The Graduate School would like to record thanks to the following members of staff for their valuable contributions to our programmes for research and taught postgraduates for the academic year 2018-2019:

Here are the finalist photographs from the ReCapture Competition.

This summer we want to hear the #GTA Voice!  The Graduate School has launched a survey for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) from 1 July.

Following the review of GTA arrangements in the autumn term, we have taken steps to improve communication with GTAs, as well as to clarify contracts, standardize working hours and strengthen representation.  As part of our ongoing commitment to GTAs we are working to develop induction, support and training provided to Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) across the University.

Complete our survey and tell us about your experiences, and where our training and support can better meet your needs!

To complete the survey please go to this link:  https://kentplanning.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eR3SWGeUdjkXqtv

Any queries please contact j.p.collins@kent.ac.uk

The Postgraduate Community Experience Awards funded a project called ReCapture. The application was submitted by PhD student Vilius Savickas and Master’s by Research student Hal Dorrington.

ReCapture aimed to promote postgraduate research carried out across the University by providing a platform for students to capture and share their research in a public-friendly photographic format. The competition has been a celebration of student research and has been a great networking opportunity between the academic communities of the Canterbury and Medway campuses. It also provided a platform for students to share their research with non-specialist audiences and to the local public.

A total of 16 outstanding images were shortlisted by a panel back in April 2019. These were then presented at a Medway based exhibition throughout May and early June with a final showcase event hosted on Monday 17^th June.

Staff, students and members of the public were able to vote for the three best images based on the following criteria:

• Subject content and strength of message, in relation to research.
• Creativity of presentation, visual communication and general appeal of image.
• Image quality of photograph.

The winners, who were announced on Monday 17^th April were:

1^st Prize

We used to grow sugar cane

Bhokraj Gurung

2^nd Prize

Hope in time of crisis

Chara Theodoraki

3^rd Prize

The hidden world within

Jessica Dolding-Smith

Congratulations to all the entrants of the ReCapture competition and a special congratulations to the winners.

To see all images please visit www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/news/pgexperience.html.

You are invited you to attend the final showcase and awards ceremony of the ReCapture Graduate Research Photography competition, which is supported by the Graduate School Postgraduate Community Experience Award.

The event will take place on Monday 17^th June in Pilkington Lecture Theatre (PK011) on the historic Medway campus. It is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the fantastic work undertaken at our University and to network with students, researchers and keen members of the public.

The event will begin with a morning exhibition, which will display the artwork of all finalists and will be open to anyone interested. This session will be followed by the awards ceremony at 2pm, which will include refreshments and will be ticketed event. If you wish to attend the awards ceremony, please complete the form available here. Please note that the number of tickets is limited, therefore ensure you book your place as soon as possible.

You may also wish to view and vote for the best of our artwork at the local exhibition in Medway before the main event:

• Medway – 3^rd -16^th June – Drill Hall Library (library café gallery area)

For more information about the Medway campus and travel directions visit the University of Kent website. Those of you who do not have a valid parking permit for Medway campus and choose to travel by car may either wish to purchase daily car park vouchers here, or otherwise, take one of the regular inter-campus University of Kent shuttles. Alternatively, you may wish to park at the Historic Dockyard Mast Pond car park across the road (fees apply).

Last but not least, we have now launched our e-voting page, which enables you to view all images and vote online. Any votes received through this system will count towards the total public vote, and in turn, towards the final vote. Please feel free to share this link with your students and colleagues encouraging them to vote for the best!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MDRK2MQ

In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns about the final, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Vilius at vs261@kent.ac.uk.

In 2018 Graduate School introduced a series of prizes to recognise the excellence of its postgraduate researchers and the outstanding work carried out by academic and administrative staff members in support of postgraduate research and education.

This year the Graduate School are delighted to announce the winners of the 2019 Graduate School Prizes. The winners are invited to celebrate their success during a BBQ and Awards Ceremony at the Kent Researchers’ Showcase on Thursday 30^th May in Sibson.

Congratulations to all 2019 Graduate School Prize winners.

