Monthly Archives: January 2015

LibrarySearch

LibrarySearch, the University of Kent’s new resource discovery tool is now available. Find books and e-books, journals, articles, DVDs and other multimedia resources, theses, and many thousands of full-text e-resources and references.

We have worked hard to create a Medway-specific version of LibrarySearch that works alongside the service for Canterbury and Tonbridge students.

Choose Kent LibrarySearch from the Drill Hall Library homepage or go direct to librarysearchmedway.kent.ac.uk.

With LibrarySearch you can:

  • search the University’s print and digital collections and much more in a single search
  • see what’s available at each campus
  • go straight to digital full text content where available
  • ­­access your library account to manage your loans

Your Academic Support Librarian will be arranging further briefings and training. There will be KeyPoint sessions from Tuesday through to Friday.

Contact us

University Teaching Prizes

Each year, the University awards a number of prizes to individual staff or groups/teams for outstanding work in teaching and/or learning support.

The call for applications for the 2015 prizes is now open. Applications must be submitted by Friday 15 May 2015.

Faculty Teaching Prizes

Each Faculty awards an annual teaching prize of £5,000. The only criterion for the Faculty Teaching Prizes is evidence of outstanding achievement in relation to teaching (which can include any aspect of the teaching role, and may be for individual or team work).

Barbara Morris Prize for Learning Support

The £5,000 Barbara Morris Prize is awarded for outstanding individual or team achievement in supporting learning, and is open to all staff.

The 2015 University Teaching Prizes will be awarded by the Vice-Chancellor at a lunchtime ceremony in the autumn term 2015, date tbc.

Details of the application process and relevant documents can be found at http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/reward/index.html.

 

Nominate an inspirational academic

BritWeek is a celebration of creativity and innovation between Europe and the US. This year, for the first time, it will recognise an inspirational academic.

The BritWeek and University of Kent award for Innovation in Academia will honour an individual whose professional accomplishments have made a significant and lasting impact on the field of higher education.

The award will be given to someone who is from or who has studied in Europe, and is currently working in American Higher Education.

The award recognizes the following contributions from an individual:

  • Innovation
  • Leadership in the profession
  • Best practice in the profession
  • Contribution to the profession

Complete this form to nominate someone for the award.

The deadline for nominations is 27 February 2015.

Kent will be the first UK university to host an award at this year’s Brit Week in LA. The event will coincide with the University’s alumni celebrations in LA on 1-3 May 2015.

For more information email t.c.farrow@kent.ac.uk.

Enhancing students’ writing

New Royal Literary Fund (RLF) Writing Fellows for Kent students at Canterbury and Medway.

The Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) in UELT is very pleased to announce the arrival of two Royal Literary Fellows: Tim Walker and Roopa Farooki at both the Canterbury and Medway campuses.

Both Royal Literary Fellows bring a diverse background in writing to their work supporting and developing students’ academic writing at university.

Insights gained through narrative, travel writing, children’s literature and journalism are applied to some of the underlying issues of academic writing such as getting started on a text, clarity, structure and developing a distinctive ‘voice’.

Allia Wilson, Manager of the Student Learning Advisory Service, commented that the provision of two RLF Writing Fellows at Kent was ‘a unique opportunity for students at both Canterbury and Medway to benefit from the rich and dynamic experience of professional writers. Both Tim and Roopa have a wealth of expertise, and a passionate commitment to promoting good writing, that will really help our students’.

You can read more about Tim Walker and Roopa Farooki on the SLAS webpages.

Tim Walker will be based in the Student Learning Advisory Service in UELT, Canterbury where he will be happy to see students on a one to one basis to help them with their academic writing.

Canterbury contact details
Email: learning@kent.ac.uk
Phone: 01227 824016

Roopa Farooki will be based in the Drill Hall Library where she will be happy to see students on a one to one basis to help them with their academic writing.

Medway contact details
Email: learningmedway@kent.ac.uk
Phone: 01634 888884

For those of you wishing to learn more about the Royal Literary Fund, please visit the Royal Literary Fund website.

You may be interested to read more about other SLAS’ new initiatives for enhancing students’ writing at Kent by visiting VALUE Grad.

Music to your ears: new music events diary now online

The new brochure for the Music department is now online, a veritable cornucopia of events o’erflowing with choral, orchestral and instrumental music ranging from the splendour of Verdi’s ‘Requiem’ in Canterbury Cathedral to Blue Note-era jazz with the Geoff Mason Quintet.

