Imperial Plus FAQs 2013/14 imperialcollegeunion.org Imperial Plus FAQs 1
Contents -05 What is Imperial Plus? Why has the Union developed Imperial Plus for student volunteers? What are the skills Imperial Plus is based on and how were they chosen? How do I register for Imperial Plus? How do I use eactivities for Imperial Plus? What is the difference between the Imperial Plus Volunteer Certificate, Volunteer Accreditation and Volunteer Qualification? 05- Should I register for the Volunteer Certificate or Volunteer Accreditation? Who is the Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation accredited by? How do I sign up for the Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation Introduction to skill based workshops? What happens if I book on to a workshop, but I am then unable to attend? What does Imperial College Union class as volunteering? What roles are considered to be Volunteer positions? 2 Imperial Plus FAQs
-08 I don t volunteer with the Union but I volunteer with College. Will this count towards Imperial Plus? What volunteer activities can be logged as hours towards Imperial Plus? What activities cannot be logged as hours towards Imperial Plus? How many and which workshops should I sign up for? How will my Volunteer Accreditation assignments be assessed? What is the Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation assessment framework? What happens if I don t meet the required standard as detailed in the Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation assessment framework in one of my assignments? 08 08 08 08 How can I get help or advice about my Volunteer Accreditation assignments? What should I do if I have a complaint to make about Imperial Plus? What happens next? Any other questions? Go online and find out more about Imperial Plus, the Union, our activities, what s on in our venues and how we represent you. Imperial Plus FAQs 3
What is Imperial Plus? What is Imperial Plus? Imperial College Union has over 3000 students volunteering in various roles on an annual basis. Imperial Plus has been developed to help these volunteers clearly identify the skills they gain through volunteering, the value of these skills and recognise how these skills enhance their employability. Through the Imperial Plus Volunteer Certificate, volunteers are encouraged to reflect on the skills developed during their volunteer experience. The Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation will provide formal skill based training and an ASDAN accreditation. Volunteers can choose to work towards either the Volunteer Certificate or Volunteer Accreditation, although the Volunteer Accreditation must have been achieved to be eligible to apply for the Volunteer Qualification. Why has the Union developed Imperial Plus for student volunteers? It s simple the 3000 students who volunteer with and for Imperial College Union are fundamental to our success. Whether they deliver our Clubs, Societies and Projects; are a part of our Academic Representatives, Welfare Officer Networks or our campaigns; raise money with RAG; volunteer through Imperial Hub projects or are Sports Team Captains, we wouldn t be able to deliver the services we provide to Imperial College Union members without them. We know that our volunteers gain valuable skills as a result of volunteering with the Union. Imperial Plus will support them in reflecting on these skills and evidence how and where they have been used. Formal training and accreditation in six key skill areas will be offered via the Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation and a Management of Volunteers qualification will be provided to a number of students as part of the Imperial Plus Volunteer Qualification, supporting and developing volunteers in their role. What are the skills Imperial Plus is based on and how were they chosen? Imperial Plus is designed to be accessible, relevant and beneficial to all of our 3000+ volunteers. The skills on which Imperial Plus is based were selected following research and telephone interviews with other Universities and Unions about programmes they provide to volunteers; the employability reports by the NUS and Confederation of British Industry which states the key skills that graduate recruiters seek; by identifying what skills are most relevant to Imperial College Union volunteers; and, most importantly, though consultations and surveys with Imperial College London students. The skills Imperial Plus is based on are: effective team working communication planning & organisation persuasion & negotiation problem solving personal effectiveness How do I register for Imperial Plus? Visit the Imperial Plus pages of the Imperial College Union website at: imperialcollegeunion.org/training/imperial-plus-developing-your-skills Complete your details and select whether you would like to register for the Imperial Plus Volunteer Certificate or Volunteer Accreditation and click the submit button. This will be sent to the Union to approve and you will receive confirmation within 3 working days. Once approved, a new Imperial Plus area of eactivities will become available to you. How do I use eactivities for Imperial Plus? Please see the separate Imperial Plus: eactivities guidance manual on the Imperial Plus pages of the website. What is the difference between the Imperial Plus Volunteer Certificate, Volunteer Accreditation and Volunteer Qualification? As a Volunteer, you can choose to work towards either the Imperial Plus Volunteer Certificate or the Volunteer Accreditation. This will depend on your volunteer role (only those who have a volunteer role with or via the Union may work towards the Volunteer Accreditation); the number of hours you are likely to volunteer over the course of one academic year and whether you will be able to dedicate the additional time to 4 Imperial Plus FAQs
