The University is very sorry to have received the news of the death of John Butler, former Master of Darwin College, Lecturer in Politics and Local Government and Social Sciences Faculty Admissions Officer.

John was appointed lecturer in 1969, was Master from 1982 to 1987 and Admissions Officer from 1991-93 and is remembered with great fondness by colleagues across academic schools and professional services.

His funeral will be on Friday 16 November at 12.00 at St Thomas’ Catholic Church, Burgate, Canterbury. Any former colleagues wishing to attend are most welcome.

We hope to publish a fuller tribute to John next week.

The Department of Philosophy is delighted to announce that Erik Van Aken has completed his Phd in Philosophy under the supervision of Professor John Williamson and Dr David Corfield.

In his thesis, titled ‘Causal Interactionism: A New Agency Approach to Causation’, Erik proposes that causation is dependent on the interaction between human agents and the physical world. He argues against the influential ‘objectivist’ claim that causation is a mind-independent, natural phenomenon, and instead demonstrates that causation is connected to human activities (including a specific form of reasoning). He defends the proposition that causation is relative to context, or a ‘frame of reference’, which is ground by human agency. The emerging picture reveals that the causal relation is objective and consistent with scientific theory, but visible only by assimilating the contours of human agency.

Our congratulations to Dr Van Aken.

Interested in postgraduate study at the University of Kent? Find out more about the PhD in Philosophy.

Kent Hospitality have updated their blogpost containing all vegan options available in their outlets for the 2018/19 academic year in time for World Vegan Day on Thursday 1st November 2018.

From vegan pizzas to bean chillis and katsu curries, there are plenty of tasty options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A handy guide covering all the vegan options available at Kent Hospitality’s catering outlets across Canterbury and Medway can be found on UniKentFood’s latest blog post.

For any enquiries contact catering@kent.ac.uk

The BIPU team have developed a Benefits Management Toolkit for staff managing projects/change.

Benefits are the reason for undertaking work – you are doing it in order to get something out at the end!  To ensure that the investment into projects and change at Kent are worthwhile, we must endeavour to keep on top of Benefits Management.

It is critically important that the benefits to be achieved by the work are articulated as clearly as possible and that these are actively monitored and managed for successful delivery.

The new Benefits Management Toolkit is embedded within the Kent Project Management Framework (KPMF) which you can access via SharePoint here.

The detail of Benefits Management activity and documents can be scaled in accordance to the project or change activity taking place, such as larger more significant work requiring greater detail.   However, benefits management is enormously valuable to smaller projects and more local change activity – undertaking some level of work to identify, understand and plan work around achieving measurable benefits will provide a framework to help you manage challenges and change along the way.

The Benefits Management Toolkit consists of:

• A Benefits Tutorial introducing Benefits Management and the documents and tools available to help you identify, document, plan for, manage and deliver benefits at Kent.
• The Benefits Management Cycle setting out a high level summary of how Benefits Management aligns with the KPMF at Kent.
• The Benefits Management Strategy
• A Benefits Map example from a project at Kent.
• A Benefits and Measures Guide providing examples of types of benefits and how you might measure these.

The KPMF is available to all staff and you will find a suite of useful documentation to help you manage project delivery and change.

For further information contact the BIPU team: bipu@kent.ac.uk

We are delighted to announce that progress profiles go live this term. They have been developed by the Student Success Project (SSP) in collaboration with Planning and Business Information Office (PBIO) and the Unit for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (UELT).

What are Progress Profiles?

A Progress Profile is a document that summarises information about a student. Progress Profiles are intended to inform students and to help facilitate the academic adviser process.

The first version is quite simple, covering attendance and attainment. We aim to refine and extend Progress Profile content over time and in consultation with students and staff.

Progress profiles were prototyped in consultation with EDA students as part of Student Success Project Phase 1. They have been tested, refined and rebuilt for use across the University of Kent.

Where can I find out more?

Information sessions have been taking place; training and guidance for the Progress Profiles will be published and circulated shortly.

You can also find detailed information on the Student Success Resources Toolkit:

https://www.kent.ac.uk/studentsuccess/resources-toolkit/systems.html

This includes:

– A sample Progress Profile

– How students and staff will access Progress Profiles

– History, reasoning and design choices

– Support and training information

There are also Q&A sessions open to all University staff to be held in November. All staff are invited to attend to share ideas about the Progress Profile although places are limited.

To register your attendance please email studentsuccessproject@kent.ac.uk

These events will take place on:

Wednesday 14 November, Medway Campus, Pilkington Building Room 127
Friday 16 November, Canterbury Campus, Cornwallis East Seminar Room 1

This academic year the Music Department has become a workplace member of Rock Choir, the pioneering national organisation with over 20,000 participants which encourages everyone to sing. Under the expert and inspiring direction of alumnus Jonathan Grosberg, staff and students meet every Monday lunchtime and, without needing to read a note of music, have so far learnt ‘Shut up and dance with me’ and ‘A Little Respect’ – including moves!

Members of staff are coming along from a whole range of departments across the campus – it is still not too late to join this term. Director of Music Susan Wanless is thrilled with the way the idea has taken off and from all the feedback she has received, making music is clearly very good for you.

Karen Cherpin, Administrator to the Head of School, School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science:

‘I absolutely love it! I find it really uplifting and it definitely improves my mood and energy levels. I always go back to my office feeling revitalised and ready to face whatever the afternoon may throw at me.’

Katie Van Sanden, Industrial Placement Co-ordinator, School of Computing:

‘Love it, love it, love it! Perfect antidote to the Monday blues – it feeds the soul! With singing, harmonies, new friends and lots and lots of (unexpected but very welcome) laughter, what’s not to like? And Jonathan is just brilliant!’

Danika Jarrett, Project Co-ordinator, Information Services:

‘It gets me away from my desk, gives me something else to focus on for that time, and is great for wellbeing because I’m totally immersed in what Jonathan is saying and concentrating on what to sing, which is great for mindfulness and controlling breathing. It’s also been nice to meet people from other departments in the University as well.’

The University of Kent Players are proud to present a live recording of The Scarlet Pimpernel, a staged radio play set during the French Revolution.

Following the success of their first staged radio play, the Players will be taking the most elusive of characters, The Scarlet Pimpernel, to France and back (and back again) on Friday 30 November/Saturday 1 December 2018.

During the French Revolution, a mysterious English nobleman known only as The Scarlet Pimpernel, snatches French aristocrats from the jaws of the guillotine. Armed with only his wits and his cunning, he recklessly defies the French revolutionaries while being hunted by ruthless French agent Chauvelin.

Radio dramas were once the most popular form of entertainment and were usually broadcast as live performances. This performance recreates the entire experience – from actors performing to a foley team creating sound effects such as daring horse riding and swashbuckling fights.

“They seek him here, they seek him there, those Frenchies seek him everywhere…..”

Buy tickets
Tickets cost £6.50 (£6.00 for concession) and are available online.