| Post title: | Student Experience Assistant – Canterbury |
| Reference Number: | KBS-C-01 (Canterbury Based) |
| Salary Scale: |
Grade 1: £13,486 – £14,202 per annum, pro rata |
| Department: | Kent Business School |
| Contract: | For a fixed term of 44 weeks and Full-time |
| Location: | University of Kent, Canterbury Campus |
| Responsible to: | The School Business and Administration Manager or their nominee |
University of Kent
The University of Kent is one of the UK’s leading academic institutions with a commitment to excellence in teaching and research that has spanned five decades.
Known as the UK’s European university, it was granted its Royal Charter in 1965 and now has over 19,000 undergraduate students studying at its campuses in Canterbury and Medway. The University has a thriving postgraduate community with approximately 3,000 students registered on taught and research programmes at Canterbury and Medway, as well as our specialist European centres in Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome.
With almost 3,000 members of staff, the University is a major employer. In addition, it is a significant economic, cultural and social force in south east England, and contributes £0.6 billion to the region’s economy.
Our international impact is reinforced by well-established networks and collaborations with prestigious universities in Europe and around the world including the USA, Malaysia, China, Russia, Hong Kong and Japan. The University actively participates in the Erasmus programme, exchanging 400 students per year with over 100 European partner institutions. Our global partnerships offer many opportunities for our students including exchanges, study visits and work placements as well as the possibility of earning a dual degree from Kent and a partner university.
Kent’s excellent performance in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) confirmed our position as one of the UK’s leading universities. All of our academic schools and centres were found to be engaged in research of international and world-class standing. Following the strong RAE performance our ranking among the research-intensive universities rose substantially, and research funding to the University increased by 46%. Over the last 12-18 months the University has invested £4.4m to support new academic appointments.
The University is consistently rated by its own students as one of the best universities in the UK for the quality of its teaching, academic provision and student experience. In the 2012 National Student Survey, Kent placed third in the UK for overall student satisfaction (of all publically-funded multi-faculty universities) and ranked 22nd in the 2013 Guardian University Guide.
The University has significantly invested in its academic and leisure facilities, demonstrating our continued commitment to provide a first-class student experience. We have built new student residences at both Canterbury and Medway and have a rolling programme of refurbishment across our existing accommodation. We can now offer almost 6,000 bedrooms across both campuses, and there are additional developments planned for 2013 and beyond.
Other major building projects include new and refurbished laboratories for the School of Physical Sciences, a new £1m ‘Crit’ space for Architecture students, a redeveloped sports centre and a new music performance building on the Canterbury campus. The University has also undertaken a significant programme of refurbishment of key academic facilities which include a 4000m² extension to the Templeman Library and a multimillion-pound refurbishment at Chatham Historic Dockyard in Medway for the School of Arts.
Website: www.kent.ac.uk
Kent Business School
Kent Business School which is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences was established in 1989, building on two decades of postgraduate management education and research at the University. Our MBA programme was established in 1991 and, in September 1992, we moved to new, purpose-built premises. In 1995 the University’s programmes and staff in Accounting & Finance and in Industrial Relations & Human Resource Management were transferred to the School, followed in 1997 by programmes and staff in Management Science. The School has 1676 students on two campuses, 293 postgraduates (including 56 research students) and 1383 undergraduates, distributed across all our programmes.
A strategic decision to invest in it has seen the Business School grow in size and calibre since 2003. The appointment of new and highly motivated staff has transformed the research culture within the School, attracting interest nationally and internationally. Through the dedication and commitment of all our staff, we are steadily building on the successes of our foundational years to create a forward–looking Business School with global reach, creating stimulating research and learning environments. This continued success is being further supported by the University investing in a new state of the art facility for the Business School, due to be completed in 2016.
Research
Our strategic priority is to continue to develop the School’s research activity both by maintaining the appointment of new, especially senior, staff and through developing the research potential of our current staff.
The School’s research portfolio is focussed around five research areas:
- Management Science (including OR and Systems)
- Strategy and International Business
- Accounting and Finance
- People, Management and Organisation
- Marketing
In addition, there are six applied research centres:
- Centre for Employment, Competitiveness and Growth
- Centre for Tourism in Island and Coastal Areas
- Centre for Quantitative Finance
- Centre for Logistics and Heuristic Optimisation
- Centre for Value Chain Research
- Anglo-Chinese Business and Management Centre
Kent Business School is underpinned by high-quality international research and we pride ourselves on our growing research capabilities within the School. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) results demonstrate the School’s research excellence. Kent Business School moved up from 52nd place in 2001 to 29th place, with more than half of the School’s research activity (55%) being classified as ‘world leading/international excellent research’ (3* and 4*). Overall, the Business School is positioned in the top third of the 90 UK Business and Management Schools included in the RAE.
