Monthly Archives: September 2015

Paul March-Russell on Alphaville

Dr Paul March-Russell from the Department of Comparative Literature will be providing an introduction to a celebratory showing of Jean Luc-Goddard’s science-fiction film Alphaville (1965) at the Gulbenkian, our on-campus cinema, at 19.00 on Wednesday 23 September.

Alphaville is Godard’s stunning, disturbing combination of dystopian science fiction and film noir. Unlike Barbarella, there are no special props or futuristic sets; instead, the film was shot in real locations in Paris, the streets of the capital becoming the streets of Alphaville. Eddie Constantine and Anna Karina co-star in this glowing, downbeat milestone in Godard’s career.

The film is being shown as the final part of the Film65 series at the University of Kent, part of the University’s 50th anniversary celebrations, showcasing films from the University’s inaugural year.

Tickets costs £8.30 full price, or £5.30 for students. Further discounts are available. For more details, and how to book, please see the Gulbenkian website.

Returning to Kent?

Welcome back! If you’re returning to Kent after the summer break, here’s a helpful summary for settling back in.

  • Timetables will be on the Student Guide before term starts on 28 September. Continue to go back and check your timetable regularly for updates including other events. Read our Timetabling FAQs.

 

  • You will need to register on SDS from Tuesday 22 September so we know you’re definitely coming back.

 

  • Term starts on Monday 28 September. Welcome Week is the week before (21-25 September). View term dates.

 

  • If you’ve got a new phone, tablet or laptop, get it Kent WiFi-ready before you come back to campus by running our WiFi setup tool.

 

  • Living off campus is very different from living in University accommodation. Read our community webpages for information on bills, bins, neighbours and much more!

 

  • Construction on your new Students’ Union building is moving along nicely. The new hording design will be in place for the start of term…you can’t miss it though, it’s bright purple!Listening events throughout the first term means you will have your say on the name of the new Student Hub.View a Q&A about the Student Hub, as well as all the latest photos.

 

 

Have a great 2015-16 at Kent!

USS members and eligible members

Important information for Final Salary Section USS members regarding transfer-in and added years additional voluntary contributions (AVCs).

Following the USS Employer Consultation Process earlier this year, we are now able to pass on an update on transitional arrangements regarding final salary section AVCs and transfers-in. If you have no interest in either transfers into USS or AVCs, then the link below will not be of interest to you.

Please note that there are imminent deadlines for new final salary AVC contracts so please act now if you are considering purchasing Added Years AVCs.

There are also deadlines looming for USS final salary section members who may wish to request a transfer into USS.

Please see the link below for information regarding the transitional arrangements and key dates https://www.kent.ac.uk/finance-staff/docs/pensions/AVC%20TVin%20factsheet.pdf

Further information on scheme changes will be available shortly.

If you have any queries regarding these changes, please contact a member of the Pensions Team.

Please note: this does not affect SAUL members or eligible members.

Income Office Contact details until Monday 19 October

Should you wish to contact the Income Office staff over the next few weeks the internal line into the office is Ext 3878.

This will be in place until Monday 19 October, as we have a call centre in the Oaks Study hub taking all outside calls from today.

Further contact information-

  • Up until the end of business on Wednesday 16 September all staff will be in the Income Office, in Registry.
  • From Thursday 17 September until Sunday 20 all staff will be in the Sports Hall for student registration.
    Please note that although there will be an internal contact number while there (number unknown at present), staff are likely to be busy with students and unable to answer.
    It would be preferable to email the person you are trying to contact.
    Opening hours Friday 18, for pre sessional students ONLY, 12-4
    Saturday and Sunday opening hours, as published for Registration.
  • On Monday 21 the cashiers will be back in the Registry to take payments and their opening hours will be 10-4 Mon to Fri.
    The student account controllers will remain in the Sports hall until Friday 25 when they will move to Senate Committee Room 2 to reopen on Monday 28.
    The opening hours will be 10-4 Mon to Fri, with the exception of Friday when they close at 12 to move across to the Senate.
  • Monday 28 September until Friday 9 October – Student Account Controllers will be in Senate Committee Room 2.
    Opening hours will be 10-4 Mon-Fri with the exception of the final Friday (9/10/2015) when they will close at 12 to move back to Registry.

Normal service will be resumed, in the Registry, from Monday 12 October and all telephone lines move back to the office on Monday 19 October.

If you have any further questions, please email Janice Tuite.

