Do you have any great photos of our campuses or the local area from your walks during lockdown?
If so, we would love to share them on the University’s Instagram account – @unikentlive.
If you are happy to be featured on our Instagram account please tag us (@unikentlive) in your photos.
Alternatively, if you don’t have Instagram but would like your photos to be considered, please email communications@kent.ac.uk
The photo shown above is from Stephen Burke, Master of Eliot College.
Following last month’s update on the programme of activity required to return the University to a financially sustainable footing, work is continuing to carefully reduce costs while specifically targeting increase in income in areas that make sense.
Staff Cost Savings
Work has continued with the JSNCC on proposals to mitigate the need for redundancies in order to deliver the staff savings required this year, with a number of proposals either in effect or under consultation. This includes suggested changes to the University’s Reward Strategy, which staff are invited to give feedback on before 5 June, alongside specific proposals regarding promotions and discretionary payments for some senior staff.
Cash & Capital Approvals
A number of measures have been introduced to reduce our day-to-day costs, building on the good work already underway in a number of areas to reduce staff costs. This includes restrictions on both credit cards and travel use, work with budget holders to reduce end-of-year spend and tighter control on the use of external providers.
Business Improvement & Value for Money
Recent changes to our European strategy are now being implemented, centred around a strong hub in Brussels supported by an increased focus on partnerships with universities across Europe. Alongside this, progress has been made in a number of areas in exploring online opportunities through Future Learn as part of ways to complement on-campus teaching in the future.
Find out more on the Financial Sustainability and Improvement programme.
Four long-serving Kent Union officers will be leaving at the end of this term – and you can say goodbye to them via their e-leaving card.
Students’ Union President Sasha Langeveldt is leaving after, in her words, ‘five long but extremely fun years’. Also leaving are Omolade Adedapo, Vice-President Welfare and Community; Emily Window Vice-President Student Engagement (both after two years’ service); and Laura Carlin, Vice-President Postgraduate Experience (after one year).
Describing her Kent experience Sasha said: ‘It’s been a pleasure to work with the University in creating a better student experience for all. We are sad to leave but are grateful to have worked alongside some amazing people.’
Normally the four departing officers would be gathering goodbye messages around campus. But, because of Covid-19, they are hoping that as many University staff as possible will be able to sign their e-leaving card.
Picture shows (from left): Laura, Sasha, Omolade and Emily.
Careers and Employability are working with the NBA on a series of online workshops that cover careers in a variety of industries.
Careers and the Sports Industry – 29 May at 10:00
From advice on finding your first job, shaping your career, useful resources, tips and tricks, this online webinar will provide insight into the sports industry. The session will be led by UKC alumni, Matt Kramer and now Global Partnerships Manager at the NBA. He will be joined by his colleagues, Steve Nuss, Global Partnerships Manager and Vanja Cernivec, Senior Manager, Basketball Operations. There will be time to ask questions afterwards.
NBA – Leadership and Management – 5 June at 10:00
What is it like to work for a company that leads its field – what are the expectations? What makes an inspirational leader and what is it like to follow one? How do we lead as individuals from within a team? What is leadership in sport? How do you work with/for a manager? How do you become a good manager?
All these topics will be covered by UKC alumni, Matt Kramer, who is now Global Partnerships Manager at the NBA and his colleague Duy Nguyen, Director, Global Partnerships during an online webinar.
NBA – Working in a dynamic environment and managing change – 12 June at 10:00
What does it take to thrive in a positive and dynamic working environment? How do you take care of yourself and colleagues? How do events like Covid-19 impact the working world?
Join UKC alumni Matt Kramer, Global Partnerships Manager at the NBA and his colleague Sarah Mathers, Senior Director, Security for an online webinar with a Q&A afterwards.
Kent is committed to fostering a positive working environment where all staff and students are treated fairly, with dignity, courtesy, respect and consideration.
All of us are responsible for creating an environment that’s free from harassment and bullying. We are therefore excited to launch our new EDI Harassment website, which sets out how to report incidents of harassment, how to become a Harassment Contact, and includes an up-to-date Harassment Contact list.
If you are interested in becoming a Harassment Contact for the University, please email the Learning and Organisational Development team and we can talk through what it involves.
We are very excited to announce our first online Global Hangout! This will take place on Friday 29 May. There are a variety of sessions available and you can sign up to one or all or them. Once you have registered your attendance you will be sent joining instructions for your event.
Kent WebChat 10.00 – 11.00 UK Time – Sign up
An informal series of live online discussions via Zoom designed to help you keep in touch with other students and staff at the University. The theme for this week’s WebChat is ‘next steps’ with the Careers and Employability Service as well as other University colleagues sharing information about further study options available at Kent. You will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance or during the WebChat which the panel will answer.
