The Imperial Horizons programme has completed its successful first year delivering courses for first year undergraduates.

The Imperial Horizons programme was launched in autumn 2012 as an optional programme for first year undergraduates. The programme is designed to broaden students’ education, inspire creativity and enhance their professional impact. All course offered through Horizons are free and taught during scheduled teaching slots, in addition to students scheduled teaching within their department.

Twenty six different Horizons courses were offered in the autumn and spring terms, these were taught on Monday evenings at locations across the College. The courses were offered in four fields of study: Business and Professional Skills, Global Challenges, Languages and Global Citizenship and Science, Culture and Society. Imperial Horizons has been very popular with students, with 69% of all first year undergraduates participating in at least one course and many completing courses in both the autumn and spring terms.

 Eight different languages, including Mandarin, Arabic and Russian were offered at various levels, with Japanese being the most popular language amongst students. The broad variety of Science, Culture and Society courses included the popular options of Philosophy, Sound Technology, Science and Faith and Science on Film & TV. Many students also took the Imperial Business course taught by staff from the Business School. 

The Global Challenges field of study ran courses in Visualising Global Challenges and Engineers without Borders, offering students the opportunity to work with people from departments across the College to consider and seek solutions to real world problems. Three teams of students from Imperial were also chosen to participate in the final of the EWB Challenge held in Coventry in June 2013.

Feedback from students highlighted the benefits of having a chance early on in their studies to apply their knowledge in a creative and independent manner, and they especially valued being able to work with other students from different departments.

 "Interesting and challenging course which adds lots of context to the theory learned in my degree" - Students from Engineers Without Borders

"AMAZING! Really enjoyed our sessions and although they were well structured there was also room for personal choice and debate on topics we considered important" - Student from Visualising Global Challenges

 "Great course. Really enjoyed being left to our own devices and doing something creative" - Student from Visualising Global Challenges 

Student feedback on Imperial Horizons courses was provided via the Student Online Evaluation System (SOLE) and was very encouraging, with 80% of students describing the delivery of the courses as good or very good.

In 2013-14 the Imperial Horizons programme will be open to first and second year students. Enrolments for first years will commence during Welcome Week, and will close on Monday 7^th October. Enrolment for second year students has already been opened and over 800 have so far chosen courses. For those who still wish to register they can email horizons@imperial.ac.uk with their CID and their 3 choices by Wednesday 2^nd October 2013.

 New courses being introduced in 2013-14 include Science Fiction, Science, Art & Design, Ethics & Social Responsibility, and Professional Skills for Employability

 More information about all Imperial Horizons courses is at: www.imperial.ac.uk/horizons