Religious Studies 50th anniversary lecture and reception

The Department of Religious Studies celebrates 50 years of the study of religion at the University with a 50th Anniversary Lecture on Tuesday 8 September 2015 in the Conference Suite, Darwin College, with a drinks reception at 18.30 and the lecture at 19.30.

The lecture entitled ‘Religion and the City: A Comparative Perspective on Asia and the Rest’ will be given by Professor Peter van der Veer of the Max Planck Institute for the study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity, Gottingen, Germany and is hosted by the Humanities 50th anniversary fund, University of Kent, in conjunction with the keynote address of the British Association for the Study of Religions.

The reception will also launch the booklet From the Local to the Global: 50 Years of the Study of Religion in the Humanities at the University of Kent, 1965-2015.

Further details of the event are available at: www.kent.ac.uk/secl/events

Free golf class taster session

If you have ever wondered about trying your hand at golf but are not quite sure where to start, here’s your chance. Kent Sport is providing a free golf taster session at Boughton Golf Club on Wednesday 9 September at 17.00 until 18.30.

The Head Coach at Boughton will be leading the session on the driving range. Even if you already play golf you may want to join in for some extra advice.

Places are limited so email sportsenquiries@kent.ac.uk to book your free place on a first come first serve basis. Equipment will be provided for anyone who requires it, you will just need some comfortable clothes suitable for swinging golf clubs!

Kent Sport Gold and Silver membership now includes free Silver membership to Boughton Golf Course worth £99, so why not join in and give it a go.

To stay up to date with Kent Sport news, events and special offers, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @UniKentSports and visit the Kent Sport website.

Dockyard

Parking at the Historic Dockyard, Chatham

From October 2015, students and staff will need a University of Kent parking permit to park at the Historic Dockyard.

University staff and students are allocated a certain number of parking spaces at the Historic Dockyard which is in line with the University’s lease arrangements.

To ensure the number of Kent vehicles at the Historic Dockyard remains within this allocation, a permit system has been introduced.

These permits will be available to students via the Medway parking ballot.

For more information visit our transport webpages or email transport@kent.ac.uk.

Conference on University Purchasing (COUP)

The Conference on University Purchasing (COUP), is being hosted in Canterbury by the University from 8-10 September 2015.

COUP is held at a different institution every two years and will see almost 300 delegates attending from HEI’s across the UK and Ireland, with some from further afield.

As hosts, University staff have free access to seminars and the exhibition.

Seminars

Seminars are taking place in Keynes on 9-10 September.

The purchasing specific seminars include:

  • Understanding construction procurement;
  • Contract drafting skills;
  • Accessing and using framework agreements;
  • Public Contract regulations 2015, legal changes;
  • How to negotiate;
  • Using KPI’s to manage supplier; and
  • Estates and Construction procurement.

Some of the non-purchasing highlights include a session on ‘Making Teams Work’ presented by Tim LeLean who many of you may know, others include:

  • Positive communication skills;
  • Influencing skills; and
  • Unlocking your potential.

You can turn up for the seminars in any of the Lecture Theatres without booking, but if you are intending to go to one held in a seminar room, please contact Don Bowman as space may be limited.

Exhibition

The supplier exhibition has over 90 stands and will be held in the three main Sports Halls in the Sports Centre. The entrance will be through the glass doors on the side of the Sports Centre, facing Stacey/Enterprise Hub buildings. The exhibition and the suppliers attending will be available to Kent staff during the following times:

Wednesday 9 September 11.30-12.30 and 14.00-16.00
Thursday 10 September 09.30-11.00 and 14.00-15.00

Many of the University suppliers will be attending, including:

  • Fisher Scientific
  • Office Depot
  • RS Components
  • SLS
  • UPP
  • XMA

If you would like to know more, you can visit the website at www.coup.ac.uk or contact d.bowman@kent.ac.uk or purchasing@kent.ac.uk

Postgraduate Training

The Graduate School is committed to supporting the career skills development of all postgraduate students at the University.

The Graduate School administers the unique Global Skills Award for taught postgraduates. Postgraduate students registered on taught programmes of study are invited to apply for a place on our programme which comprises of a range of lectures on global issues and a series of skills workshops which have been specifically designed to improve your employability in a competitive job market.

The Graduate School coordinates the Researcher Development Programme for postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers at the University. The Programme is designed to equip postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers with a full range of skills which will improve their effectiveness as researchers.