Learning and Teaching
The School offers undergraduate programmes in the following subjects:
- Accounting & Finance
- Accounting & Management
- Business Administration
- Business Administration (Marketing)
- International Business
- Business & Management
At the postgraduate level the School offers:
- An MBA programme, in full-time and executive modes
- A Masters in Management programme (General Management, International Business and Marketing)
- Specialist MSc programmes in Value Chain Management, International Accounting and Finance, Management Science, Business Analytics, Logistics, Financial Markets, Financial Banking and HRM
- A Dual Award in Operational Research and Business Statistics with Hong Kong Baptist University
- A research programme offering full-time degrees of one, two and three years’ duration and part-time equivalents
The University and the Kent Business School has repeatedly demonstrated its excellence in learning and teaching. For example:
- In the 2012 National Student Satisfaction Survey, the University was ranked 2nd in London and South East of England and 3rd in the UK for overall student satisfaction, 5th for Finance (2011) and 7th for Management Studies (2011).
- In the 2012 Guardian University Guide, the School was ranked 5th in the UK for Business & Management graduating students’ employment prospects.
- In the 2011 Sunday Times University Rankings, the School was ranked 1st in the South East of England for Management Studies, 3rd in UK for Student Satisfaction for Business Studies and 5th for Management Studies.
Kent Business School at Medway
At Medway, Kent Business School offers undergraduate programmes in Business and Management and Accounting and Management. In September 2013 the MSc in Value Chain Management is being delivered at the Medway campus, along with a new PG certificate in Value Chain Management (subject to approval), incorporating a certified lean green belt module, delivered in partnership with Leading Edge.
Student numbers at the Medway site have grown steadily to 350 in 2011 with further expansion due from 2012 onwards as we collaborate with other Medway-based academic Schools within the University of Kent to offer a diverse and creative portfolio of programmes.
Two of the Business School’s research centres (Centre for Value Chain Research, Centre for Tourism in Island and Coastal Areas) are represented at the Medway campus, and there are significant opportunities for collaborative research both with colleagues based at Medway and within the wider University.
Further information on the School’s teaching and research and the distinct features of the Medway campus may be found on the School’s website: www.kent.ac.uk/kbs
Administration
All staff contributes to the administration of the School and several key managerial responsibilities are delegated to other colleagues. All academic staff are defined as “research active” or “teaching only” and it is the School’s policy to maximise time available for high quality research and teaching. The administration of the School’s teaching and research activities is supported by 35 full time or part time administrative staff at the Canterbury and Medway campuses.
The Role
The Student Experience Assistant is an excellent opportunity for a Kent student to gain experience of working within a higher education environment. You will gain first-hand experience in administrative management at Kent Business School in Canterbury through student engagement, project management, marketing, the use of social media and the opportunity to act as a front line ambassador for the Kent Business School.
The role will allow you to develop critical transferable skills to include: Communication (oral and written); Report Writing; Team working; Planning and Organisation; Project Management; Leadership; Enterprise; Problem Solving and Reflection (see below). You will acquire the skills to converse with a wide range of audiences and will develop excellent presentation skills as well as develop your administrative and IT skills working in a busy office environment.
Job Purpose
To support the continuing development of the student experience at Kent Business School Canterbury including administration of the Canterbury Business Society. The role is crucial to promoting a positive student experience amongst our students and the development of greater student engagement to ensure we meet our NSS, recruitment and alumni targets. To further develop student communication in an efficient and creative way, including social media, to ensure they feel supported in their academic and placement experience with KBS. To support the Director of Student Experience or their nominee in managing events and continuing professional development activities as well as supporting the Placements Coordinator in operational management of student placement visits.
Key Accountabilities / Primary Responsibilities
Under the direction of the School Business and Administration Manager to engage with the KBS student community to improve student engagement and promote a positive student experience at KBS Canterbury.
