Monthly Archives: June 2018

University proud to sponsor Canterbury Pride celebration

The University was proud to be a sponsor of Canterbury’s third annual Pride celebration on Saturday 9 June.

Nearly 100 staff, students, alumni and colleagues from Kent Union marched together as part of the event. Kent’s group was organised by colleagues from the LGBT+ Staff Network and Kent Union.

Over 1,100 people joined the parade, up 400 from last year, which was followed by a festival of entertainment including a craft fair, local food stalls and music from members of S Club 7.

The parade marched up Canterbury High Street into Dane John gardens. The atmosphere was one of jubilation and unity as people from all over Kent joined together to celebrate diversity, and remember those around the world who cannot attend such events, for fear of persecution or harassment.

SMFA’s Dr Ruth Herbert a trustee for National Youth Jazz Collective

Music Psychologist and performer, Dr Ruth Herbert, SMFA’s Lecturer in Contemporary and 20th Century Music Performance, has been invited to become a trustee of the National Youth Jazz Collective.

Founded in 2007, the NYJC supports the creative & educational needs of the young jazz musician, focusing on small group improvisation within a pathway of progression from beginners to young professionals, supporting music education to increase the ability of 8 – 18 year -olds to play by ear in small groups: to learn, improvise, compose, arrange and lead bands.

Dr Herbert commented: ‘I am delighted to have been invited to be a trustee for National Youth Jazz Collective. At a time when arts provision (including music) is being sidelined to the point of extinction in schools, the roles of organisations like NYJC are a lifeline & incredibly important in sustaining music provision. NYJC are doing an amazing job of reaching out- through regional workshops across the UK, through their Summer School, and other initiatives – eg inclusivity, particularly getting more young women into jazz. Simply giving young people the time and space to connect/experience/understand loads of different musics and have a good time!’

More information: http://nationalyouthjazz.co.uk/

SMFA Fine Art Alumna Nadia Perrotta Artist in Residence Exhibition in Kent

Since September 2016, SMFA alumna Nadia Perrotta (BA, 2015, and MA Fine Art, 2017) has been artist in residence at The Rabbit on The Moon Nursery in Sittingbourne, and there will be an exhibition showing the works the children created with her throughout the past year.

A children’s journey across self recognition and discovery of the world around them through the arts takes place on Saturday 23 June, 12.00-15.00, at Kemsley Community Centre, The Square, Ridham Ave, Kemsley, Sittingbourne.

Nadia is a film maker, visual artist, art writer and event organiser who works mostly with time based, installations, digital work, creative writing and performances. An experienced curator and art director, she was Project Leader for Wetlands Medway. More info about Nadia here https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nadia-perrotta-082a537

Learn how you can protect and commercialise your research

The next meeting of the Kent Enterprise and Impact Network (KEIN) will take place on Thursday, 21 June from 12.00–14.00 in Room 115 in the Drill Hall Library, Medway Campus.

In this session, we will look at ‘Enterprising next steps: protecting and commercialising your research’. You will hear from Dr Antonis Alexandridis, Lecturer in Finance from Kent Business School, who will be sharing his experiences of developing software that is currently being rolled out across a selection of banking organisations.

There will also be talks from Dr Marcus Goodall, KIE’s Technology Transfer Manager, on protecting and commercialising your research as well as a representative from KIE’s Hub for Innovation and Enterprise about their dedicated support for start-up development for staff and graduates.

If you have any enterprise ideas or ideas prompted by the presentations, this is also an opportunity to share these and hear about how the University can provide support

All University staff are welcome to attend.

To reserve your place at the session (including a free light lunch if you register before the end of play on 15 June) please email entadmin@kent.ac.uk and specify any dietary or access requirements.

KEIN is a network jointly created by Kent Innovation & Enterprise (KIE) and Learning and Organisational Development (L&OD), with the aim of bringing together all staff interested in collaboration. Academics, researchers, technicians and other members of staff can explore innovation and enterprise activities, maximising the impact of their work, and alternative sources of funding, in an informal setting.

Cake for a cause – Thursday 14 June

Be sure not to miss out tomorrow (Thursday 14 June) with accommodation receptions across Canterbury campus selling delicious homemade cupcakes to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society. As well as tasty treats, there will also be games to enter.

Recommended donations are only £1 each (although you are welcome to give more) with all funds going to the charity. Don’t worry if you don’t have the change on the day, you can even text in your donation to 70070 with the word CUPP78 and the donation amount. You can also donate online at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/becky-wyatt5.

Cake for a good cause – we’ll race you there!

Participating receptions are Turing College, Keynes College, Eliot College, Rutherford College, Tyler Court, Darwin College and Park Wood.

If you have any questions email r.f.wyatt@kent.ac.uk

Music lecturers attend prestigious Ivor Novello Awards, London

Fellow composers and SMFA Lecturers Dr Paul Fretwell, Head of School and Senior Lecturer in Music and Richard Lightman, Lecturer in Music, Director of Recruitment and Admissions, Director of Employability, Year in Industry Coordinator for SMFA and CMAT, attended the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards on 31 May at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London.

The Ivors celebrate, honour and reward excellence in British and Irish songwriting and composing. Presented and judged by music creators, they represent the pinnacle of musical achievement and peer recognition.

