Relative: Oh James, you’ve grown up so much – what are you doing with yourself?
Me: Haha thanks. I’m a University of Kent student, studying Business.
Relative: Wonderful! Canterbury is a lovely part of the country.
Me: I’m sure it is, but I actually study in Medway.
Relative: Oh. [accompanied by noticeably less enthusiastic facial expression]
Sound familiar?
I’m James, a final year Business and Management student based at the Chatham Historic Dockyard in Medway. Some may say I’ve drawn the short straw compared to my Canterbury-based counterparts, but I’ve been here now for three years and have grown to appreciate the unique academic environment it facilitates.
An enjoyable student experience is influenced by so much more than classroom learning and theory, and there are many opportunities to get involved in much more around the Pembroke and Dockyard campuses in Medway, as this article shall describe.
I’m also assisting the Employability Points Scheme this year – a University of Kent initiative that rewards students for engaging in co-curricular activity with work experience such as internships, shadowing or training. All of the forthcoming suggestions are perfect for accumulating points (EPs) and making the most of your time as a student.
Join a Society or Sports Team (5-30 points)
Whatever your course, stage or personality, there is a diverse range of student groups for you to join. Whether your interest is in business, music, amateur dramatics, gaming, sports or you’d like to meet new people from the same culture, don’t be afraid to get involved.
A full list of Medway societies is online: https://www.gkunions.co.uk/activities/societies/
And, sports teams: https://www.gkunions.co.uk/activities/clubs/
It’s not too late to join at this point in term. Most groups have their own social media pages so just get in touch. There’s also Refreshers Fair at the Student Hub in February for you to meet the committees and find out more information about each society and team.
Become a Student Ambassador (30 points) or Peer Mentor (45 points)
If you’re looking for a fulfilling role that is flexible around your studies, then why not apply to be an Ambassador? The University of Kent is always looking for enthusiastic students to help at Open Days or take prospective students on a tour of the campus. This is also a paid position that will look great on your CV.
For more information, visit https://www.kent.ac.uk/ambassadors/
Many Medway schools also run their own Ambassador schemes, or recruit students as peer mentors to help younger students settle in to university life. If this something you’d be interested in, contact your Academic Advisor or school’s Student Support Officer.
Additionally, if you’re having trouble finding part-time work, why not get some advice from the Careers and Employability Service (medwaycareers@kent.ac.uk) or sign up as a temp worker with Kent Union Jobshop (jobshop@kent.ac.uk) to get weekly job opportunities.
Volunteering (20-40 points)
If you’re looking for an opportunity to meet new people and give something back to the community in which you study, volunteering is perfect for you. There are lots of opportunities throughout the year with various projects such as making gifts for sick children, bucket collections in Asda or helping Freshers move into their accommodation. Even if you have just half an hour free, get involved!
You can log all of your volunteering via a toolkit on the GK Unions website, and work towards your Bronze, Silver, Gold, Gold Plus and Platinum awards. For more information, ask for David at the Student Hub reception desk.
There’s also a volunteering society called Raise and Give (RAG). If you have any fundraising ideas or would like to suggest a worthy cause, search for RAG Medway on social media.
Another option is to become a student rep for your course, school or faculty. This is an important position of responsibility as a representative for your student peers. Some positions are still vacant, so contact your school if you’d like to put your name forward.
In the meantime, you can have your voice heard through Digital Rep. Follow the link below: https://mrgsurvey.bournemouth.ac.uk/surveys/s.asp?k=150609016215
Learn a New language or Skill (5-60 points)
As a University of Kent student, you’ve got access to a huge range of additional courses running in Medway so don’t think of your education as being confined solely to your degree subject. Most take place in the evening and consist of one class per week, so it’s not much of an extra commitment and shouldn’t interfere with your studies.
For a full list of courses, visit https://www.kent.ac.uk/studyplus/courses/index.html and sign up via your SDS page.
You should also keep an eye open for skills workshops or networking events being run by either your school or the University. Pilkington Building and the Dockyard Church occasionally host presentations or debates on topical news issues, and all such events can be a great talking point at future job interviews.
All of the activities discussed in this article can be logged via MyFolio through the Employability Points website. You can also read about previous students’ internship experiences and the growing list of opportunities available for this 2017/18 academic year.
https://www.kent.ac.uk/employabilitypoints/
Medway will never be the same as Canterbury, and nor should it try to be. It offers more than enough opportunities to get involved with co-curricular activity if you know where to look, so there’s no excuse not to make the most of your time here.
Best of luck!