Key Duties
Student Experience
- To engage fully with our students at a UG and PG level to ensure we as a School are meeting student expectations. This will involve
- Regularly meetings with Student Representatives to support the constructive sharing of information, and immediately feedback any issues to the Line Manager
- To attend KBS staff team meetings and act as student liaison
- Provide a student perspective on existing and new student initiatives in relation to the Canterbury Business Society, recruitment and campus wide student activities at Canterbury
- Help make full use of student events by taking photographs and gathering testimonials to promote a positive student experience at KBS Canterbury
- Help identify areas of student concern, particularly with regard to raising the NSS profile
- To be an active member of the Board of Studies and Staff Student Consultative Committee and follow through with any appropriate actions
- Liaise with the Canterbury Careers department for destination surveys
- To help organise student experience, placement workshops/events and be actively involved in the organisation and delivery of the School Employability week.
- Work with the Medway Student Experience Assistant to ensure that coordinated communications and initiatives are achieved across campuses.
- Act as the key student contact during UCAS days at the Canterbury campus and assist in engaging other students to be involved.
- Be an active member of the KBS Employability and Student Experience working group.
- Act as the School point of contact for the KBS Canterbury Student Editorial Board.
- Present an end of term report to the KBS Operational Management Group on the Student Experience role and future opportunities for such a role.
Student Communication
- To support, develop and manage a student focused communication system i.e. Facebook/Twitter/Moodle. Any developments in this area should be in line with KBS and University policy and working with the KBS marketing team.
- Assist in communicating with students undertaking their Year in Industry and improving student experience on the Canterbury campus.
- Actively promote the School’s Employability week to all KBS students on the Canterbury campus.
Kent Enterprise Network and Canterbury Business Society (CBS)
- To actively promote and engage with the Kent Enterprise Network – The KBS entrepreneurship society.
- Evaluate whether the Kent Enterprise Network fulfils the needs of students in KBS and to potentially look to reenergise the CBS alongside this offer.
- As part of this evaluation, the post holder would be required to make recommendations regarding maintaining both societies or merging into one.
- Dependant of the above outcome the post holder would be required to;
- To act as Secretary to the societies throughout the term of contract
- To recruit new members to the societies and renew any existing memberships. This may involve, in liaison and agreement with the College Master on policy\procedural considerations.
- The successful candidate will need to collect subscriptions and ensuring they are safely deposited through Kent Union.
- Co-ordinate the committee re-elections in October 2013.
- Ensure the societies have a full and varied programme of events throughout 2013/2014 and re promoted accordingly.
Flexibility will be key for this role and other duties commensurate with the grading of the post may be assigned.
Internal & External Relationships
Internal: The post holder would work with administrators and clerical staff across the Business School as well as academics, Directors of studies and Directors of Research Centres. They would also be required to liaise with members of student support staff across the Canterbury and Medway campus
External: The post holder will be required to work with other members of staff to support campus Open Days and UCAS days.
Person Specification
- Qualifications / Training
|
Essential |
Desirable |
|
| Successful completion of a KBS Canterbury Stage 2 programme of study |
X |
|
| You must be eligible to take an industrial placement year |
X |
- Experience / Knowledge
|
Essential |
Desirable |
|
| Experience of Social Networking |
X |
|
| Experience of developing a business plan |
|
X |
| Experience of Project Management |
|
X |
- Skills / Abilities
|
Essential |
Desirable |
|
| Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written |
X |
|
| Accuracy and attention to detail |
X |
|
| Good IT skills, especially with Microsoft Office packages |
|
X |
| Ability to prioritise workload, work in a team but also to work on own initiative |
X |
|
| Be able to demonstrate a well-organised and flexible approach to work and to coping with changing priorities |
X |
|
| Good level of numeracy and literacy |
X |
|
- Additional Attributes
|
Essential |
Desirable |
|
| Willing work flexibly on occasion |
X |
|
| You must be eligible to work in the UK |
X |
Application Process
To apply you will be required to send CV and a two page (maximum) application letter which should detail your experience and other information in support of your application with direct reference to the advertisement and further particulars and why you wish to be considered for this role.
Your application should provide clear evidence and examples demonstrating where you meet the criteria of the post.
Please note applications must be made sent via email to the following address. Please use the subject ‘KBS-C-01 (Canterbury Based)’ in the title of your email and send to;
Maria Sheppard – M.A.Sheppard@kent.ac.uk
If you require further information regarding the post or application process please contact:
Paul Verrion at P.M.J.Verrion@kent.ac.uk
Copies of certificates for qualifications you have stated you have achieved in your application will be requested at offer stage; in particular, those that were deemed as essential for the post.
