Yearly Archives: 2015

Top ten place for Kent in Green Metric league table

The University’s green credentials have been underlined by its high ranking in an international Green Metric league table.

Kent has been ranked 10th in the UK and 42nd in the world in the UI (University of Indonesia) Green Metric league table, published in January 2015.

The 2014 survey collated information provided by 360 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from 62 countries. Results were based on performance in six main categories: green statistics, energy and climate change, waste management, water usage, transportation, and education.

Kent is ranked 42nd out of 360 HEIs from across the world with a total score of 6,620; up from 76th last year. Kent’s total score increased by 12.7% (up 745 points to 6,620, compared with 6,096 in 2012). The University scored highest in the water usage category, where it was ranked 1st in both 2014 and 2013.

The University of Kent is certified to ISO 1400, an International Standard for Environmental Management. Sustainability is one of six key messages in Kent’s Institutional Strategic Plan 2012-15 and is at the heart of everything we do.

Our annual Green Impact project offers departments across the University a practical opportunity to embed good environmental and ethical practices in their everyday work. Further information on Green Impact at Kent can be found on the Estates department webpages.

View full results from the Green Metric league table.

Public lecture on universities’ role in social and economic development

Sir Richard Sykes, Chancellor of Brunel University and former Rector of Imperial College London, will give a public lecture on ‘The Role of Universities in Social and Economic Development’ at the Old Sessions House, Canterbury on Thursday 26 February at 6pm.

Admission to the lecture is free, but reservations are required. You can find out more and book your place on the Canterbury Christ Church University webpages.

 

Changes at Coopers Bar

The nights at Coopers have changed, they are now:

  • Monday – curry night
  • Tuesday – live music
  • Wednesday – sports clubs and societies night
  • Thursday – comedy night
  • Friday – Medway mash-up night

The following sports events will also be showing in Coopers:

  • Sunday 1 February – American Football Superbowl, 8am – 4am
  • Friday 6 February – Six Nations Rugby
  • Saturday 7 February – Six Nations Rugby
  • Thursday 2 February – Six Nations Rugby

Local schools need your skills

Have you ever thought of becoming a school governor? School governors perform an essential voluntary role in education, helping local schools to provide the best possible education to all pupils, and schools in Kent need more volunteers, particularly those with experience in education.

You do not need to be a parent to volunteer as a school governor, the time commitment is 10 to 15 hours per school term and free training is provided by the local authority.

SGOSS – Governors for Schools is the charity which matches up people who would like to become school governors with the most suitable school in your area, and are able to provide:

  • Information on current vacancies
  • Guidance through the application process
  • Answers to your questions about volunteering as a school governor.

Members of staff here at the University have a wide range of transferable skills that can really help to make a difference in schools. Further information is available from the SGOSS website at https://www.sgoss.org.uk/ or you can contact Will Mason-Jebb at SGOSS for further information at will.mason-jebb@sgoss.or.uk, telephone 020 7288 9533.

New LibrarySearch now available

LibrarySearch, the University of Kent’s new resource discovery tool is now available and replaces the Templeman and Tonbridge Library catalogue. Drill Hall Library is also launching LibrarySearch.

Find books and e-books, journals, articles, DVDs and other multimedia resources, theses, and many thousands of full-text e-resources and references. Discover a world of quality resources!

Try it out now via the Library landing page, or access it direct at librarysearch.kent.ac.uk

With LibrarySearch you can:

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

There is plenty of help both online and in the Templeman Library – just ask at one of the helpdesks. Your School’s Academic Liaison Librarian will be arranging further briefings and training.

Contact us

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.