, commissioned to examine the University’s history as linked to the British Empire.
“Throughout his career, Abdus Salam made a tremendous contribution to Imperial, as well as to the world of physics and science more generally. It is right that we do more to celebrate this legacy.”
President Hugh Brady
Keeping Imperial moving
Imperial launched its Physical Activity and Sport Strategy, outlining a plan to empower students and staff to prioritise physical wellbeing. The strategy’s vision is to make every member of Imperial’s community more active, and builds on Imperial’s strong national performance, which has seen the University ranked as 17th best institution for competitive sport in the UK. The main goal of the strategy is to enable every member of the Imperial community to meet the national recommendation of 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
Success of the highest Calibre
This year we celebrated the tenth cohort of our Calibre talent development programme. The programme is for staff who identify as neurodiverse or disabled, or who have a long-term physical or mental health condition. Calibre is designed to address the distinct and often subtle barriers disabled staff face in the workplace. The programme has been developed and is delivered by Dr Ossie Stuart, an international disability consultant and academic, in partnership with Imperial’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre.