Category Archives: News

News, Training

New web resource for academic and research staff

Kent’s commitment to supporting colleagues who research is further demonstrated with the launch of a new section of the Graduate and Researcher College (GRC) website. The ‘Academic and Research Staff‘ webpages provide a wealth of information for academic researchers and are designed to showcase the wide range of information, resources and support available to them.

Divided into four sections comprising 27 pages, this online portal includes information about the University’s strategy to support staff who research and emphasises our efforts to build a supportive and inclusive research culture. Highlights include details of forthcoming central and Divisional training and development sessions, as well as recordings of and material from previous sessions which can be viewed on demand via the relevant GRC SharePoint pages.

Professor Paul Allain, Dean of the Graduate and Researcher College, commented: “The recent expansion of the GRC to enable us to support staff as well as postgraduates marks the start of an exciting journey for researcher development at Kent. Our new webpages are one of a series of steps on the road to increasing awareness about the services and support which are provided by the University for our academic and research colleagues.”

A further phase of web development is planned for Summer 2021, which will focus on the three areas covered in the  Researcher Development Concordat: environment and culture, employment and professional and career development. In the meantime, we trust that our new digital resource will become your first port of call for information relating to academic and research staff development.

News

Kent Union Student Leadership Elections – PG Voting

Posted on behalf of Patrick Stillman, Kent Union VP Postgraduate Experience

Postgrads!

I’m sure you’ve all heard by now, its election season at KU, and this Thursday you have a chance to shape your student leadership team for next year! The VP Postgrad position was introduced in 2019, and in the last two years it has been essential in ensuring that the voices of PGTs and PGRs are heard within the Union, in terms of events and campaigns we run, and that PGs have a seat at the table at all levels of University governance as well.

With the challenges that this year has thrown up, it’s more important than ever that PGs show up to vote in these elections, as your votes help give the officers the backing they need to make change and ensure your voices continue to be heard.

Every candidate is determined to improve the PG experience, when asked for their main reason for standing, here’s what they said:

“Hi, my name is Laura and I’m running to be your VP Postgrad Experience Officer because your voices need to be heard.

I’m the person who has the passion and drive to make sure that you are not forgotten about.”

 

“Hi, I am Atchana and I am running as your next VP Postgraduate Experience in this year’s election. I am aiming to break the stigmas around PG students and make sure these students are full incorporated into student life!  Whether it is Canterbury, Medway or one of our European location, PG students should get the attention we need!”

 

“Hey, I’m Tobi-Temple and I’m running for your next VP Postgraduate Experience. I desire to create better engagement between postgraduates (including international students and part-time students) and the SU. Great steps have already been taken by previous officers and I want to take things to the next level!”

 

“Hi, my name is Nelly and I’m running to be your next VP Postgrad Experience because I’m really passionate about making a difference to the student experience, be these tiny but annoying issues or wider national campaigns.”

 

All voting will be online on the KU website on Thursday 11th March, and you can find out more about all of the candidates standing in the leadership elections here.

News

PDRA/RA communications survey – we would love you to share your views

With Valentine’s Day almost upon us, the Graduate and Researcher College would love to hear from Postdoctoral Research Associates, Research Associates and Research Assistants about how best we can communicate with each other.

To kick-start the conversation, we have created a short survey which we are asking you to complete to guide us in the right direction.

The research environment is constantly changing, never more so this year, and the GRC remit has recently been expanded to support you in your ongoing development as a researcher.

Please help us to help you by letting us know how you would like us to engage with you. The link to the survey has been sent to relevant staff – please email kentgrc@kent.ac.uk if you haven’t received it.

News

Graduate and Researcher College Deputy Dean

The Graduate and Researcher College is delighted to announce that Dr Tim Hopthrow, Reader in Psychology, will be the GRC’s Deputy Dean from 1st April for 9 months. Professor Paul Allain will remain as Dean whilst seconded to REF Sub-Panel 33: Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies. He will continue to focus on the GRC’s new remit for supporting all academic staff who research with Dr Hopthrow focusing on Graduate Studies. Together and with the rest of the GRC team as well as Divisional and PSD colleagues they will be developing the GRC’s new strategy for approval in the autumn, recognising its new scope and updating its mission.

Dr Hopthrow has been Deputy Dean for the Social Sciences, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, a key figure in the development of the university’s Signature Research Themes, and has had extensive involvement in Graduate Studies, at Kent and beyond, in particular for our Social Science Consortium SeNSS. Professor Shane Weller, who chaired the appointment panel, said “Tim comes with a wealth of leadership experience, and I very much look forward to working with him in this new capacity as the GRC focuses on its wider remit, supporting both our postgraduate community and our researchers throughout their career.”

Events, Funding, News, Training

Summer Vacation Research Competition 2021 Q&A Session

Are you considering applying for the Summer Vacation Research Competition 2021 but unsure where to start? Or do you have a great idea but also practical concerns? Then come along to the Summer Vacation Research Competition 2021 Q&A Session, which will be held online on Thursday, 21 January 2021 from 1300-1400.