undertake the training and complete the written assignments to achieve the Volunteer Accreditation. Imperial Plus Volunteer Page/section Certificate title All mandatory training related to an individual s volunteer role must be completed before the Volunteer Certificate or Volunteer Accreditation will be awarded. Imperial Plus Volunteer Certificate The Volunteer Certificate is designed to be easily accessible to all volunteers with little additional work required to achieve it. Once registered, a new Imperial Plus Volunteer Certificate tab will become available after logging in to eactivities. Using eactivities, you will need to rank where your think your confidence and ability is at the start of your volunteering experience and then again before you submit your final details to achieve the Volunteer Certificate. You will need to record the hours you spend volunteering, identifying the activities you undertake against these hours and the skills you used, learnt or developed. You will be asked for the email address of someone who would be able to confirm that you completed these hours, should the Union need verification. Finally, a short skills questionnaire must be completed reflecting how and where you have used the six key skills on which Imperial Plus is based. The questionnaire will not be assessed; its purpose is to provide students with a record of their volunteering experience, reflecting on the skills they have developed. Volunteers will be awarded a certificate in recognition of 25, 50 or 75 hours volunteering (NB, only one certificate will be awarded per person per academic year). Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation The fundamentals of the Volunteer Accreditation ranking confidence and abilities, logging hours and recording skills and activities undertaken against these hours follows the same process as the Volunteer Certificate. However, the Volunteer Accreditation requires a greater commitment from volunteers. To achieve the Volunteer Accreditation, 100 hours must be completed and logged on eactivities as well as participation in four (from a choice of six) Introduction to skills based workshops, completing four short assignments of no more than 750 words each. In the assignments, you must evidence how and where the skills learnt have been demonstrated in your volunteer role, using the skills assessment framework as guidance. It is this framework against which your assignments will be assessed. The six skills based workshops are: An Introduction to effective team working skills An Introduction to communication skills An Introduction to planning & organisation skills An Introduction to persuasion & negotiation skills An Introduction to skills for personal effectiveness An Introduction to problem solving skills Imperial Plus Volunteer Qualification For those volunteers who complete the Volunteer Accreditation, they will have the opportunity to apply to undertake a Volunteer Qualification from summer 2014, providing they have a confirmed volunteer role in the subsequent academic year where this qualification will benefit their volunteer experience. The qualification is likely to be based on the Institute of Leadership and Managements Level 5 Management of Volunteers. Those who have achieved the Volunteer Accreditation will be invited to apply for the Volunteer Qualification in the summer term. Should I register for the Volunteer Certificate or Volunteer Accreditation? When considering whether to register for the Volunteer Certificate or the Volunteer Accreditation, things you should consider are: Those with a volunteering role with the Union may choose to work towards either the Volunteer Certificate or Volunteer Accreditation. If you also volunteer with a College based programme/scheme, e.g. Rector s Ambassadors, and the Union has agreed with the appropriate member of staff at College that these hours can count towards Imperial Plus, you may log these hours too. If your only volunteer role is with a College programme/scheme and the Union has agreed with the appropriate member of staff at College that these hours can count towards Imperial Plus, then you are eligible to work towards the Volunteer Certificate only. Think about how many hours you are likely to volunteer this year. Only volunteering hours accrued in one academic year may count towards the Volunteer Certificate or Volunteer Accreditation 25, 50 or 75 hours are acknowledged by the Volunteer Certificate, but 100 hours must be logged for the Volunteer Accreditation. Imperial Plus FAQs 5