Richard Lightman commented: ‘I was invited to attend the Ivor Novello Awards as a board member of the Council of Music Makers which includes BASCA, MPG, MMF, FAC, and the MU and in my capacity as a member of the Copyright Committee of UK Music advising the government on copyright issues and the impact of Brexit on the Music Industry. Both SMFA and the University of Kent’s new Centre for Music and Audio Technology are academic partners in BASCA’s educational scheme.’

More information about the awards http://theivors.com/the-ivors-2018/

Photos from Summer Music Week 2018

View the photos from the annual music festival – ‘Summer Music Week’ – marking the end of the academic year at the University of Kent.

Photos were captured in both rehearsals and performances, featuring the University Chorus, Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Cecilian Choir, Concert Band, Big Band, University Music Scholars, the Lost Consort, String Sinfonia, the student string quartet, the Oom Pa Band, the Limoncellos, and a lot of selfies and bunting!

Refugee Week 2018

Refugee Week takes place every year across the world in the week around World Refugee Day on the 20 June. In the UK, Refugee Week is a nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities.

On Wednesday 20 June we will be celebrating Refugee Week at Gulbenkian. In the morning there will be a free screening of Paddington for local primary schools in partnership with BFI London. The screening is part of a project called ‘Film: a language without borders’ looking at how cinema might help support conversations with children around the issue of migration.

In the evening we are working in partnership with Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) and East Kent City of Sanctuary to put on an event for the local community. ‘Simple of Acts of Kindness’, based on the theme for this year’s celebrations, will involve poetry, theatre, music, screenings and talks on the theme of refuge and asylum.

Gulbenkian’s drama group for unaccompanied young refugees and asylum-seekers, ‘KRAN Fam’ will be performing, building on our partnership with KRAN for the last 2 years.

Members of SCREEN31, our group for budding young film-makers, will also be screening a short film charting the journey of two young Syrian refugees to the UK. The evening will culminate in food and music from across the globe and will launch KRAN’s 15th birthday celebrations.

All proceeds from the event will go to the charity to support their invaluable work with vulnerable young people. We hope that you can join us for a very special evening involving some incredibly brave individuals.

Kent launches project that supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

On the 26 June, the University of Kent Estates Department launches its new sustainability project: FutureProof.

FutureProof builds on the successes of Green Impact and Green15 and looks at how staff and students can help deliver a University of the future. By challenging each department to review their impacts against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), FutureProof aims to inspire individuals, departments and the whole University community to take action in ensuring that our estate, our curriculum and our students are ready for the future.

The SDGs are 17 goals that outline the vision for a sustainable world by 2030. The 17 goals and underlying targets were created and signed by 193 countries at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015. The goals seek to finish the job that was started by the Millennium Goals which ran from 2000 to 2015 and brought 850,000,000 people out of extreme poverty and yet saw carbon emissions increase by 9,850,000 kilotons.

In February the Vice-Chancellor signed the SDG Accord which commits the University to incorporate the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals into its operations and the teaching curriculum it delivers. FutureProof is the vehicle by which we seek to deliver this.

All departments across the University are eligible and encouraged to get involved with the project. To find out more please come and visit the Sustainability Team at the Estates Showcase in Darwin Conference Suite on the 26 June 10.00 – 15.00, or email sustainability@kent.ac.uk.

Scholar spotlight: Rakim Trapp-Jackson, American Football

The University of Kent’s American Football team, The Falcons, have seen an incredible triumph throughout this past season. Not only did they soar to Division one southeast champions being undefeated in their regular season, they also were recognised as the Club of the Year at Kent Union’s Team Kent Ball this past spring.

As a new member of their team and a Kent Sport scholar, Rakim Trapp-Jackson helped raise the profile of the team this season and has been an asset to the scholarship scheme we offer through Kent Sport.

Rakim has quite a story, so we caught up with him to learn more about how he came to playing for the Falcons at the University of Kent.

Originating from Jacksonville, Florida in the US, Rakim discovered his passion for football in high school. He went on to receive his undergraduate degree in America, but kept his sport high on priority. He joined the military, which meant a temporary end to his sporting career, but life would lead him back to it when he decided to go for his Masters in Computer Science at the University of Kent.

“I was interested in going to school in the UK due to the recent great achievements and developments in Artificial Intelligence – I badly wanted to be a part of that wave. I conducted a lot of research on universities here in the UK, looking for opportunities to study within the field of Computer Science. After much research, University of Kent conversion course was what I needed to allow me to chase my dreams.”

With his placement at the University of Kent, Rakim applied for a sports scholarship in American Football which has helped him gain financial support while not only studying, but getting to play a sport he thought he may never get to play again.

“My biggest achievement is after hanging up my cleats for what I thought would be my last time playing when I was conducting my undergraduate and five years later getting opportunity to play the sport I love again. It’s truly a blessing. I love my sport.”

The scholarship programme has been a great asset to Rakim, not only by strengthening his already strong physique, but opened doors to other like-minded athletes helping him make bonds with students throughout the campus.

The Falcons greatly benefited from having Rakim on their time and they hope it won’t be the last time that he graces their presence.

“Hopefully, I can get another chance of playing for Kent, for one last go round during my industrial placement.”

The University of Kent offers sports scholars to those who compete at county level or higher. Find out more about our scholarship scheme to see eligibility requirements and deadline dates.

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