Monthly Archives: May 2015

Job shadowing for staff

Job shadowing provides individuals with a unique opportunity to find out more about how other staff work and what their roles involve, and to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of other roles and functions across the University.

The Learning and Development team has been working in collaboration with Information Services to develop some online guidance for staff to support Job Shadowing.

This resource has application beyond the Job Shadowing initiatives in IS and is available across the University, with access to further information via the following Learning and Development Job Shadowing webpages.

The guidance complements and aligns with guidance in support of the University Reflect, Plan and Develop (RPD) Scheme. Read more.

We are looking for further case studies from a range of schools and departments to demonstrate the value and potential of Job Shadowing for professionals and career development, and we would encourage you to contact Learning and Development if you have anything to offer.

Please contact Ali Whelan, Learning & Development Adviser, A.Whelan@kent.ac.uk or a member of the Learning & Development team at ldev@kent.ac.uk.

Summer Music Week is coming!

Summer Music Week bursts into life both on and off campus next week, in a feast of musical events between 7 – 13 June.

This annual musical adieu to the academic year featuring many of the University’s musicians and ensembles, culminating in the grand finale, Music for a Summer’s Day on Saturday 13 June.

The week begins on Sunday 7 June with the University Big Band at Deal Memorial Bandstand conducted by Ian Swatman and culminates on Saturday 13 June in a cconcert with the Chorus, Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Choir in the Colyer-Fergusson Hall, followed by cream teas on the Registry lawn.

The range of music throughout the week ranges from Big Band swing to operatic arias and music for strings, and this year the programme includes a new commission by the Music Department, ‘Ringing Changes,’ for choir, ensemble and electronics, written as part of the University’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Read more.

Medway Student Committee Elections

The following roles are available for University of Kent students to nominate themselves for:

  • Medway Student Committee President
  • Medway Student Committee Vice President
  • Medway Student Committee Welfare Officer
  • Medway Student Committee Campaigns Officer
  • Medway Student Committee Student Activities Officer
  • Medway Student Committee Sports Officer
  • Medway Student Committee Media
  • Medway Student Committee RaG Officer

Do any of these opportunities sound like the perfect role for you? Nominate yourself!

If any student has any problems nominating themselves or voting, please email elections@kent.ac.uk

Election dates

  • Nominations open: Monday 1 June 2015 at 9.00
  • Nominations close: Friday 5 June 2015 at 12.00
  • Voting opens: Monday 8 June 2015 at 9.00
  • Voting closes: Thursday 11 June 2015 at 12.00

A day in Cambridge – Sat 6 June

There are a few seats left on a day trip by coach to the historic city of Cambridge.

Departs from our Canterbury campus at 8.45 on Saturday 6 June, returning at approx. 18.30.

Tickets are £15.

You are free to do what you like in Cambridge where you can visit the University buildings and enjoy the shops, galleries and museums.

Contact Revd Dr Stephen Laird, Chaplaincy, for details s.c.e.laird@kent.ac.uk

Staff Tennis Tournament on Saturday 30 May

This Saturday (30 May) from 13.00 to 17.00, join staff from across the University for a Singles Tennis Tournament hosted by Kent Sport.

The best part: it’s free to enter!

We’ll accommodate just about anyone, if you’d rather play doubles, can only attend for a short period of time or are a complete novice and just want to have fun – let us know.

Rackets and tennis balls will be supplied.

Contact Sports Development (sportsdevelopment@kent.ac.uk) ASAP stating your playing ability, whether it is beginner, intermediate or advanced. Ready, Set, Play!

Car Park Closures 29 May to 9 June

Giles Lane Pink and Blue Zone car parks will be closed from 23.00 on Friday 29 May and will reopen on Tuesday 9 June, for the provision of Kent Union’s Party in the Car Park.

Please remember, that it is likely that other car parks in the centre of campus may be full and we advise you to consider alternative means of transport, where possible. As per the Traffic Regulations we do not guarantee a space to park, however there is normally parking available in Park Wood Courts.

Parking enforcement will continue during the closure of Giles Lane car parks, please ensure that you continue to park in marked bays only within the car parks relevant for your permit.