Sustaining Happiness 12.30 – 13.30 UK Time – Sign up
Whether you are in a happy place now or not, or whether Covid-19 has impacted your wellbeing, this interactive session will present you with a formula to develop an insight into how you can sustain happiness in your life through meaningful activities. Includes a surprise gift of happiness at the end of the session! (This session will be delivered by Ozin, (Prof. Nitin Arora) from our partner institution, Amity University.)
In addition to registering for the event, please spend 5 minutes completing this questionnaire in advance to help you get the most out of the session.
Global Hangout Quiz 15.00-16.00 UK Time – Sign up
Test your knowledge from around the world at this fun, relaxed event which includes live music. A great opportunity to chat and meet with friends.
The next Kent Student WebChat takes place on Friday 29 May at 10:00. These chats are an informal series of live online discussions via Zoom. They are designed to help you keep in touch with other students and staff at the University.
Whether you are still on campus, now at home or overseas, you can use these sessions, alongside the contact with your school, to keep in touch with students and staff representatives at Kent.
The theme for next week’s WebChat is ‘next steps’ focussing on final year students and what the next steps may be. We will have colleagues from the Careers and Employability Service as well as colleagues sharing information about further study options available at Kent. Students will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance or during the WebChat which the panel will answer.
You can join us to ask a question or just to listen to what others are saying or asking. Any student is welcome to join any WebChat session:
Friday 29 May at 10:00 – You can sign up for the session here.
To sign up to join a WebChat, click on one or more of the links above and give us your details. We’ll then send you the Zoom link for your chosen WebChat session(s).
You can listen to the previous Webchat that took place which took place on Friday 15 May.
If you’d like a WebChat on another theme, then just let us know and we’ll set one up. Suggestions can be mailed to directorstudentservices@kent.ac.uk.
The Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic are offering free 20 minute consultations until the end of June to students. They will take place online or over the telephone with Vicky Annis, their lead physiotherapist.
Vicky has a wealth of physiotherapy experience and expertise and is keen to continue to assist and support people during these challenging times.
Many people may be tolerating issues without knowing where to turn for help and advice during this time of social distancing and isolation. The clinic wants to continue to support your freedom, ease of movement and quality of life during this pandemic.
The consultations are open to all, whether you have used the clinic previously or whether you have never experienced physiotherapy. All student or staff members from the wider community are welcome.
The sessions are offered on a first come, first served basis. To book please email: physio@kent.ac.uk.
They are asking people to show their support by donating to the NHS charities.
To find out more about Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic please visit their website www.kent.ac.uk/sports/physio.
UPDATE: Our free initial online consultations have been extended throughout June 2020!
The Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic is pleased to now offer free 20 minute online or telephone consultations with Vicky Annis, lead physiotherapist. Consultations are open to all, whether you have used the clinic previously or whether you have never experienced physiotherapy; and whether you are a student or staff member at the University of Kent or whether you are from the wider community.
The clinic, situated at the University of Kent sports centre on the Canterbury campus, remains physically closed while following government coronavirus guidance. However, Vicky has a wealth of physiotherapy experience and expertise and is keen to continue to assist and support people during these challenging times.
“I am extremely excited to offer free online physiotherapy consultations. This will enable me to keep in touch with clients and is currently the closest opportunity to fulfil what I enjoy doing the most. Whether this time is used to simply touch base, update on where you are at or ask questions, I am more than happy to help.”
She recognises that the unusual circumstances that we find ourselves enduring may for some lead to increased stress, anxiety, discomfort or pain. Many people may be tolerating issues without knowing where to turn for help and advice during this time of social distancing and isolation. The clinic wants to continue to support your freedom, ease of movement and quality of life during this pandemic. You can hear more from Vicky about this announcement in this video.
“The online physio appointments with Vicky have been so helpful and beneficial. She was able to apply her skills and knowledge about physiotherapy via a Zoom meeting during our consultation, and she provided me with a variety of exercises to work on during a two-week period after which we had a follow up appointment. Vicky is genuinely nice and caring and really helped me improve my running performance–I would not hesitate to contact her again!” Suzy Mejia-Buenano
To find out more about Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic please visit our website and to stay up to date Like us on Facebook.
Join the Music Department for a unique event on Tuesday 2 June, as we present a online Lockdown Lunchtime Concert as part of an online Summer Music Week!
From Scottish piping and Baroque woodwind to nimble electric guitar and a song from ‘The Prince of Egypt,’ we’re delighted to present a special Lockdown Lunchtime Concert!
Taking place between 13.15 – 13.40, this virtual concert will be featuring several University Music Performance Scholars and Award Holders recorded performing in isolation in their homes (and gardens!).
Click on this YouTube link and you can watch from wherever you are as we bring a selection of musical morsels for your lunchtime viewing pleasure.