Monthly Archives: September 2015

KentOne Card

The KentOne card is your University ID and all students will have received their card at the Sports Centre on arrivals weekend.

Your KentOne card is a quick, easy and safe way to buy food and drink from our award winning catering outlets on both the Canterbury and Medway campuses.

Every time you use it, we give you a 5% discount at the till.

For a list of places you can use your KentOne card, where you will receive your 5% discount, to top up online and frequently asked questions, visit: www.kent.ac.uk/kentonecard

Why use your KentOne card:

  • Saves you money – every time you use it, we give you a 5% discount. This is an exclusive offer to KentOne card users.
  • Safe and secure – instead of carrying round cash, you can top up your card online and if you lose it, the balance will be transferred over to a replacement card.
  • Saves you time – get through the tills more quickly by using your KentOne Card instead of cash, debit or credit card.

How to use your KentOne card 

  • First, visitkent.ac.uk/kentonecard to login to your account, using your Kent email address and set up a password.
  • You can top up your card as well as review your purchases and check the balance – all on this one secure site.
  • Parents / guardians can also have a separate login to top up your card online.
  • You can also top up your card at any College Receptions.
  • Check your balance by asking at the till in a University catering outlet.
  • Paying for items is quick and easy, just hand it over at the till. 

Where to use your KentOne card 

You can claim your 5% discount at 12 different University catering outlets across the Canterbury and Medway campuses.

As well as buying food and drink, your KentOne card, also provides services such as:

  • accessing specific areas of the university;
  • borrowing books from the Templeman library (Canterbury Campus);
  • becoming a member of Kent Sport;
  • gaining entry to the exam halls;
  • participating in student elections;
  • you can use it at Blackwell’s bookshop on the Canterbury Campus to purchase books and stationery items;
  • and if you have catering package, this will be added to your KentOne Card.

Welcome Week at Medway

Once you have registered make sure you get involved in all that Welcome Week (or as some people call it, ‘week 0’) has to offer.

This week is a helpful introduction to the University and its’ services, including the Library and your students’ union, getting you ready for when teaching starts.

Even if you’re not living in University accommodation you still need to attend Welcome Week.

Get the most from Welcome Week and make sure you…

  • Go to the Welcome talk and lunch on Monday 21 September.
  • Go to the Welcome Fair on Wednesday 23 September, 11.00-15.00, in Pilkington and Coopers. This is your opportunity to find out more about all the societies and sports teams you can join. You can also pick up a few freebies from local businesses.Attend your school’s induction events. School induction events are a great opportunity to meet fellow students studying similar courses to you, while discovering the wide range of support services provided by your school. Contact your school for more information.
  • Take the Library tour. When studying at university the library will be a key resource, so it’s important you know how to use all the services and where to go for help.

International student?

As well as all the Welcome Week activities, there’s a special welcome programme for international students. Including the International Students’ Welcome Event on Friday 25 September.

Postgraduate student?

If you’re a postgraduate student there is a range of induction events designed specifically for you, as well as the general Welcome Week events everyone can attend.

Important changes to Stagecoach fares and services

Stagecoach have improved their discounts for University of Kent staff and students by discounting their Canterbury Megarider tickets on production of your KentOne card or Kent Union staff ID card on each journey.

From 20 September you will no longer be able to purchase a uniday or uniweek  ticket, it is recommended you purchase the Canterbury Megarider discounted tickets which give you unlimited travel not just to and from Canterbury but within the Canterbury megarider zone [4]  Alternatively, don’t forget staff can purchase 13, 36 and 52 week tickets and students can purchase academic year and termly tickets at greatly reduced prices

Ticket Type Details Discounted Price* Public Price**
Canterbury dayrider Valid for 1 day

 

£2.90 £3.70
NEW TICKET Canterbury dayrider 5 Each individual dayrider can be used on any day within a year of date of purchase.

 

£13.05 £16.20
Canterbury Megarider week Megarider is valid for 7 consecutive days from the date of purchase. £10 £12.50

*All prices are correct as of 20 September 2015

Please refer to website for further information

Changes to the bus routes

  • UNI2 – new route replaces the 26 bus service.

Operates from Hales Place, to all stops at the Campus, Canterbury West station, Sainsbury’s, the bus station.  From the bus station it uses the same route as the Unibus service

  • Number 36 – new bus service

Operates from Whitstable, Keynes bus stop, Sainsburys, the bus station. From the bus station using the same route as Unibus service to Keynes bus stop and then onto Whitstable

  • Triangle Service – change to timetable

Not all Triangle Services will operate into Keynes bus stop – please ensure check the timetable.  The triangle service can be identified by the red triangle.

Please refer to the website or route map for further details.

 

Kent Union raise over £166,000 for charity

From trekking the Great Wall of China to jumping out of a plane at 15,000 feet, Kent Union has raised a whopping £166,562.10 for charity over the past year.

The official fundraising body of Kent Union, Raise and Give (RaG), sees students and members fundraise and support charities locally, nationally and internationally throughout the academic year.

Chris Mattinson, Volunteering Team Leader at Kent Union, said: “We are all extremely proud of everybody connected to RaG as this year’s amount has beaten last year’s total by £47,214.10.

“A lot of hard work has gone into arranging and completing the different challenges but it’s completely worthwhile when you realise the difference the money will make.”