Pink permit holders – can continue to use all Pink and Blue zone car parks except Giles Lane.

Blue permit holders – can continue to use all other Blue Zone car parks which will include rear of the Sports Centre, Park Wood courts, Oaks and the Pavilion

On behalf of Kent Hospitality Pavilion car park will be closed on 2 June 2015 for one day only.

Pink permit holders – can continue to use all Pink and Blue zone car parks except Giles Lane & Pavilion.

Blue permit holders – can continue to use all other Blue Zone car parks which will include rear of the Sports Centre, Park Wood courts and Oaks.

Exclusive delegate rate – Tourism Symposium – 2 June

The Tourism Society is holding the second day of its annual Tourism Symposium at the University of Kent on Tuesday 2 June.

The plenary session, to be held at the Colyer-Fergusson Music Building, will bring together industry professionals from all over the UK to connect and contribute to the big infrastructure debate.

Kent staff and students have been offered an exclusive rate of £35 per person (full rate £155). This covers the plenary as well as a ‘Taste of Kent’ lunch.

The speaker line-up comprises of leading experts from the world of tourism, arts, heritage and transport, including:

  • Sir Peter Bazalgette, Arts Council England
  • Wayne Hemingway & Eddie Kemsley, Dreamland
  • Hugo Fenwick, Fenwick Ltd
  • Sandra Matthews-Marsh MBE, Tourism Society & Visit Kent
  • Victoria Pomery OBE, Turner Contemporary
  • James Lohan MBE, Mr & Mrs Smith
  • Louise Dando, English Heritage
  • Sally Balcombe, VisitBritain
  • Deirdre Wells OBE, UKinbound
  • Usha Mistry, Lakes Culture
  • Nick Hall, Digital Tourism Think Tank
  • Steven Norris, Former MP & Transport Minister
  • Wendy Spinks, HS1

For the full agenda, please download the event flyer.

To book your place, please visit the Tourism Symposium website – scroll to the bottom, select ‘No’ you are not a Tourism Society Member and select University of Kent under ‘Add ticket’.

For any further information, contact Laura Evans.

Cornwallis – Essential fire alarm testing

From Monday 1 June to Friday 5 June 2015, essential fire alarm testing will be carried out in all rooms of the Cornwallis building.
Each test will last no longer than two minutes per room and will be silent testing under controlled conditions. All rooms will need to be accessed as this testing is a legal requirement. The testing will be carried out by Static Systems, the company used to carry out such work.

Due to the importance of this work your assistance in this will be very much appreciated.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused, if you have any queries please contact the Estates Helpdesk on ext 3209.

Philip Allen
Electrical Manager

Colyer Fergusson – Essential fire alarm testing

From Monday 15 June to Tuesday 16 June 2015 essential fire alarm testing will be carried out in all rooms of the Colyer Fergusson building.
Each test will last no longer than 2 minutes per room and will be silent testing under controlled conditions. All rooms will need to be accessed as this testing is a legal requirement. The testing will be carried out by Static Systems, the company used to carry out such work.

Due to the importance of this work your assistance in this will be very much appreciated.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused, if you have any queries please contact the Estates Helpdesk on ext. 3209.

Philip Allen
Electrical Manager

The Festival of English Open Lecture Series: Jane Austen

‘Jane Austen, Kent and the Curious Incident of the £10 Note’ is the title of an Open Lecture to be given by Dr Jennie Batchelor (Reader in Eighteenth Century Studies on Tuesday 2 June at 6.30pm in the Canterbury Cathedral Reading Room, Cathedral Archives and Library.
Dr Batchelor joined the School of English in 2004 after spending two years as the Chawton Postdoctoral Fellow in Women’s Writing at Chawton House Library and the University of Southampton.
She works and publishes in the long eighteenth century, focusing primarily on women’s writing, representations of gender, work, sexuality and the body, material culture studies and the eighteenth-century charity movement.
Recent publications include Women’s Work: Labour, Gender and Authorship, 1750-1830, Women and Material Culture and British Women’s Writing in the Long Eighteenth Century: Authorship, History, Politics.

Wine reception to follow. All welcome.

You can find out more at: www.kent.ac.uk/english/festivalofenglish