As we move into the second term it may seem a little premature to be thinking about summer exams but here in the Exams Office we’re already making plans to make sure the exam period runs as smoothly as possible. But to do this we need your help!

From Monday 1 February, we’d like you to take a few minutes to check that all of your details are correct by completing the examination and assessment check via SDS.

You just need to check that you’re registered for the correct modules and that they are being assessed as expected (eg coursework and/or exam).

To do this:

1. Log on to SDS
2. Select ‘Registration’
3. Then select ‘Examination and Assessment Check’ and follow the instructions on screen.

If you have an Inclusive Learning Plan (ILP) please take a moment to check your exam adjustments are correct. On SDS select ‘Details and Study’ and ‘My Details’. You’ll see a button marked ‘My Inclusive Learning Plan’ if you have been in contact with the Student Support and Wellbeing team (SSW).

Click on this button to see the details of your ILP. At the bottom of the page you’ll see a box marked ‘Exam Adjustments’.

Last year the Exams Office scheduled around 900 exams for more than 60,000 papers. This takes a lot of planning! If you’re unable to attend your exam due to religious reasons or you’re planning to intermit or leave the University, it’s important that you let us know so we don’t schedule you in for exams you cannot attend.

Let us know if your details are incorrect

If any of your details are incorrect or you don’t need the exam adjustments you’ve been given please let us know via email at exams@kent.ac.uk.

Kent Sport challenges you to face the flames, as you will endure a barefoot walk over red hot wood embers measuring around 800 degrees! Not only will you be able to overcome your biggest fears but you will be able to raise vital funds for hospice care.

No tricks, no special effects. Just you and the fire.
With an interactive training seminar with outstanding motivational speaker and firewalking expert Cliff Mann before the daring dash, we know you’ll feel ecstatic once you’ve completed the challenge. After all, if you can achieve this, you can find the determination to do anything.

When will this event take place? Monday 29 February 2016 at 18.00

Where will this event take place? The Pavilion, University of Kent

The events of the night are as follows:
– 18.00 – 18.30 Participants sign in
– 18.45 Interactive training seminar with Cliff Mann begins
– 20.30 Head outside to face the flames!

Bring family and friends along for support during the Firewalk. We recommend that they should arrive around 20.00 when the firewalk starts, as they won’t be granted entry into the seminar hall while the training takes place.

How to register?

There are two ways to register; you can either register online or you can call Pilgrims Hospice Firewalk team on 01227 812609 and press 2 to speak to Robert. Spaces at this event are limited so register today to avoid disappointment!

The closing date for registrations for Firewalk Canterbury is Thursday 25 February 2016 at 17.00. The closing date may be earlier if it reaches the capacity limit.

So, are you ready to take on the heat?

For more exciting sporting events like the Firewalk, see our events calendar and stay up to date with UniKentSports on Facebook and Twitter!

Medway Community Scholarships engage the Medway community in order to provide cultural, educational, physical or environmental benefit.

In October 2015, the Medway Community Scholarship Board awarded scholarships to fund three non-academic projects which proposed to develop specific areas of the Medway community.

This year’s Medway Community Scholars introduce their projects below.

Caring Hands art workshops

Final year student Charlotte Harding from the School of Music and Fine Art talks about her community project.

‘Working with the Caring Hands Organisation and the newly formed Skilful Hands, I am running workshops to create personalised art.

‘The artwork visitors to Caring Hands produce will go on to be exhibited in the Nucleus Art Centre on Chatham High Street later this year.

‘Having completed two sessions so far, I have noticed that there is a wide variety of creative flare. The participants get really involved and make the piece their own and interestingly don’t mimic their neighbour.

‘At the start of the session I will show an example of the sort of work they might want to produce to give them some inspiration.

‘I also cut the size of the canvas and select a medium in which we will work. Having this in place the participants can then really focus on how they will design and personalise their piece of art.

‘In future sessions I will develop the skills that the participants have developed throughout the session, highlighting achievements made and how it can help in their daily lives.

‘To make sure the workshops run smoothly I test the artwork myself and research different ideas for workshop sessions. As the art is going into a gallery I am keen to make it personal to the participant so the audience at the gallery can see the beauty of the people I have been working with.’

Wetlands project

Postgraduate student Nadia Perrotta from the School of Music and Fine Art introduces her project.

‘Wetlands is an art project initiated in 2015 inspired by the powerful metaphor of a possible memory retained and preserved by the waters.

‘The aim of the project is for students and alumni of the University to involve and interact with local communities living in proximity of waters, recreating a dialogue between them, their maritime history and the wetland landscape.

‘For Wetlands 2016, we are running film workshops for young people, in collaboration with Youth Centres of Hoo St Werburgh, Chattenden and Grain.

‘Students from School of Music and Fine Art will create video and sound works from the documentation collected.

‘These works will be included in a series of events in March. Events will start on Monday 14 March and conclude on Thursday 24 March.

