This page is being retained for information purposes only until this part of the "placements" website is restructured in 2025.
OUTGOING STAFF
NEWS: There will be no further calls for applicants.
INCOMING STAFF
NEWS: Staff from countries that are "programme countries" of the Erasmus scheme might find that their employer (their university) will still consider funding staff traiining visits to "third countries" (the UK is now considered a "third country"). Therefore such staff can approach administrative departments at Imperial as to whether they can be hosted. The advice below is retained to be of assistance. However, Imperial does not advertise any such opportunities, and staff looking to be hosted at Imperial must manage their expectations since demand for such visits in some professioanl depts for example is high.
- Training: minimum 2 days and ordinarily a maximum of a working week.
- Any grant to the mobile participant which may be available is ordinarily administered by the participant's home university.
Caution: Departments at Imperial, like any other university, are extremely busy, and a member of staff of another institution might improve their chances of receiving a favourable response by taking note of the following:
- Do your research about Imperial College London before emailing us: Obvious? Yes, but it is surprising how many emails we receive where staff from other institutions do not do their research. So, please identify the department (or specific section within a department) - using Imperial's extensive website - to whom you wish to address your request. Identify a specific member of staff to address your query to (the lead administrator for a section may be the best person to contact as they may have experience of such requests). Remember that the admin structure at you home institution may be different to Imperial and you need to be sure that you are contacting the right section (section titles may be different; different scope of work etc). It probably helps if you are following up on existing contacts (made via conferences; via institutional networks; introductions from senior staff perhaps; or perhaps you have hosted someone from Imperial previously), so as to avoid appearing like a cold-caller.
- As you may imagine, organising such visits requires a lot of time and attention on the part of the host department/section (even though we know that you would take care of your own accommodation requirements). Therefore, think very carefully about what you are asking your potential host to provide. Think also about what it is that you are offering your host. What makes you an interesting individual to our staff? Such visits need to be reciprocal in terms of content/aims. You have to convince your potential host that you are somebody worth hosting (devoting time to), someone that they could learn from/exchange ideas with/develop a relationship with. Help the person who reads your request by being as clear as possible as to why you are contacting them. Provide the reader of your email with really good reasons to pass you request to a relevant colleague for consideration.
- The section/dept you contact may be "international" and outward looking in their mode of operation and perhaps is used to such requests (but perhaps as a result obtaining a visit is very difficult), or perhaps you are contacting a section/dept who are not used to such approaches (perhaps are even surprised to be asked).
- It is advisable to request a short visit (2 or 3 days). Perhaps the visit could be for the afternoons or mornings only, over 3 or 4 days perhaps. Of course, it is entirely up to the potential host dept/section as to what they agree to, if anything. We suggest a short duration so that perhaps your request appears more managable to whoever reads your email.
- Visits that seek to include several meetings/discussions with more than one section or a variety of staff may on the one hand be more difficult to arrange for the person considering your request; however, on the other hand, they would help spread the load here. It is for you to suggest a structure to the visit, and hopefully for the dept/section you contact to respond favourably while suggesting alternatives.
- Be prepared to find that your suggested dates are not to the host dept's liking, and to be flexible about other dates.
- Be prepared, naturally, for a negative response.
- If Imperial is an unknown factor to you then perhaps you would be better advised to seek a visit to an institution that has exisiting links with your own university.
- Please do not email your request to Imperial's Erasmus Co-ordinator as he will only advise you to contact a department/section directly.
If a member of staff of another institution is successful in obtaining a host (department/section) at Imperial then the host department/section should kindly assist the person to be hosted to complete the paperwork involved (i.e. it does not need to be referred elsewhere within Imperial ), which is normally:
- a formal invitation in advance of the visit. Use a template tri-parite training plan/agreement provided by the person to be hosted.
- obtain a copy of their passport (ID page and any relevant visa page) upon arrival.
- at the end of the visit provide a letter confirming attendance (perhaps using a template provided by the person to be hosted).
