[Picture: Typewriter by Jay Neil]

The Department of Modern Languages is delighted to announce that Anne Grydehoj has completed her PhD in French Studies, titled ‘Citizenship, Gender and Ethnicity in French and Scandinavian Engaged Crime Fiction 1965-2015’, under the supervision of Dr Lucy O’Meara and Dr Thomas Baldwin.

Anne’s thesis explores the nature of crime fiction produced by France and Scandinavia between 1965 and 2015. Crime fiction, as a genre, responds to shifting social realities. She focuses on the French model of Republican Universalism and the Scandinavian welfare state, examining the role they play in the depiction of relationships between state and citizen, and other identity issues (class, gender, sexuality and ethnicity in particular).

Anne’s comparative study of these themes examines the rigid social model of French universalism and the more socially orientated attitudes of Scandinavia, underlining how the genre functions as a vehicle for social critique.

Our congratulations to Dr Grydehoj.

For more details of the PhD in Modern Languages, please see the page: https://www.kent.ac.uk/secl/modern-languages/postgraduate/index.html

The Regulations on Student Discipline in relation to non-academic matters and the Complaints Procedure for Students have been revised for the 2017-18 academic year.

The Regulations on Student Discipline in relation to non-academic matters provide guidance on the actions that may be taken should a student’s conduct not support the University’s commitment to create a community that advances knowledge and stimulates intellectual activity, good order and the good name and reputation of the University. In registering with the University, students agree to be bound by all relevant provisions and regulations of the University, so please ensure you are aware of the provisions available within this document.

The Complaints Procedure for Students provides guidance to students who may feel dissatisfied with some aspect of their dealings with the University, and details the procedure the University and student will both follow through all stages of the complaint.

If you would like further guidance please refer to the Student Conduct and Complaints website

In the early hours of the morning of 31st of August 2017 a water pipe burst outside the Colyer Fergusson building, on the pavement by the bus stop.

Due to this the pavement area has been barricaded off.

Our maintenance team are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and if there are any queries please contact the Estates Helpdesk on Extn 3209.

From Wednesday 30th of August until approximately the 13th of September 2017 essential maintenance works are due to take place in Eliot College.

There may be short intermittent bursts of loud drilling noises reverberating around the college whilst the works are carried out.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and we will endeavour to keep any disruption to a minimum. If there are any queries please contact the Estates Helpdesk.

This year’s Medway Learning and Teaching Festival takes place on Thursday 14 September 2017, 09.00-13.00 in the Ward Room, Pembroke Building and will reflect on the teaching evaluation metrics within the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and the impact on teaching practices and student experiences.

The keynote speaker, Dr Fabio Arico (UEA), will explore the concept of learning gain as part of the national Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) project, and speakers from the three universities at Medway will present on student engagement and teaching enhancement projects.

For programme details please visit the website

To book a place please email cpdbookings@kent.ac.uk

Kent clinical health practitioners can benefit from a new internship programme at the University aimed at developing their research capability.

Up to eight places are on offer for the internship programme, which is being funded by the Health Education Kent Surrey Sussex (HEKSS)/National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Integrated Clinical Academic Programme 2017-18.

The University’s Centre for Health Services Studies (CHSS) will provide the research training and development opportunities to a range of health practitioners under the programme. This will form part of CHSS’s commitment to support and advise health care staff across the region to develop and undertake research projects. HEKSS will award funding to support back-fill cost, tuition fees and reasonable expenses.

“We are delighted to have been awarded this valuable funding! It means CHSS can now provide research training and development opportunities to a range of local health practitioners. The programme will help the University to develop research capability and capacity across the south east region”.
CHSS Research Fellow Dr Ferhana Hashem (Intern Programme Leader)

For more information, visit the website or contact Ferhana at f.hashem@kent.ac.uk

From Monday 17 July, Estates will begin collecting their stock of 140 heaters, to carry out essential annual inspections and safety checks.

If you have any heaters on loan from Estates, please email estateshelpdesk@kent.ac.uk or phone extension 3209, so that collection can be arranged.

Thank you for your help in this matter.

Gary Richardson, Maintenance Stores Supervisor

The University has had a strong student recruitment round this year with fewer places available in Clearing than in 2016. Despite economic and political uncertainties, students are continuing to see the value and benefit of studying at a top-ranked university such as Kent.

For prospective students whose A level results are different to those anticipated, there is a dedicated team on hand to answer enquiries. Help and advice can be accessed online at www.kent.ac.uk/clearing or via the Clearing hotline on +44 (0)1227 768896.

Students who find themselves in Clearing after getting grades below those expected are being advised to stay calm and think of the situation as an opportunity.

Entering Clearing – the process by which students looking for a place can search for degree courses that still have places – need not be too stressful.

Top of the list of do’s and don’ts is that students shouldn’t panic. Clearing represents an excellent opportunity to find a degree place that is appropriate, says Head of Recruitment and Admissions Steven Holdcroft.

Organisation is the key to successfully negotiating the process. Shortlists of courses should be drawn up – but flexibility is also important. Students should keep in mind the subjects they studied at A level but also think about their wider academic interests.

Students who achieve better than expected or predicted grades at A level can enter a process known as Adjustment. This provides an opportunity for students who have not only met the conditions of their firm choice but have exceeded them to reconsider where, and what, to study.

Above all, students finding themselves in either situation should not feel rushed or pressured. They should take time to think carefully about offers and plan a visit to the university they are considering.

Prospective students are welcome to visit the Canterbury or Medway campuses for a self-guided tour.

The Centre for English and World Languages (CEWL) is running evening classes, catering for a variety of different abilities.

Courses include up to ten of the most popular languages, including:

• Arabic
• French
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Mandarin
• Modern Greek
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish

Choose from either the 20-week courses, starting in October or 10-week courses, starting in January.

Visit the CEWL website to find out more and to book.

The Galvanising Workshop Café will be closing on Monday 21 August for four weeks, re-opening on Monday 18 September.

Our delivered catering service is still available and the No.1 Bistro on the Medway campus remains open as normal – with breakfast served from 08.30. Our Cargo Bar and Bistro is also open from 12noon each day.