Monthly Archives: June 2018

Student Success Resources Toolkit now live

The Student Success Project central team is delighted to announce that the Student Success Resources Toolkit (SStaRT) is now live.

The toolkit is part of the Student Success Project’s mainstreaming programme. SStaRT will provide all schools with an opportunity to see what kind of initiatives from phase one and two of the Student Success Project might work with their students, what effort and costs are involved in getting them off the ground, and the lessons learned.

It will also provide a space for schools and departments to share their initiatives, using a downloadable form, so that we can all benefit from each other’s experiences.

To share your thoughts and comments about the toolkit email studentsuccessproject@kent.ac.uk.

Aurora 2018-19

The University of Kent is pleased to announce its continuing participation in the Aurora programme, a sector-wide development programme for women in higher education led by Advance HE.

The Aurora programme aims to enable a wide range of women in HE to think of themselves as future leaders, to develop the skills they will need, and to help their institutions to maximise the use of the skills they acquire. Aurora is for female staff in academic role up to senior lecturer level or professional services equivalent roles who would like to develop and explore issues relating to leadership responsibilities. Aurora provides a positive experience of leadership and encourages participants to recognise their talent and capabilities and ‘step-up’ to promoted posts.

Sector wide research shows there are fewer women in the most senior positions in higher education than ten years ago and identifies the need to change this. Many influential stakeholders including vice-chancellors, HEFCE and the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) have agreed the situation calls for action and the feedback from the sector has supported encouraging more women to plan and prepare better for leadership roles at an early point in their careers.

Female staff are now invited to apply by completing the Aurora Application Form 2018-19.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 1 August 2018.

If you have any questions please contact Jena Dady, Learning & Organisational Development Adviser, J.Dady@Kent.ac.uk

Condolences for Roger Davies

The University was very sorry to hear of the death of Roger Davies on 15 June 2018, following a long illness.

Roger was a Postal Services Assistant, working for the Post Room in the Estates Department from 2005 until he retired in 2017.

He was an extremely well-liked member of staff, particularly known for his helpfulness and cheerful character. Roger was interested in everybody and everything (particularly his famous stamp collection) and his warmth and friendliness brightened up the day for many people as he went around the University.

Whenever he returned to visit the University after his retirement, he was always surrounded by members of staff wishing him well and wanting to know how he was getting on. He will be much missed.

Roger’s funeral has been arranged for Tuesday 3 July 2018 at 15.20 at Barham Crematorium (CT4 6QU), with a Celebration of Life to be held afterwards at Littlebourne Village Hall and Social Club (CT3 1ST) at 16.45. As he was not a sombre person the family would welcome colourful clothing at both events.

The Registry flag will fly at half mast on the day of Roger’s funeral.

Funeral flowers are to be from family only please but donations in Roger’s memory can be made instead, either to Pilgrims Hospice or to research into neuroendocrine cancer, via the funeral directors, A Welch and Sons Ltd, Herne Bay.

SMFA Music Lecturer Anna Neale elected to Songwriters Committee at BASCA

SMFA music lecturer Anna Neale, multi-talented singer/songwriter, composer, session vocalist and voice-over artist, is now an officially elected member of the Songwriters Committee at the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), the voice for music writers.

BASCA campaigns in the UK, Europe and throughout the world and is the independent professional association representing music writers in all genres, from songwriting to media and contemporary classical to jazz.

Anna has worked professionally in the music industry for over a decade. In that time she has toured the world, and has showcased at major music conferences across the globe and released two albums and two EP’s to critical acclaim.

Related SMFA article: https://www.kent.ac.uk/smfa/news.html?view=2781

SMFA and CMAT now members of the Music Academic Partnership

The School of Music and Fine Art and new Centre for Music and Audio Technology are members of the Music Academic Partnership (MAP) – a ground breaking collaboration between a select number of educational institutions and the membership of UK Music, a campaigning and lobbying group which represents every part of the recorded and live music industry from artists, musicians, songwriters, composers, record labels, publishers, producers and music licensing groups. Its aim is to prepare individuals who want to build their careers in music.

Academic members, who have to be invited to become part of MAP, will benefit from this membership from a number of initiatives that include exclusive networking, collaborative research, a parliamentary programme, rehearsal spaces, and a range of student opportunities, including the BBC Introducing Pilot, MAP Music Technology Prize, access to exclusive Production Days and industry showcases.

