Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen Cox, described HE administrators as being uniquely placed to change people’s lives as she launched a PA network at Kent this month.

Addressing more than 50 staff members from across the institution, Professor Cox added: ‘You are in a position to make a difference. Collectively you are doing something good for society. Whatever role we play, we are all contributing to a greater endeavour.’

The Vice-Chancellor encouraged staff to use the network as a place to develop personally and professionally and to think about the future of Kent.

‘Use this network to make the most of what you do,’ she said.

‘If you aren’t happy look at how you can change but if you are happy in what you do look to support others in their work. As a network I invite you to think about the longer-term future of the University and about what you would like to see done differently and what you’d like to see preserved.’

Members of the PA network will meet termly and a host of other events will take place including a Christmas lunch in Rutherford College and a regular walking group. There will be a strong emphasis on mentoring and support.

Lauren Bramley-Green, PA to the Director of Human Resources, is developing a website that will include information on news, blogs and events. It will also offer a ‘clever bod’ section, listing the names and contact information for staff with established specialisms. A structured mentoring scheme is also in the pipeline.

Ruth Johnson, Executive Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, described the Network as a place for enthusiastic professionals to meet, support one another, share good practice, and foster new ideas.

‘We believe the role of an assistant is essential to the smooth running of the University. We believe that it is important for PAs to have positive peer support and the opportunity to seek advice and guidance from someone generally, or in a particular area,’ she added.

‘In addition to existing PAs we welcome any other members of staff whose duties include a personal assistant type role, or those looking to develop a PA skill set.’

If you’d like to find out more about the network visit:
https://www.kent.ac.uk/hr-learninganddevelopment/panetwork/index.html

To help you get in the festive spirit, Kent Sport and the Pavilion Café Bar are offering free mince pies and mulled wine on Friday 15 December, from 12.00 to 14.00. Come along and join us at the Pavilion Café Bar (upstairs in the sports pavilion) to enjoy a Christmas treat.

This event is open to everyone and is free of charge. All you need to bring is a bit of Christmas cheer!

For more information, please call us on 01227 827182. A donation box will be available at the event; all donations made will support Demelza Hospice Care to help those less fortunate this Christmas.

Kent University are pleased to hear that ACU has confirmed The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), one of its fantastic partner institutions, as the host of the 2018 Summer School. The theme of the event will focus on ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’ and it will take place from 1 to 9 July 2018.

The 2018 Summer School will bring together 50 students from ACU member universities around the world for a week of expert lectures, field trips, networking, social events and group work.

Summer School bursaries will be available for students from ACU member universities, such as Kent, who would otherwise not be able to attend.

Applications are now open. To register your interest in the event in advance of applications opening, please email summerschool@acu.ac.uk.

The ACU Summer School has been running annually since 2011 and is hosted by a different ACU member institution every year. More information about past Summer Schools can be found on the ACU webpages.

Tick tock, your New Year’s resolution is just around the corner. The struggle is real and Kent Sport gets it.

So that’s why we’re offering an incredible opportunity to get an eight month Kent Sport membership for the price of seven – what a saving!

Available to buy from 11 December 2017 to 21 January 2018 for use until 31 August 2018, student memberships have been reduced to just £135 for Gold and £119 for Silver at Kent Sport. It’s the perfect gift for the holiday season.

Student membership offers a huge range of benefits including unlimited access to the fitness suite*, all fitness and dance classes and access to facilities for club training**. Membership also includes free rental of bicycles from the Cycle Hub where you can rent a range of bikes including road, mountain, hybrid and e-bikes for two, four or eight hours so you can get out and explore the campus + beyond.

Student membership is available to buy online, at the Sports Centre or Pavilion receptions.

For more information about membership benefits and to purchase online, visit kent.ac.uk/sports/membership.

To stay up to date with the latest news, special offers and activities, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter UniKentSports.

*Unlimited access to the fitness suite for Gold members only. **Club joining fees apply.

Blackwell’s are very pleased to offer all Kent staff an increased discount of 15% between the dates of 11 and 21 December. Ideal for all your Christmas shopping – from new fiction and children’s books to Christmas cards, pretty stationery and Harry Potter mugs!

We can order pretty much any title in print so if there’s a book you would like to give that special someone this year that’s not on our shelves, we can often have it here for you within 24 hours. So feel free to pop in and ask or send us an email at kent@blackwell.co.uk

We also offer our price match promise to all staff members so if you find a title on Amazon, Waterstones or WHSmith’s that is less than your discounted price, we’ll match it at the till for you.

Discount offer excludes the usual items such as postage stamps and giftcards.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas!

Kent staff are encouraged to consider whether their school or professional service department’s existing European and international partnerships could form the basis of an Erasmus+ funding bid. Erasmus+ Key Action II funding is available to support consortia to run collaborative projects aimed at improving higher education provision.

Acceptable project themes within Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships funding strand are broad within the overall objective of promoting innovation in higher education, and therefore this particular funding strand could be a useful means to develop existing work with partners.

Staff may also be interested in Erasmus+ Capacity Building project opportunities; Capacity Building projects must involve institutions from Erasmus+ Partner Countries (as opposed to Programme Countries). Capacity building projects typically focus on one of three main activities: curriculum development activities; modernisation of governance and management of HEIs and systems, and strengthening of relations between higher education and the wider economic and social environment

An Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) funding bid could also be considered by Schools within well-developed consortia. (Approval for EMJMD bids need approval of the International Postgraduate Steering group chaired by the Dean of the Graduate School).

Key application deadlines

Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships: 21 March 2018

Erasmus+ Capacity Building projects: 8 February 2018

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees projects:  15 February 2018

Staff are advised to contact International Partnerships as soon as they start to consider a bid. Please take a look at the  Funding Opportunities webpage for the internal approval procedure: https://www.kent.ac.uk/global/partnerships/kent-staff/funding-opportunities.html

The closing date for calls is 12.30 (GMT) on Wednesday 10 January 2018 with institutions being notified of the outcome by Friday 26 January 2018.

Other opportunities

For full details of other opportunities, please read the full news story on the International Partnership news page.

BBC Radio 4’s Today programme is coming to the University – and you can be part of the audience!

Justin Webb will be presenting a live broadcast of the programme, which will include various guests, in the Gulbenkian on Thursday 7 December from 06.00-09.00

Admission to the recording is on a first-come, first-served basis – doors open at 05.15.

Find out more and book your place now on the BBC webpages.