SPEAKER EVENTS - WHO CAN I INVITE

Modified on Wed, 17 Dec at 10:18 AM

Speaker Events - Who Can I Invite?

Having speakers engage with your club/society is an amazing opportunity for your members, and for the wider community at Imperial.

At the Union, we believe speakers should be invited to share their views and experiences, while also ensuring that differing, challenging, and opposing perspectives are heard and discussed in a safe environment. When inviting speakers, clubs and societies should ensure attendees can experience a safe and inclusive environment. Freedom of Speech is extremely important, and this should be balanced with UK law, which protects individuals and groups from intimidation, discrimination, and incitement to crime. 

What is a speaker?

A person is considered a ‘speaker’ if they are not a current student, nor member of your group.

The key question:
Did your group invite them because you wanted to hear from them? Or, did they invite themselves and ask you to provide a platform? We support external speakers when the invitation comes from you. Our priority, as your students' union, is making sure events are led by students, for students. If it’s student-led, we’ll support it!

Student-Initiated Speaker Events

Organisation-Led Tours/Events

Genuine, student-led learning opportunity that enhances your student experience.

Who drives it? You do! Your student group chooses a speaker or topic that aligns with your group members’ interests.

Who benefits most? Your group and its members.

Who’s in control? Your group lead on the planning, promotion and leading of the event, with the external speaker simply contributing expertise.

Sometimes framed as a “collaboration”, but often the student group is being used as a platform for the external organisations own goals.

Who drives it? The external organisation approaches multiple student groups or universities to host them as part of a wider tour.

Who benefits most? The organisation, it’s often about their exposure, marketing, or recruitment.

Who’s in control? The external organisation sets the content, messaging, and schedule. Your student group primarily provides space, audience, and legitimacy.