SMFA EED alumnus Chris Carr’s company Lucid Illusions chosen to create new area for 2018 Parklife

SMFA BA (Hons) Event and Experience Design (2010) alumnus Chris Carr’s company Lucid Illusions were chosen to create an amazing new area for the recent 2018 Parklife Festival called The Valley, which took place on 9-10 June at Heaton Park. They designed an enormous immersive stage set, influenced by brutalist architecture, dystopian film and Carnival, with integrated video and lighting.

Watch the Parklife Festival trailer.
Find out more about Lucid Illusions.

SMFA Music Lecturers win University of Kent Teaching Prize

SMFA’s Dr Ruth Herbert and Dr Rich Perks have been awarded a first prize of £3000 Humanities Faculty Teaching Prize 2018 for their innovations regarding music performance teaching at Kent. The award will constitute extra budget for the teaching on the programmes at SMFA.

The Panel considering the applications comprised Dr Simon Kirchin (Dean), Dr Montserrat Roser-i-Puig (Associate Dean, Education), Fran Beaton (UELT), Dr Vybarr Cregan-Reid (previous prize winner) and Rebecca Bailey (student representative).

In their feedback, the Panel referred to, “Sound pedagogical grounding and evidence of student improvement and engagement” with a “strong use of student feedback” and “particularly liked the reflective element of both the teaching strategy and the application”.

A music psychologist and performer, Dr Herbert is SMFA’s Lecturer in Contemporary and 20th Century Music Performance. Also a Lecturer in Music Performance at SMFA, Dr Perks has extensive live, studio and theatre experience in the commercial industry and has toured internationally with many accomplished artists.

Extra tickets for Staff and Student Communications Conference – 4 Sept

Due to popular demand, we have added extra tickets for our first Staff and Student Communications on Tuesday 4 September 2018.

The conference is being hosted by Corporate Communications, from 9.00 – 14.00, in Keynes teaching foyer, seminar room and lecture theatre. Lunch will be provided.

If part of your job involves creating communications for colleagues and/or students at the University, this could be the conference for you! It will give you the chance to network with other professional communications colleagues at the University, share best practice and learn some new skills.

You will be able to:

hear from an external speaker who is an internal communications expert (name to be confirmed shortly!)
take part in a social media workshop
ask students and staff your communications questions
learn how Corporate Communications can support you.

Register now for the event via Eventbrite.

If you have any questions about the conference, please email communications@kent.ac.uk.

Resilience – A biopsychosocial model of health and wellbeing (Mental Health Awareness)

We are pleased to be able to offer sessions led by Psicon who are a local specialist in Psychology and Health Services.

Open to any member of staff who would like to increase their understanding of mental health awareness and managing personal resilience, the presentation-style sessions will provide a comprehensive blend of practical advice alongside an overview of underpinning theory and models to help participants gain a rounded understanding of managing mental health.

The sessions take place on:
6 July: 10.00-12.00 and 13.00-15.00 – Keynes Seminar Room 16

To book a place and to obtain further information, please visit Resilience – A biopsychosocial model of health and wellbeing (Mental Health Awareness) calendar.

Kent to host wine tasting day

Kent will be hosting a wine tasting day with Professor Vladimir Jiranek – Head of Department of Wine and Food Science at University of Adelaide (South Australia) – on Friday 6 July, 09.00 – 17.00.

Titled Wine 101: An introduction to winemaking, styles and evaluation, the one day course is perfect for novices and new enthusiasts who simply want to learn about the core concepts of wine, omitting the overly technical stuff in favour of understandable explanations.

Discover which grapes are used for each wine; how these grapes are grown and harvested; how they are processed in to red, white, sparkling and fortified styles; what effects the grape-growing and wine making have on the final product; what the basic appearances, tastes, aromas and flavours of different wines; and what these senses can tell you about the wine you are drinking.

The day will begin with an introductory talk, followed by a guided tasting journey through 25 different wines, during which a two-course lunch will be served. We will progressively build your wine recognition and evaluation throughout the day, leaving you with a familiarity of the attributes and faults with different wine varieties and styles.

The course fee is £114 and includes all tastings and a two course lunch in Dolche Vita.
Sign up here.
Attendees must be 18 or over.