‘Help the Homeless Week’ was one event which saw Kent Union’s RaG raise money and awareness for charities helping homeless people in Canterbury.

Organised by the Canterbury Homeless Outreach Society in collaboration with Porchlight, Catching Lives and Canterbury Housing Advice Centre, members took part in a number of events including an overnight sleep-out. This resulted in £2,700 being raised for the three charities.

Jane Redman, Porchlight Director of Fundraising and Communications, said: “We really appreciate all the hard work Kent Union’s RaG put in to support our work with homeless people in Canterbury and across the whole of Kent.

“Raising money and awareness allows us to continue our life-changing services which help some of the most excluded and marginalised people in society move towards a better future.”

To find out more about Kent Union’s Raise and Give, visit: kentrag.org.uk

KIE Macmillan Mini Fete and Coffee Morning

Have you been inspired by Bake Off? Are you a brilliant baker? If so, then please donate a cake or a raffle prize in support of KIE’s Macmillan Mini Fete and Coffee Morning.

As part of Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, Kent Innovation & Enterprise will be once again hosting a mini fete and coffee morning to help raise money for this very good cause.

Last year we raised over £500, so please help us raise even more this year. Cakes, sweet treats and drinks will be on sale with all proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Try your luck at the tombola and raffle too! The fete, which takes place on Friday 25 September, 11.00 to 14.30 on the Senate Lawn is a great opportunity to have fun at the Fresher’s Fayre and meet staff and students alike.

We couldn’t have raised so much money last year without kind donations from local businesses and University staff. We need your help once again to raise as much money as possible. Please help by:

  • Donating bottles (not empty, please!) for the tombola
  • Donating prizes for the raffle
  • Baking a cake and drop it off at our stall on the Senate Lawn at 10am on the day
  • Coming along and having fun.

There will be a prize for the best decorated cake so let’s see some showstoppers! For more information, please email enterprise@kent.ac.uk.

CARGO’s 1st Birthday Bash

The award-winning CARGO bar and bistro, next to Liberty Quays accommodation, is set to celebrate their 1st Birthday on Tuesday 22 September, 19.00 – 23.00.

Students, staff and the public are all welcome to help celebrate and join in with a whole host of activities, competitions and of course birthday cake! Keep up to date on all the fun on CARGO’s Facebook page.

If you can’t make the birthday party or you haven’t yet visited CARGO, then pop down to try the modern bistro menu in a nautical and industrial-style setting.  The lounge area provides soft seating with eight big TV screens to watch music and sporting events, the bar also hosts local bands throughout the year. Visit the catering website for opening times and CARGO’s menu.

Best University Workplace 2016 survey now open

What’s the best thing about working at your university? How do your colleagues and managers make you feel valued? In what areas do you need more support?

These are among the questions the THE is asking in the third annual Times Higher Education Best University Workplace survey, which is online now.

In the 2016 survey, the THE wants to find out which UK universities excel when it comes to keeping employees content – from pay levels to recognition of the extra hours staff put in. The researchers also want to know how the experience of working in a university differs according to role, discipline, level of seniority, age, gender, terms of contract and other variables.

The survey is open to all university-employed academics and administrators. You can find out more and take part here: https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/times-higher-education-best-university-workplace-survey/2005988.article

 

Kent Extra courses

Enhance your CV and improve your employability by taking a Kent Extra course in something different from your main area of study. Kent Extra courses are non-credit bearing and are free to all Kent students. There is a wide variety of courses, which allow you to explore your creative side as well as learning new skills to help you during your studies and when you graduate. If you have good attendance on a Kent Extra course, you will earn Employability Points and the course will appear on your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR).

Visit the Kent Extra website to find out about the courses on offer.

In-sessional English Skills – English language support for students

If you are studying at Kent at any level from foundation to postgraduate and English is not your first language, In-sessional English Skills (IES) is for you.

Delivered by the Centre for English and World Languages, IES modules are free of charge and take place on the Canterbury campus. If you’re based at Medway you can catch the Campus Shuttle to Canterbury.

IES can help you improve the accuracy of your English grammar and develop your listening comprehension, seminar discussion skills and writing style for academic assignments. You will also have the chance to discuss your specific language difficulties with an experienced language tutor. IES offers:

  • Support throughout the academic year
  • A ten week cycle of taught modules, delivered in the Autumn and Spring terms
  • Individual writing tutorials with staff from the Centre for English and World Languages
  • Independent study materials on Moodle
  • a chance to earn Employability Points

For more information and instructions on how to enrol, see the IES pages on the Centre for English and World Languages website: https://www.kent.ac.uk/cewl/courses/in-sessional/ie.html

Student Success Website Goes Live

The Student Success (EDI) Project is a two year action research project involving nine pilot schools, looking at students’ experiences of university and supporting their performance whilst they’re here. We want every student to reach their potential and get the best degree they can. At the University of Kent, we’re committed to making that happen.

Our brand new Student Success website provides links to activities in the pilot schools and information about the academic research. It also puts you in touch with the Project Officers across the University and tells you how to get involved.

Find us at: http://www.kent.ac.uk/studentsuccess/index.html

If you would like to know more, or wish to organize an information session for staff or students, please contact Jan Moriarty, Project Manager, at j.moriarty@kent.ac.uk