Celebrating Excellence: The Global Skills Award Ceremony 2025

Our Global Skills Award Ceremony took place on 10 June, it was another year of outstanding achievements by our Master’s students. The GSA is for Postgraduate Taught students and is designed to enhance global awareness and improve employability through a programme of workshops and postgraduate talks.

Our programme offered sessions that cover various topics, including intercultural communication, leadership skills, presentation skills, managing stress, working under pressure and support in academic writing. In 2024-2025 we had truly exceptional talks that were as thought provocative as informative:

Climate Change and You by Jake Bicknell
Research at Kent: Shaping the future
The benefits of biodiversity for our health and wellbeing by Jessica Fisher
Exploring Global Cultures
2035 and the Future of AI by Tommy Hills
“Look What You Made Me Do”: Taylor Swift & 21st Century Feminist Practice by Claire Hurley
OnlyFans and The Politics of Pornography by Iain MacKenzie

I really enjoyed the lectures and workshops I attended; the practical know-how is very useful and some of the lectures were fascinating with one in particular providing an unexpected perspective on my, completely unrelated, course.

Julia Benning, MA Philanthropic Studies

The programme is designed to broaden students’ understanding of global issues and current affairs. While developing their personal skills it also enhances their career prospects. In today’s job market it is particularly valued to have exceptional skills and be aware of the global challenges. Our students’ achievements inspire us all and it is remarkable to see their determination and dedication to excel.

Congratulations to all of you once again and all the best on your journey ahead.

Annual Postgraduate Conference 2025 – Bookings now open!

We are delighted to announce that the Annual Postgraduate Conference, taking place on Wednesday 25 June in Sibson, is now OPEN for bookings.

This year, the Graduate and Researcher College (GRC) will be collaborating with all Schools to celebrate our postgraduate researcher community.

The morning will focus on Research Talks, where Schools will nominate a PGR Student to represent them. This is your opportunity to get involved and showcase your research and deliver a research talk. Please contact your School Director of Graduate Studies who will be selecting students to represent their school. In the afternoon, schools will be offering interactive workshops and talks. There will be an awards ceremony and buffet lunch provided – both excellent opportunities to network.

This is an excellent opportunity to attend talks, take part in interactive workshops, learn from colleagues, a chance to view research posters – there are even GRC and Poster competition prizes to be won! See Producing a Research Poster training below.

More info here.

Programme

Book your spot now via your Target Connect account! Don’t delay, book your place today!

Deadline for bookings : Wednesday 18 June.

Further session information and programme to follow, keep your eyes peeled for our emails.

GRC 3MT 2025: Make your research remarkable in 3 minutes

The GRC has recently hosted the 3 Minute Thesis Competition that celebrates the exciting research conducted by PhD students. The competition encourages the participants to explain their project in under 3 minutes in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. It is also a perfect tool to develop academic, presentation, and research communication skills.

As a judge at Kent’s semi-finals, I knew I was in for something special. I was amongst passionate researchers from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds and, what’s more, these were students who had dedicated time and effort to hone their storytelling skills at workshops run by the GRC in the run up to the competition. They understood exactly how to bring out the ‘wow factor’ in their research.

Emily Collins, GRC 3MT 2025 Judge

This year has proved to be another year of celebrating success achieved by our students, we had the honour to learn about the long-term impact of covid-19 and the risk of developing dementia, ESG washing cycle and climate misrepresentation dynamics, the symbolic annihilation of Ddisplaced Syrian and Afghan associations in Turkey and much more. It was an absolute pleasure to hear about the fascinating projects of our researchers.

It was quite a challenge for our judges to select top 6 for the final because every researcher showed their passion, dedication and originality. On 27 May we were honoured to witness 6 remarkable presentations:

“Analysing and Mitigating Security Risks in AI Systems” by Adel Elzemity

“Rethinking Coastal Living: Health, Data, and Definitions” by Salmaan Ansari

“Can 6G Handle 30 Billion Devices by 2030?” by Hazim Abdulsada

“Complexity of Trauma and Agency among late-diagnosed Autistic Women within Frameworks of Social Power” by Katrine Callander

“Sexual Geographies and the Gentrified City: An Exploration of London’s Kings Cross” by Katelyn Owens

“Move Together, Think Together: How Synchrony Shapes Self-Other Representation” by Chloe Bates

We are pleased to announce that the runner up of Kent 3MT 2025 is Katelyn Owens and the winner is Chloe Bates. Congratulations!

Understanding and learning to communicate how a research project meets local or global needs can increase chances of securing further research funding, attracting positive media attention and engaging those who might put your research into action. Those who master this can change the world!

Emily Collins, GRC 3MT 2025 Judge