Monthly Archives: October 2014

David Hornsby on BBC Radio Scotland

Dr David Hornsby from the Department of English Language & Linguistics was interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland on 20 October.

He was speaking in response to the British Council’s recommendation that the most advantageous languages to learn for the future include Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Turkish. David Hornsby argues that these are languages that will become more economically and politically influential in the future.

The programme can be heard on the BBC’s iPlayer. David Hornsby’s interview occurs 58 minutes into the programme; the full programme lasts approximately 90 minutes.

Host an international student this Christmas

Christmas can be a lonely time for those far from home. Our international students have the chance to apply to HOST for a visit to a real home, where they can have a relaxing break and learn about the way of life here while making friends and sharing their own culture.

HOST urgently needs to hear from anyone who could help by offering a day visit or very short stay during the vacation, or over Christmas itself. A little help with expenses is offered if required, but the true reward is in the interest for all the family, and the appreciation of the guests.

Visit www.hostuk.org for more information. Please offer HOST an invitation if you can!

Would you like the opportunity to improve your mental health?

WorkGuru is an organisation that runs a web-based learning programme that has been designed to help people develop resilience, manage stress and work more effectively.

The Occupational Health Department has liaised with WorkGuru to be able to offer University staff the opportunity to take part in a pilot of the programme.

This means that the participants will be able to access the programme without cost if they commit to the six weeks that the pilot runs. The pilot will be open to 30 individuals and spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

For more information on what the WorkGuru programme is and about the pilot visit the Staff Wellbeing webpages.

Contact: email p.armstrong@kent.ac.uk

Would a short European visit help you in your job?

Erasmus Staff Training offers a great opportunity to spend from two days to a week elsewhere in Europe, either at one of our partner universities or within another organisation.

If you are interested, why not come to our lunchtime information session on Friday 7 November 12.30-14.00 to find out more and hear from Kent staff who have participated in the past.

Lunch will be provided and places are limited so please register by emailing Emma Marku by 31 October.

The week can be spent in a number of ways:

job shadowing someone in a similar role
attending one of our partner universities’ ‘International Weeks’
attending a conference or a training course (conference/course fees are not covered by the Erasmus scheme but your dept/Staff Development may be able to contribute).

Colleagues who have participated in the past report many benefits including:

learning and sharing new ideas
developing new skills
being inspired by new colleagues and different outlooks
discovering best practices to bring back to the UK
establishing a network of new international contacts and generally having an enjoyable experience abroad!

There will be a separate event held at Medway. Details to follow.

New Colyer-Fergusson ensemble-in-residence

The Music Department is excited to announce the launch of its new ensemble-in-residence, CantiaQuorum.

Formed from a wealth of top-flight professional players based around the region, the ensemble’s residency begins with a lunchtime concert on Wednesday 5 November, as a curtain-raiser to its first formal evening concert on Friday 14 November.

The lunchtime concert includes music by Bach and Copland, while the evening concert the following week brings Stravinsky’s characterful ‘The Soldier’s Tale’ and Walton’s mischievous Facade.’

You can read an interview with CantiaQuorum’s trumpeter, Alex Caldon, on the music blog.

Admission to the lunchtime concert is free; join us as we welcome the new ensemble to Colyer-Fergusson for what promises to be an inspirational residency!

Journalism research seminar on 29 Oct

Come along to the ‘Citizen journalist or citizen agitator?’ research seminar presentation by Rob Bailey from the Centre for Journalism on Wednesday 29 October at 13.00 in G1-04, Gillingham Building, Medway campus.

On 20 February 2014 Medway Council became the first local authority in the UK to give bloggers formal access to public meetings. It offered amateur reporters the fillip of official recognition, and set up a dress rehearsal of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 which guarantees everyone the right to report and film public proceedings. A content analysis of output from the ‘bloggers’ bench’ reveals a fresh and daring approach to local political coverage which challenges the neutral and timid tone of the established media. But it also raises questions about the ability of citizen journalists to provide coverage that is thorough and consistent enough to fulfil a fourth estate role that has been thrust upon them.

Take the £10 Challenge

The £10 Challenge is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your practical application of entrepreneurial skills to future employers.

We give you a £10 investment and you try and turn that £10 into a profit. It’s that simple.

How can I get involved?

Come along to the competition launch during Employability Week on Friday 7 November at 1pm in the Marquee.

What’s in it for me?

First prize is a £100 Amazon voucher

(Second prize is a £50 Amazon Voucher and third prize is a £20 Amazon voucher)

Every entrant gets 15 Employability Points

To find out more visit our webpages or email studententerprise@kent.ac.uk

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

University Challenge trials

This year, the University of Kent is entering a team to compete in University Challenge, a competition for teams of university students broadcasted on the BBC, and we are looking for students who would be interested in taking part.

Drop in trials will take place on the Wednesday 29 October, 12.00 – 16.00 in Keynes Lecture Theatre 3, where you will be given a set of questions and 20 minutes to complete them.

If you are interested in taking part, or if you have any questions, please email Dean on sh708@kent.ac.uk or check out the Facebook event and click attend, so that we can get an idea of people wishing to attend.

For more information about University Challenge, or to see some questions from a previous show, to get a feel for those that will be asked at the trials, check out the BBC website.

Vice-Chancellor’s Cup finals 2014

This year’s VC Cup featured activities from welly-tossing to dodgeball and even a pub quiz.

A big congratulations goes to Uniquely Essentials for retaining their title in 2014 in what turned out to be a tense and suspenseful finish. After carefully analysis, if Essentials had scored one point less in the quiz, the VC’s Cup trophy would have been in the hands of Kent ‘B’ Serious, the Kent Business School.

Kent Sport is looking forward to seeing everyone again for the 2015 competition starting in February – a few new teams have already confirmed their intention to take part. If you’re interested in signing up, look out for information prior to the Christmas vacation.

For further details on how the teams got along, visit the VC Cup webpage.

If you just can’t wait till then, check out Kent Sport’s 50:50 programme which includes a number of activities for staff.

Kent Enterprise Hub

The Kent Enterprise Hub is part of Kent Innovation & Enterprise, the University’s dedicated business support department fitting within its comprehensive Make Your Mark programme.

The Hub is a dedicated start-up facility for students, graduates and staff. Recent research finds that the number of start-ups launched by graduate students of English universities has soared by more than a quarter in the past three years. Through your discussions with students or graduates we would urge you to introduce the activity of our Hub.

We support innovative businesses from start-up and development to high growth. It is our mission to provide support and encouragement to every entrepreneur to ensure they have the best possible start in their business venture.

The incubator unit is for innovative start-up ventures, and offers a competitive all-inclusive rent. The package includes a central reception and communal office equipment, 24-hour access, security and parking.

In addition to our first-class facilities, we can direct you to relevant organisations, opportunities and mentors, including:

Business support services
An experienced mentor to provide advice and support
Funding opportunities and grants from external organisations
Training courses and networking events

For more information about The Kent Enterprise Hub facilities and support services, please email thehub@kent.ac.uk or telephone 01227 824641.