Events include this term’s Lunchtime Concert series; various concerts celebrating the University’s 50th anniversary including a recital from world-renowned pianist and Honorary Graduate, Freddy Kempf; the launch of the newly-formed Alumni Chamber Choir; the second concert from our professional ensemble-in-residence, CantiaQuorum; as well as concerts from the University Concert and Big Bands, Chamber and Cecilian Choirs, and a host of visiting ensembles – the new brochure represents a cultural feast for the senses.

Full details online here, from whence you can also download the new brochure, or pick up a copy from Colyer-Fergusson or the Gulbenkian.

Student Cycle Hire

CyclingAge will be on campus, outside the Gulbenkian, Wednesday 21 January to hire out bikes.

These are available to hire for either a term or the rest of the academic year.

£50.00 deposit and £25.00 per term to hire.

All the bikes are serviced and ready to ride, complete with lights, lock and bell. The bike will also have a security tag which is recorded to the University of Kent.

Bribery Act 2010

The Bribery Act 2010 applies to all Higher Education institutions including the University of Kent. I am required to remind you of the main requirements of the Act, the University’s Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy and other related policies.

The Act makes it a criminal offence

  • to give, promise or offer a bribe
  • to request, agree to receive or accept a bribe
  • to bribe a foreign public official

whether in the UK or overseas.

The University will be committing a corporate offence if it fails to prevent bribery by its staff or other persons working on its behalf.  Penalties for offences include imprisonment of up to 10 years and/or fines for individuals and, for a corporate offence, a fine and the possibility of prosecution or civil recovery action against the individuals concerned. The statement which follows sets out the University’s position.

The University of Kent is committed to conducting its business fairly, honestly and openly, to the highest standards of  integrity and in accordance with all relevant legal requirements.  All members of staff and any other persons working on the University’s behalf (whether paid or not) are asked to consider whether any payment made by them might appear to be a bribe and to note that under no circumstances should they

  • give, promise or offer a bribe
  • request, agree to receive or accept a bribe
  • bribe a foreign public official

in the UK or overseas.

Similarly, under no circumstances should any staff member or other person working on the University’s behalf ask other(s) to act on his/her behalf in this way.

The University’s Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy is available at:

http://www.kent.ac.uk/governance/policies-and-procedures/index.html

Other current relevant University documents include the following:

Fraud Prevention and Whistleblowing:

http://www.kent.ac.uk/governance/policies-and-procedures/whistleblowing.html

Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech:

http://www.kent.ac.uk/governance/policies-andprocedures/documents/Freedom_of_speech.pdf

Confidentiality, disclosure of interest and personal benefit:

http://www.kent.ac.uk/governance/register-of-interests/index.html

Transparency International UK has published guidance on Anti-Bribery Principles for not-for-profit organisations. The guidance is available on the web at:

http://issuu.com/transparencyuk/docs/ti-uk_nfp_guidance

If you are at all uncertain as to whether any action would constitute bribery you should consult your line manager or, in the case of students, your school administration manager. Any general queries about the above should be directed to Dr Keith Lampard, Secretary to the Council.

Dr Keith Lampard, Secretary to the Council and the Court

Tel: 01227 827892/email: K.J.Lampard@kent.ac.uk

Professor Michelle Garrett presents cancer lecture

Kent Cancer Trust has invited Professor Michelle Garrett from the School of Biosciences, to give a public lecture on cancer research.

The lecture titled ‘Cancer research and treatment; past, present and future’ will take place on Wednesday 21 January at 19.00 in the Michael Berry Lecture Theatre (og46), Old Sessions House, Canterbury Christ Church University.

The lecture is open to all.

For more information email M.D.Garrett@kent.ac.uk.

 

Printing is different in the Library

How the new printing system works:

When printing from a Templeman Library student PC, your work will go into an A4 print ‘queue’ rather than to an individual printer.

You then go to any of the nine new printers to ‘release’ your printing (scan your KentOne card or log in).

Where are the printers?

  • There are two in the Social Learning Zone near the café
  • There are two in each Library PC room
  • If one looks busy, you can just go to another. You have up to 24 hours before your print job will time-out (you’re not charged if you decide not to release it)

More about PrintPlus – including how to enter our competition to win a bike!