‘We will exhibit in four local libraries: Hoo St Werburgh, Grain, Lordswood, Wigmore; as well as Sun Pier House, Brook Theatre and the University’s Royal Dockyard Church Lecture Theatre.

Cre8 Confidence

Final year student Charlotte Harding and second year student Emma Acton, both from the School of Music and Fine Art, talk about their community project.

‘We have a range of workshops planned with Creative Arts and Performance students from MidKent College.

‘The series of workshops will be themed around

• Team building and communication
• Public speaking
• Crediting oneself
• Posture and body language

‘The workshops will engage students in a range of activities to boost the confidence and self-esteem.

‘The project will also derive a review video and leave a potential legacy for students to continue such workshops in the future.’

Gladiators ready! Remember the 90’s tv show? No, well you’ll find it on YouTube. Want to have some fun at lunchtime? University staff from across campus are taking time out from their day jobs to face the ultimate challenge of the Kent Sport Gladiators in the Main Hall at the Sports Centre from 12.00-14.00. This is the first event in a series of exciting events with departmental staff teams battling it out through the next few months for the Vice-Chancellor’s Cup https://www.kent.ac.uk/sports/vicechancellorscup. Staff and students welcome ‘join us on the balcony and cheer on your colleagues and friends’ or cheer for the Kent Sport Gladiators. To get an idea of what will be involved watch the demo video https://youtu.be/SM0m29_6KR4.

Dr Juliette Bird, Head of Counter Terrorism at NATO Headquarters, will be giving CARC’s 2016 John Burton Lecture as part of the Diplomacy@Kent Beacon Project, on Thursday March 3 at 18.15, in Grimond Lecture Theatre 1. The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception.

Dr. Juliette Bird has been the head of NATO’s Counter Terrorism section, within the Emerging Security Challenges Division, since September 2011. In the course of a 20 year career in the UK foreign service Dr. Bird specialized in global threats including proliferation, financial crime and, most extensively, terrorism. She served in the UK’s Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and was then seconded to NATO to set up an equivalent body for the Alliance.

The title of the lecture is: ‘The Counter Terrorism Challenge: All Hands to the Pump’. It is free to attend, no booking is required and it is open to all staff, students and the general public. There is however a limited no of seats (200ish) so early arrival is recommended to avoid disappointment!

Between Monday 1 February and Monday 15 February access into the Drill Hall car park will be restricted to one lane due to ducting works for the new Student Hub.

Traffic flow will be managed by traffic lights under the control of a security guard who will check cars on entry, allowing only those with a valid parking permit to enter. Please allow extra time when attending lectures or meetings on campus during this period.

Out of hours you do not need a parking permit and there won’t be a security guard at the Drill Hall car park entrance, however there will be traffic lights.

Special events

• Walk the Labyrinth R2-09 Rochester Building, Kent end of campus

Tuesday 2 Feb                     12.30 – 13.30 contact Sally

• Free! Interfaith Café @ ‘the café’  room 212 Pembroke North

Thursday 4 Feb                         00 – 14.00 contact Sally

•  Free! Pancake Tuesday @ Clock Café for Music and Fine Arts students

Tuesday 9^th Feb                 00 – 14.00 contact Sally

•  Free! Valentines love! @ Pilkington

Thursday 11 Feb                contact Sally

• Free! Easter Crafternoon @ Touchdown Café Rowan Williams Court Canterbury Christ Church

Friday 4 March                   12.00 – 14.00 contact Sally

•  International Women’s Day @Pilkington

Tuesday 8 March               contact Sally

Regular events

• Every day   Quiet room @ chaplaincy room 2^nd floor Rowan Williams court Canterbury Christ Church University
• Monday  Meditation and Mindfulness @ ‘the café’ Room 212 Pembroke North contact Charlotte or Sally
• Wednesday Quiet room @ Blake 052 12.00 – 13.00 contact Catherine
• Wednesday World Café 12.00 – 14.00 Blake building student services Contact Lynne
• Thursday TABLEtalk 30 -21.30 Contact Lynne

Quiet rooms for students and staff

The Chaplaincy Quiet room is open every day 2^nd floor Rowan Williams Court, Canterbury Christ Church. Speak to Sally Apokis for more details

Wednesday @ Blake room 052  12.00 – 13.00 University of Greenwich. Speak to Catherine Martindale for more details.

Muslim prayer room

Daily                           room B044 Blake Building University of Greenwich

Friday prayers         room P134 Pembroke Building

Chaplains at Medway Campus

Sally Apokis is full time Medway Campus chaplain for Greenwich, Kent and Canterbury Christ Church Universities sally-medwaychaplain@gre.ac.uk 07771624795

Lynne Martin is on campus Wednesday and Thursday, associate chaplain for the University of Greenwich l.martin@gre.ac.uk 0777 8567097

Catherine Martindale is on campus Wednesday, Roman Catholic Lay Chaplain for the University of Greenwich

c.maritindale@gre.ac.uk