We are living in an increasingly polarised society where we are less likely to interact with people with differing opinions and perspectives. Whilst the quality of public discourse has been declining, we believe universities should be forums for robust debate where a range of perspectives can be heard.
Discussion, disagreement and debate play a vital role in supporting you to challenge and be challenged, develop your critical thinking skills, and gain exposure to different viewpoints. Through actively promoting freedom of speech on campus and enabling more than 1,500 guest speakers from various political persuasions to visit campus each year through invitation from our student groups, the Students' Union helps to facilitate debate and further the non-academic development of students. These debates and discussions contribute to the personal and intellectual growth of UCL's student community and to a vibrant and stimulating campus environment
It is within this context that we have committed to expanding our work in this space. The Impartial Chairs programme will provide you with an opportunity to develop key skills in debate and disagreement on a wide range of issues, enabling you to navigate discussions with individuals with differing views and with a diverse global community, and to facilitate opportunities for robust debate on campus in a respectful and inclusive way.
Become an impartial chair
Apply to be part of the next cohort of Impartial Chairs. We'll provide participants with the opportunity to develop the skills required to tackle challenging conversations that arise in an uncertain world, build their resilience and confidence in debate and respectful disagreement, enabling them to disagree well at UCL and beyond.
When submitting your application please think about the following:
- Why you are interested in the opportunity;
- What skills you could bring to the programme or skills you would like to develop on the programme that would support you in your role as an Impartial Chair;
- How you would share your learnings with fellow students and/or help to shape or promote this programme.
Why should you apply
This programme will contribute to your personal and intellectual growth and enable you to navigate the challenging discussions that take place at UCL and beyond.
Through this programme you will:
- Deepen your knowledge of division, conflict, peace and reconciliation in the Northern Irish context.
- Have the opportunity to reflect on your own biases and triggers, and how these shape your views of different people and communities.
- Develop a basic understanding of free speech law and what constitutes illegal speech.
- Develop your understanding and awareness of power dynamics and the role that power and privilege plays in debate.
- Develop the resilience, confidence and skills to facilitate debates and respectful disagreements.
You'll have the exciting opportunity to participate in and help to shape this year's programme, which will include:
- A bespoke series of training opportunities;
- A five-day visit to Northern Ireland where you'll have the opportunity to learn about the Troubles, and peace and reconciliation in the Northern Irish context;
- Paid opportunities, where you will be able to put your skills into practice and facilitate some of our external speaker events that take place on campus.
Applications for this year's cohorts will be open from 23rd September to 7th October.
More information
- Impartial Chairs: roles, responsibilities and opportunities
Help to shape and participate in the Impartial Chairs programme, which will provide participants with the opportunity to develop the skills required to tackle challenging conversations that arise in an uncertain world, build their resilience and confidence in debate and respectful disagreement, enabling them to disagree well at UCL and beyond.
To act as an Impartial Chairperson on an ad hoc basis, helping to facilitate events with controversial or challenging speakers. Impartial Chairs will be paid £14.45 per hour for facilitating external speaker events. Key responsibilities include:
- Facilitate events where speakers are allowed the right to express their views and experiences, while differing, challenging and antithetical views are also heard and debated in a non-threatening environment.
- To promote inclusive debate, challenging inappropriate behaviour that threatens the safe and legal running of events, and take appropriate action, with the support of Union or UCL staff, in the event of protest or disruption.
- To take responsibility for timings, managing the event in an agreed format, and lead the question and answer session.
Attend an experiential learning five-day visit to Northern Ireland, which has been designed to enable participants to build an understanding of conflict, peace and reconciliation in the Northern Irish context.
- Essential requirements
An interest in developing your knowledge and understanding of different communities and their unique experiences; power dynamics and the role that power and privilege plays in debate; as well as your skills and confidence in debate and respectful disagreement.
An interest in participating in a five-day experiential learning visit to Northern Ireland aimed at deepening participants’ understanding of how to work within divided societies, the forces that can heal and build trust as well as those that can dissemble and destroy a diverse society.
An interest in facilitating external speaker events on a range of topics, and with the support of the Union, ensuring that an equitable, accessible and inclusive environment is created to have these discussions.
An interest in acting as a programme ambassador, sharing your learnings with fellow students, and helping to shape and promote the programme.
- Key dates for the Northern Ireland trip
This year we will be running two trips to Northern Ireland. The first trip is scheduled from 16th-20th November and the second is scheduled from 15th to 19th February. Please indicate in your application whether you have a preference for travelling as part of the first cohort or the second.
Travel and accommodation costs for participants will be covered by the Union. Please note that the cost of meals is not included.
For more information about how the Union can support you financially, please click on the following link to learn about our Participation Fund.
- How to apply
To apply for this opportunity, please submit either a one side of A4 or a one-minute video outlining why you think you should be selected by 7 October 2024 via this webform.
You may want to include why you are interested in the opportunity; what skills you could bring to the Impartial Chairs role or would like to develop on the programme that would support you in this role; and any ideas of how you would share your learnings with fellow students and/or help to shape or promote the programme.