Winners of the Postgraduate Research Prize 

Ann Christine Kinzer –  PhD Candidate, School of European Culture and Languages

Chloe Johnson –  PhD Candidate, School of Biosciences

Katja May –  PhD Candidate, School of English

Winner of the Research Degree Supervisor Prize

Dr Edward Morgan-Jones – Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics, School of Politics and International Relations

Winner of the School Director of Graduate Studies Prize

Dr Catherine Robinson –  Director of Graduate Studies, Kent Business School

Winners of the Postgraduate Administrator Prize

Angela Whiffen – Postgraduate Administrator, School of Arts

Claire Taylor – Centre Manager, Centre for American Studies and Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies

Winner of the Postgraduate Teacher Prize

Recep Onursal – PhD Candidate and Assistant Lecturer, School of International Relations and Politics

The Graduate School was delighted to receive such a high volume of exceptional nominations for this year’s Graduate School Prizes competition. The Graduate School recognises the significant contribution made to the University of Kent by Postgraduate Researchers, Research Degree Supervisors, School Directors of Graduate Studies, Postgraduate Administrators and Postgraduate Teachers across the University. We would like to thank everyone for their excellent work in support of postgraduate education and research at Kent.

EPSRC has awarded funding to the University of Kent to support Innovation Placements for existing EPSRC studentships. This funding aims to provide placement opportunities for students working in areas aligned to the Industrial Strategy. You should discuss with your supervisor any new or existing relationships with partner/external organisations that could be compatible with your area of research that could support placements funded by this scheme.

Important Information:

1. Discuss any proposed placement activity with your supervisor prior to completing the application form.
2. You will lead on discussing your proposed placement in direct correspondence with the placement provider.
3. Once you have an agreement in principle with the placement provider, name and contact details of a proposed workplace supervisor you should complete the application form (please contact f.clifford-254@kent.ac.uk for a copy of the form).
4. Complete the application form and submit it to f.clifford-254@kent.ac.uk. Your application will be considered promptly and you will receive a response within 10 working days.
5. If your application is successful a three-way contract will be drawn up by the University of Kent to secure the placement and terms. This must be signed by all parties before the placement commences.

If you have any questions about the placement process please do not hesitate to contact me at f.clifford-254@kent.ac.uk.

We are thrilled to announce the winners of this Spring’s Postgraduate Community Experience Awards:

Kasia Senyszyn (PhD) – Games library and book/puzzle swop
Kristen Bristow (PT Master’s) – Marlowe Garden

Kasia has been awarded funding for her games library and book/ puzzle swap, which would see a library of books and jigsaw puzzles in Woolf Common Room for students to borrow and swap. The project will include the purchase of table-top and card games which would be loaned to students. Kasia is creating a new social program to enable postgraduate students to socialise, relax and support each other as well as enhance the postgraduate community.

Kristen won an award for the Marlowe Garden project which aims to make use of the unused space outside of the Marlowe Building looking towards Giles lane. The project aims to design and create a deep flower bed full of native species. This project will see an open space and hideaways for students to use as a place to distress as well as socialise.

Congratulations to our winners this year. Keep an eye out for updates on the weekly email bulletin and on our twitter feed.

Laura Thomas-Walters, PhD Candidate from the School of Anthropology and Conservation was awarded funding from the Postgraduates Community Experience Awards to support her PhD quilt project.

The project goal was to provide Kent PhD students an opportunity to explore alternative ways of communicating their research, while enhancing their own well-being through mindful creativity. This visual and tactile representation of the breadth of research undertaken at Kent will provide a unique form of public engagement.

PhD students and the Graduate School participated in workshops led by Laura. During these workshops, Laura encouraged students to distil their research into its core essence, and to think about how that could be represented visually. Laura then introduced them to the concept of fabric applique, and gave tips for creating an appealing piece of artwork. Each student was given a 15” square block to create a fabric collage that symbolises their PhD. These blocks were then sewn together by Laura, with the help and support of the Canterbury Quilters Society to create a stunning research quilt.

The Kent’s PhD Quilt was formally unveiled at a small reception on Tuesday 30th April in the Colyer-Fergusson Foyer. It will now go on tour around the country to be exhibited at a number of quilting competitions and events.

Visit the Graduate School website to see the final quilt and the level of detail that has gone into making each block, you can also learn about the research behind the artwork.

“I wanted to provide an opportunity for Kent PhD students to explore alternative ways of communicating their research, while enhancing their own well-being through mindful creativity. I’ve been quilting for a few years, and create textile portraits of endangered species to help raise awareness and funds for them. Quilting is both a really fun pastime, and a fun way of engaging people in my work.

I thought a visual and tactile representation of the breadth of research undertaken at Kent would be a unique form of public engagement. Kent’s PhD Quilt is the first of its kind. Each quilt block was created by a different PhD student, representing the core concept of their PhD. Quilting was done in collaboration with the Canterbury Quilters Society.”  Laura Thomas-Walters, www.tigerlilytidbits.com/