Yearly Archives: 2015

USA trip and £1000 cash prizes for Big Ideas

Win a £1,000 cash and an all-expenses paid trip to the USA with the Big Ideas competition!

The Big Ideas Competition, sponsored by Santander Universities, gives all current Kent students the opportunity to submit a business idea for a chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Your idea can be as exciting and novel as you like; it can be for a new product or service and come from any sector. You can submit ideas on your own or as part of a team and you can also submit multiple entries to increase your chances of winning, PLUS you get 15 Employability Points per entry!

We have two amazing top prizes:

  • A trip to USA to represent the University of Kent in the Global Business Concept Challenge – all expenses paid for. One team will be selected to represent the University of Kent in the prestigious Global Business Concept Challenge in Virginia, USA from 16-22 August 2015, with the chance to win up to $25,000!
  • A cash prize of £1,000, your own rent-free office in the Kent Enterprise Hub and a business mentor from Santander. The £1,000 prize will enable the winner(s) to take their idea forward and set up a company. It will also enable you to have your own office in the Kent Enterprise Hub.

All you need to do is complete an application form on our website here and email your entry to studententerprise@kent.ac.uk.

Entries must be submitted by midnight on 27 February 2015

For more information contact Rachel Elcombe on 01227 823263 or email studententerprise@kent.ac.uk

New discount bus season tickets for staff

The Transport Team is pleased to announce further discounts and new bus seasons tickets are now available to all University staff, including Kent Union staff; with discounts up to 45%.

These discounted prices are for either a Stagecoach Megarider or Gold bus season ticket.

Canterbury Megarider

Equivalent public price and Kent staff discount price:

  • 13 weeks £126 £105
  • 36 weeks £359 £290
  • 52 weeks £490 £396

Megarider Gold

Equivalent public price and staff discount price:

  • 13 weeks £228 £150
  • 36 weeks £648 £360
  • 52 weeks £875 £480

All salaried staff (not including paid on timesheet), where the length of employment exceeds the duration of the chosen ticket, can choose to have monthly payments deducted from their salary for the 36 week or the 52 week ticket (Contact Transport Team for further details). For all other staff and for the 13 week ticket this can be purchased at the Estates reception by cash, cheque or credit/debit card.

Further details can be found on the Estates webpages.

Staff are also entitled to discounts with Arriva bus company.

Fundraising UK Camp comes to Canterbury

Fundraising Camp is a one-day ‘unconference’-style event for fundraisers, the first series of its kind for fundraisers in the UK.

Spend a day learning, talking about and maybe even solving the issues and challenges you face in your fundraising. Learn from other fundraisers in your area, find out how they’ve dealt with similar problems, and share your experience.

No tents involved: make some useful contacts and maybe even enjoy a very practical day of sharing fundraising advice.

For more information and details about the day, visit the event webpage.

 

JSNCC non-union representative nominations

You are invited to make nominations for two representatives of non-union members of staff to join the Joint Staff Negotiating and Consultation Committee.

These two vacancies are for non-academic staff members. Currently there are two academic-related staff representatives, namely Dr Sarah Hyde and Linda Lough. For more information about membership of JSNCC, please go to http://www.kent.ac.uk/hr-staffinformation/jsncc.html

What is the Joint Staff Negotiating and Consultation Committee?

The Committee is the main forum for consultation and negotiation between the University and its staff. Its membership includes management and union and staff representatives who meet each term.

Nominations for appointment to the vacancies have to be proposed and seconded by two other members from this staff group.

Elections, if necessary, are held using a simple majority system.

The period of appointment is three years commencing from the date of election and representatives are eligible for re-election once.

Enquiries and nominations (there are no pre-prepared forms for nominations) should be directed to the Secretary of JSNCC, Maddy Withers, either by:-
Email – M.M.Withers@kent.ac.uk
or
By post – Room 125, The Registry
Closing date 16 February 2015.

Marijuana

Producer to introduce screening of ‘Culture High’

We are delighted to announce a special screening of the documentary ‘Culture High’ on 27 January from 6pm.

The screening will be preceded by an introduction by Jason Reed, one of the producers and followed by the opportunity for audience discussion and reaction to the documentary.

Book now.

Journeying across the North American landscape, ‘The Culture High’ is a riveting documentary that tears into the very fibre of modern day marijuana prohibition to reveal the truth behind the arguments and motives governing both those who support and oppose the existing cannabis legislation.

Utilising the quirky yet profound nature of its predecessor, ‘The Union: The Business Behind Getting High’, ‘The Culture High’ raises the stakes with some of today’s biggest names, unprecedented access to footage previously unobtainable, and incredibly moving testimonials from both sides of the spectrum.

Featuring Richard Branson, Snoop Lion and Wiz Khalifa as well as former undercover agents, university professor, a slew of unforgettable characters from all points of view come together for an amusing yet insightful portrait of cannabis prohibition and the grasp it has on society as a whole.

Dir: Brett Harvey | UK / USA / Canada / Spain | 2014 | 120 mins | Richard Branson, Snoop Lion, Wiz Khalifa

Image credits
Title: LEGAL Colorado Marijuana Grow
Author: Brett Levin
Source: Flickr
Link: https://flic.kr/p/jwBhd1
License: CC BY 2.0

 

History of Philanthropy at Kent blog

We are delighted to announce a new blog by Dr Triona Fitton – ‘The history of philanthropy at Kent’.

The blog aims to document the illustrious history of philanthropy and giving at the University of Kent, as part of a Beacon-funded project that will be published as a book in June 2015.

It will contain fascinating snippets of Dr Fitton’s research in the University archives, newspaper articles, photographs, case studies and interviews about the remarkable 50 year legacy of donations and community engagement.

Do you have a story about philanthropy at Kent that you think deserves telling?

Contact Dr Triona Fitton with your examples.

For more information email hva@kent.ac.uk

LGBT History Month

LGBT History Month at Kent is set to one of the largest History Months in the country, ever!

We have a huge range of events from comedy nights, drag make-up workshops, Art exhibition, panel discussions on sports, journalism and business, academic lectures and interactive seminars plus a whole host of other events which you can attend. We’ll also be raising money for The Albert Kennedy Trust and Schools Out in the process.

LGBT History Month at Kent is looking to celebrate a modern LGBT community and whether you are LGBT or not, there will be at least one event in there for you.

So come along to one of our 26+ events across February 2015 to be a part of something unique.

Leadership Elections 2015

Every year you select five full-time officers to represent you to the Union, University and wider community.

They challenge everything on your behalf; helping you to get your voice heard and make the changes that you want to see.

Have you got what it takes to lead your Union? Be the voice of over 20,000 students and become a full-time officer. Nominate yourself now.

Teaching Awards nominations open

The Teaching Awards 2015 are now open. If you would like to say thank you to that special teacher, the support member of staff who helped you through a hard time or that amazing Course Rep, nominate them for a Teaching Award.

If the person that you nominate is shortlisted, you may even be invited to come and join the celebrations at the Kent Union Teaching Awards. So nominate away and make someone’s day!