Imperial Plus Accreditation Do you have the time to commit to the Volunteer Accreditation? Although 100 hours may be easily accrued, you will need to attend four skill based workshops (lasting up to 2 hours) and write four assignments of 750 words each, meeting the minimum standards as detailed in the skills assessment framework. If you are progressing on to a more demanding role next year and would like to apply for the Imperial Plus Volunteer Qualification, remember you must have completed the Volunteer Accreditation in advance. Who is the Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation accredited by? The Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation is accredited by the awarding body ASDAN. ASDAN is a pioneering curriculum development organisation and awarding body, offering programmes and qualifications that explicitly grow skills for learning, skills for employment and skills for life. ASDAN qualifications and programmes blend an activity based curriculum with a framework for developing, assessing and accrediting personal, employability and social skills. The Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation is an ASDAN approved Customised Accreditation. By undertaking the requirements of the Volunteer Accreditation, logging 100 hours and passing all four assignments, volunteers will be awarded with 10 credits. Three of these credits can be counted towards ASDAN s Personal Development Programmes or Certificate of Personal Effectiveness, should volunteers opt to work towards these qualifications in the future. For more information on ASDAN, visit asdan.org.uk How do I sign up for the Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation Introduction to skill based workshops? Only those volunteers registered for the Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation are eligible to attend the Introduction to skill based workshops. To register for a workshop, visit the Imperial Plus pages of the website. What happens if I book on to a workshop, but I am then unable to attend? Notify Nick Snow, Student Development Manager, letting him know you are unable to attend by emailing n.snow@imperial.ac.uk By cancelling your place on a workshop with less than 3 working days notice, or not attending a workshop once you have registered, you may restrict your chances of registering for workshops in the future. What does Imperial College Union class as volunteering? The Union considers volunteering and eligibility to count hours as part of Imperial Plus as the time spent undertaking activity where there is no financial reward or incentive, which is for the benefit of others (i.e. where the Volunteer is not a primary beneficiary). What roles are considered to be Volunteer positions? Imperial College Union Trustees Elected officers, committee members and project officers of Constituent Unions or campus based Student Communities Elected officers, committee members and project officers of Clubs, Societies or projects Academic Representatives Liberation Officers Students actively involved in campaigns in association with Imperial College Union Sports team/club captains Students undertaking community volunteering via the Imperial College Union volunteering service Students undertaking on-going and one-off volunteering opportunities provided by an Imperial College Union Club, Society or Project, or Imperial Hub. Members of the Imperial Hub Committee Students fundraising via a Union Club, Society or Project, RAG or Imperial Hub Students contributing to Student Media Students volunteering as part of the Rector s Ambassadors scheme Rector s Ambassadors (see section I don t volunteer with the Union but I volunteer with College ) For any roles that are not listed, please email Nick Snow at n.snow@imperial.ac.uk. 6 Imperial Plus FAQs
Logging volunteer hours I don t volunteer with the Union but I volunteer with College. Will this count towards Imperial Plus? Hours spent volunteering via a College scheme, e.g. the Rector s Ambassadors scheme, can count as hours towards the Volunteer Certificate providing there is prior agreement between Imperial College Union and the schemes coordinator at College. However, only if you hold a volunteer role directly with or via Imperial College Union will you be able to use these hours in addition to your Union Volunteering hours towards the Volunteer Accreditation. If you are unsure if the hours you accrue via a College coordinated scheme can be used for Imperial Plus, please contact Nick Snow at n.snow@imperial.ac.uk or speak to the scheme s coordinator. What volunteer activities can be logged as hours towards Imperial Plus? Preparation for, and attendance at, meetings related to your volunteer role. Undertaking tasks and activities related to your volunteer role. Any training (mandatory or voluntary) you undertake as part of your volunteer role. Involvement in the