Participating in this competition, which is now in its fourth year, is a great way to boost your career and the initiative is being generously supported by the Careers and Employability Service, the Centre for the Study of Higher Education, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Research & Innovation, the Divisions, the Graduate and Researcher College, Research and Innovation Services, and the Signature Research Theme Leads. Use this virtual get-together to meet the event organisers and discover more about the skills you will develop through managing your own project and intern. You’ll also learn about what makes a successful submission and pick up some practical tips for your application.

Dr Helen Leech, the event’s co-founder with Dr Jennifer Leigh, said:

“Whether you have definitely decided to apply and have a project in mind or are still considering your options, why not join us for an informal chat in a supportive environment? We will endeavour to encourage and inspire you, and will suggest ways of maximising your chances of success.”

Details of the meeting have been sent to relevant staff – please contact svrc@kent.ac.uk if you do not receive this email.

We look forward to answering your questions at the session!

Funding, News, Training

Summer Vacation Research Competition 2021

Are you a Postdoctoral Research Associate, Research Associate or Research Assistant interested in developing your project and people management skills? Did you know you can apply to run your own independent project and win funding worth up to £2500 to work with an undergraduate intern for 4-7 weeks on your research?

Following the popularity and success of the competition in previous years, the University is funding 9 different summer vacation research projects in 2021, each of which will be associated with a particular Division and/or Signature Research Theme.

Reflecting on the benefits of participation, Dr Jennifer Leigh, the event’s co-founder with Dr Helen Leech, said:

“The positive impact on successful applicants is self-evident and can include increased productivity and outputs, non-research skills acquisition and kick-started career planning. One PDRA told us ‘I got more work done on this project in 6 weeks than I would have done in a year of working in my own time’ and many others have credited the competition with the opportunity, practice and support to make further applications for funding and fellowships, and to apply for permanent roles.”

Details of how to apply for the Summer Vacation Research Competition have been sent to relevant staff – please email svrc@kent.ac.uk if you do not receive this information.

The closing date for applications is 15 February 2021. Good luck!

News

PDRA Pre-Christmas Update Meeting

The PDRA Pre-Christmas Update Meeting will be held online on Tuesday 15 December from 1230-1330.

If you are a Postdoctoral Research Associate, Research Associate or Research Assistant, please join us for an informal virtual get-together to welcome the end of a challenging term and reflect on recent progress and achievements. We will also use this opportunity to tell you about exciting developments taking place in the Graduate and Researcher College, and to update you about our plans to support you and your colleagues going forward.

Professor Paul Allain, Dean of the Graduate and Researcher College, encourages all relevant staff to come along and contribute to the discussion:

“The Graduate and Researcher College team is working hard to strengthen networks for research staff and is currently planning our training and development offering for next term and beyond. We very much welcome your input into this process and will use this opportunity to canvas your ideas on how best we can communicate and work with you and provide the information and support you need.”

Details of the meeting have been sent to relevant staff – please contact Dr Alison Charles if you have not received this email.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

News

Postgraduate Community Experience Awards – Critical Excursions Trip on the Greta

Funding Awarded to Jon Winder, PhD Researcher in the School of History

We are delighted to hear of the success of the Critical Excursions Trip on the Greta, supported by the Postgraduate Community Experience Awards. The trip aimed to improve the postgraduate experience at Kent by offering PhD students opportunities to manage and improve their mental health by spending time immersed in green and blue environments in the local area.

“It was amazing to spend time on the water, experiencing the wind and the waves rather than my laptop keyboard for a day. It was also great to meet such a wide range of other PhD students based at Kent and to hear about their research.” – Organiser, Jon Winder

We cannot wait to see what’s next for the Critical Excursions in Kent!

Find out more about the Critical Excursions in Kent here.

 

News

Hello Postgraduate

Dear Postgraduate,

I am delighted to welcome you to the University of Kent and to our postgraduate community. To ensure a smooth transition into Kent life and being a postgraduate student, the Graduate and Researcher College would like to invite you to take a look at its dedicated Hello 2020/21 Postgraduate webpage. This page enables postgraduate students to collect important university information and understand what resources are available to guide you throughout your time at Kent. There is a short presentation with plenty of links to various key resources which will help steer you through the first few weeks of your research or Master’s journey. 

At Kent, the Graduate and Researcher College works in partnership with academic schools, Divisions, central service departments, Kent Union and the Kent Graduate Student Association to enhance the quality of your student experience across all campuses and to create a vibrant postgraduate community. We aim to ensure that the academic and social interests of postgraduate students, both taught and research, are appropriately provided for within the University by developing a strong framework of specialist support for our students, high-quality postgraduate facilities and a wide range of study and research opportunities enriched by our external links with Research Councils and other organisations both nationally and internationally. 
 
On behalf of the Graduate and Researcher College team, I look forward to welcoming you to Kent.
 
Best wishes   
                                 

 

Professor Paul Allain
Dean of the Graduate and Researcher College