The e-learning team are excited to offer colleagues the opportunity to participate in a pilot of the Ombea audience response (in-class voting) system to facilitate the enhancement of learning and teaching and other School practices. 

 If you are interested in finding out more please come along to the e-learning forum on Tuesday 25 September, 12.00 -13.30 in the UELT seminar room where there will be a brief demonstration and opportunity to discuss potential engagement with the pilot and the ways in which Ombea could enhance existing learning and teaching and other School practices.

 Further details are available here.

 Please email cpdbookings@kent.ac.uk to book a place.

 Dr Benjamin Vis, Eastern ARC Research Fellow (Digital Humanities) in the Department of Classical & Archaeological Studies, has just published a new book entitled Cities Made of Boundaries: Mapping Social Life in Urban Form (UCL Press, 2018). The book has been made freely available for all through Open Access.

The book presents the theoretical foundation and concepts for a new social scientific urban morphological mapping method, Boundary Line Type (BLT) Mapping. Its vantage is a plea to establish a frame of reference for radically comparative urban studies positioned between geography and archaeology. Based in multidisciplinary social and spatial theory, a critical realist understanding of the boundaries that compose built space is operationalised by a mapping practice utilising Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

He gives a precise account of how BLT Mapping can be applied to detailed historical, reconstructed, contemporary, and archaeological urban plans, exemplified by 16th to 21st-century Winchester (UK) and Classic Maya Chunchucmil (Mexico). This account demonstrates how the functional and experiential difference between compact western and tropical dispersed cities can be explored.

The methodological development of Cities Made of Boundaries will appeal to readers interested in the comparative social analysis of built environments, and those seeking to expand the evidence-base of design options to structure urban life and development.

For full details, to either purchase copy or download an Open Access PDF, please see the publisher’s page here.

One of the public engagement projects funded by the Understanding Unbelief programme led by Dr Lois Lee, Research Fellow in the Department of Religious Studies, featured in the British Library‘s (BL) Sound and Vision blog this week, part of the project undertaken by Paul Merchant on ‘Unbelief in Life Story Interviews’.

 The article focuses on the BBC’s Millennium Oral History project, which recorded an interview with an 11-year-old girl describing her atheism in 1999.

‘The clip is engaging not just because the interviewee is charmingly open and positive,’ explains Paul in the post, ‘it is also because it seems to wake us up from a strange dream in which the only people who talk about atheism are rather senior, male intellectuals of one sort or another.’

To read the British Library blog post, click here.

The University of Kent work with ByCycle to provide low cost bicycle hire to all students attending the Canterbury campus.

 All bicycles available are second hand and have either been abandoned onsite or given to the University. Each bicycle has been security tagged and is registered to the University of Kent. They all come equipped with lights, a bell, and a lock, and have received a full service – they are as good as new and are ready to ride!

To hire a bicycle for the autumn term, Canterbury students should visit the Cycle Hub at the Pavilion on the following dates between 10.00 and 15.00:

•  17 September 2018
• 19 September 2018
• 21 September 2018
• 24 September 2018
• 25 September 2018
• 26 September 2018

 Bicycles can be hired for £40 per term, alongside a security deposit of £60. The deposit will be refunded when you return the bicycle in good condition.

If any Medway students wish to hire a bicycle, they can do so from Liberty Quays accommodation.

For more information visit www.kent.ac.uk/transport/cycling or www.easybycycle.co.uk

Our campuses have a range of facilities available to our students.

Medway

• The Deep End is a combined social space, with a restaurant and bar, they offer Starbuck’s coffee, it is utilised as an events hall and a student union hub, and is a centralised space for Kent students. Check out their events schedule for the upcoming term.
• Team Medway sports activities both competitive and non.
• CARGO bar and bistro located a ten minute walk from campus next to Liberty Quays, offers a great tasting menu from tapas, fajitas, curry and often hosts live music performances and acts.
• The Galvanising Shop Café  based on the Historic Dockyard site offers a great breakfast and serves hot snacks up until 16.00.
• Venue cafe in the Pilkington building is a great place for a meal, snack or coffee with friends in between lectures.
• Take a virtual tour of Medway facilities here.

Canterbury

• Kent Sport fitness suite and The Pavilion which facilitates all outdoor sports with a full-size flood lit 3GX rugby pitch.
• Gulbenkian theatre and cinema with a ‘two for Tuesday’ deal for students every week.
• Student Media Centre which is home to CSR FM (Canterbury’s student radio), KTV (Kent Television) and InQuire (Kent’s student newspaper).
• Venue is the university’s night club with a range of events every day of the week.
• Study hubs are available all over campus if you want to escape the library.
• Careers & Employability Centre located next to Keynes offers CV advice, assessment and interview skills.
• Origins bar and grill located in Darwin.
• Mungo’s bar and bistro in Eliot which hosts huge events especially around Halloween.
• K Bar is one of the most popular bars serving pizzas with an outside garden area.
• Dolche Vita has the most varied menu on campus and offers catering packages located in Keynes.
• Essentials is the campus shop located in the centre of campus and at Park Wood.
• Park Wood are opening a new Woody’s bar with a roof terrace, a study hub and social space…keep an eye out!
• Take a virtual tour of Canterbury campus here.

  Written by recent graduate Sophia Cheraitia

The Community Scholarships programme, previously known as Medway Community Scholarships, is now open to all students applicants registered at both the Canterbury and Medway campuses, from all stages, disciplines and modes of study. Projects can be related to sport, arts, music, cultural or any other interest area.

The Community Scholarships programme aims to empower students to either deliver self-devised projects or collaborate on an existing project which engages with the local community, and develops the student experience. The hope is that the scholarship will give students the opportunity to demonstrate leadership, enthusiasm and organisational skills, whilst benefiting the community.

The Community Scholarships can support co-curricular projects that either stem from a students personal interest, a community organisation, or a University of Kent department.

What’s included in the scholarship?

• £1,000 financial support to cover personal expenses and project running costs.
• Advice, training and project management support from the Student Activities and Scholarships Officer in delivering your project.
• Personal and employability skills development.
• Employability points.
• Access to additional project funding dependent on the nature and quality of the individual scholarship project.

If you are student interested to find out more, a community organisation or member of staff with a project in mind please contact: communityscholarships@kent.ac.uk for further information visit the Student Life web page.