planning, delivery, coordination or management of events and activities related to your role. Time spent formally meeting with the students who you represent. Hours from multiple roles may be counted towards the Imperial Plus Volunteer Certificate or Volunteer Accreditation. If you are the mini-bus driver driving other students to an activity. What activities cannot be logged as hours towards Imperial Plus? Preparation and campaigning to run for a position in any Union related elections, or in support of other candidates. Paid mentorship or coaching. The time it takes to write the Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation assignments. Participation in events volunteers may have planned but do not volunteer at e.g. if you plan a fundraising event but do not work at the event on the day, attendance at social activities (even if in your official role), playing sports, participation in games, tournaments, trips or tours. Attending an event as a spectator. Attending training for a paid position or training that is linked to your studies. Volunteering that is not undertaken with or via Imperial College Union or an agreed Imperial College London programme. Only volunteer hours completed within one academic year (August July) may be counted towards either the Volunteer Certificate or Volunteer Accreditation. If you are unsure of activities that can be logged as hours towards Imperial Plus, please email Nick Snow at n.snow@imperial.ac.uk How many and which workshops should I sign up for? Workshops are only available to those students registered for the Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation. You should choose the workshops that will enhance your skills, knowledge and abilities to carry out your volunteer role. You can book on to a maximum of four Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation workshops. We recommend booking on to no more than one workshop per month. How will my Volunteer Accreditation assignments be assessed? Assignments will be assessed internally by Union staff. A proportion of assignments will be moderated internally by a Deputy President and a member of the Senior Management Team to ensure consistency in our assessment processes. ASDAN are able to request a sample of marked assignments at any time. What is the Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation assessment framework? The Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation assessment framework is based on the content and learning outcomes of each of the six Introduction to skill based workshops. A copy of the assessment framework can be found on the Imperial Plus pages of the website. You should use this assessment framework as guidance when completing your assignments. What happens if I don t meet the required standard as detailed in the Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation assessment framework in one of my assignments? Imperial Plus FAQs 7
Help and advice If you do not pass an assignment the first time you submit it, you will be offered the opportunity for a face to face discussion to go through your assignment, identifying where it may have fallen short of meeting the assessment framework standard. You will be able to submit the assignment for a second assessment. How can I get help or advice about my Volunteer Accreditation assignments? If you have any questions or need help or advice relating to your assignments, please email Nick Snow, Student Development Manager, at n.snow@imperial.ac.uk What should I do if I have a complaint to make about Imperial Plus? If you would like to appeal a decision in the approval or assessment of any element of Imperial Plus, in the first instance please contact the Deputy President (Finance & Services) at dpfs@imperial.ac.uk For any other complaint, please follow Imperial College Union s Comments and Complaints process by visiting imperialcollegeunion.org/aboutus/contact-us/comments-complaints What happens next? If you ve completed the Imperial Plus Volunteer Certificate this year, you may want to consider working towards the Volunteer Accreditation next year. Have a look at what other volunteering opportunities are available via Imperial College Union. If you ve completed the Imperial Plus Volunteer Accreditation, you will be sent an email inviting you to apply for the Imperial Plus Volunteer Qualification in the summer term. To celebrate the achievements of our volunteers and celebrate all those who have achieved an Imperial Plus Volunteer Certificate, Volunteer Accreditation or Volunteer Qualification, the Union will be holding a special thank you event. We ll be sending invitations to all those who have participated in Imperial Plus later in the year. Any other questions? If you have any other questions that have not be covered here, please contact Nick Snow, Student Development Manager by emailing n.snow@imperial.ac.uk Imperial College Union Beit Quadrangle Prince Consort Road London SW7 2BB Registered Charity No: 1151241 Tel: 020 7594 80 Fax: 020 7594 85 Email: union@imperial.ac.uk Twitter: @icunion imperialcollegeunion.org 8 Imperial Plus FAQs