Applications must be received by the closing date and unfortunately late applications cannot be accepted.
If you are invited to attend an interview we will contact you by email confirming the arrangements. If you are not successful at the shortlist stage, we will also contact you by email to let you know.
| Closing date: | 14 June 2013 |
| Interviews are expected to be held on: | 27 June 2013 |
Redeployment Policy: Please note that applicants currently on the University of Kent redeployment register will be considered for this post prior to other applicants. For further information on our redeployment policy please visit http://www.kent.ac.uk/hr-staffinformation/policies/redundancy-redeployment.html
Two Tick Symbol: The University of Kent is proud to operate within the ‘Positive about Disability’ Employment Pledge (Two Tick Symbol) and guarantee an interview to candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification.
If you have a disability and require information regarding accessibility of our campus facilities please visit http://www.disabledgo.com/en/org/university-of-kent
Job Share: Applications to job-share this post are welcomed. If you wish to apply on a job-share basis indicate this on your application and include:
- If you are applying as part of a job-share team (please give name of sharer) or as an individual.
- The proportion of the job you would wish to work, expressed as a percentage.
- Whether you would be interested in the job on a full-time basis if a suitable sharer does not come forward.
UK Border Agency Immigration regulations: The University of Kent is unable, under current immigration law, to employ candidates who are not eligible to live and work in the UK.
For academic and research vacancies, or posts that require very specialist skills we can apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship (although there is no guarantee that this will be granted). This is on the basis that the criteria for such applications have been met.
Please refer to the Home Office website if you require further information on their Certificate of Sponsorship procedure/requirements at http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/
Equality and Diversity
The University of Kent is committed to the provision and support of an inclusive and balanced environment that respects and celebrates diversity. The University has comprehensive Equality and Diversity policy that states our commitments to the various equality strands. Furthermore, we have Single Equality Scheme that outlines our intentions and actions with regards to the race, gender and disability equality duties. Both of these documents alongside other useful guidance can be found on www.kent.ac.uk/equalityanddiversity
Mediation Service: the University of Kent Mediation Service provides an Alternative Dispute Resolution Service to all employees. It is completely free and confidential and offers you a positive, collaborative approach to resolving work-place conflict should it arise; supporting the University’s collective interest in encouraging two-way dialogue and discussions, where people are able to jointly find solutions to differences.
2012 winner, Best Newcomer to Mediation – National Mediation Awards.
Benefits and Terms and Conditions
|
|
Salary: Grade 1: £13,486 – £13,839 – £14,202 per annum, pro rata if applicable according to experience and qualifications.
Employees normally receive an increment annually until the top of the scale is reached. In addition there is normally a nationally agreed annual cost of living salary increase.
Annual Leave: The annual leave entitlement is 25 days, plus 8 public holidays and 5 additional days for full-time staff, 5 of the additional days are taken between Christmas and New Year when the University closes. Part-time receive a pro-rata entitlement.
Pension: You will be automatically enrolled to become a member of SAUL (Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London) – a defined benefit pension scheme.
SAUL has two sections – Final Salary and Career Averaged Related Earnings (CARE). Final Salary benefits are based upon the salary and service at or near the time a member retires. CARE benefits are based upon salary earned each year increased to retirement.
Staff will join the SAUL Final Salary Section if:
- They are already contributing to SAUL (in employment elsewhere or at the University of Kent); or
- Have deferred benefits in the Scheme from a previous period of membership and rejoin within 30 months of the date they left (or 31 December 2014 if later).
Members of the SAUL Final Salary Section pay 6% of basic salary. The University contributes a sum equal to 13% of salary.
Staff will join the SAUL CARE Section if:
- This is the first time they have joined; or
- If they have previously been a member and do not have deferred benefits in the Scheme.
Members of the SAUL CARE Section pay 6% of all salary including basic pay and any overtime. The University contributes a sum equal to 13% of salary.
Flexible Working: The University is willing to consider changes in hours (either short or long term) for all groups of staff, when these are consistent with operational needs.
Location: The primary location is at the University’s Canterbury Campus, although the post-holder may be required to work from time to time at other campuses and centres.
Childcare: There is an independent nursery on campus. There is usually a waiting list and to inquire about vacancies please contact the manager (telephone 01227 827676).
Probation: This post has a 3 month probation period.
For full Terms and Conditions please see:
http://www.kent.ac.uk/hr-staffinformation/conditions-of-service/