Monthly Archives: October 2018

Centre for the Study of Higher Education’s first PhD student

George Mindano is the first PhD student to complete his degree through the Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE) at the University of Kent. His thesis investigated students’ understanding of the concept of ‘student voice’ to investigate whether strong group identity influences students’ responses to mechanisms designed to capture this. His findings indicated that student and academics have both varied and multi-dimensional understanding of the ‘student voice’ phenomenon. His study also revealed that while the majority of senior academic leaders maintain that ‘student voice’ has been amplified through various feedback mechanisms, most students think that surveys such as the NSS are not an accurate representation of their voice, with institutional failure to act effectively on their feedback and change practice.

George found doing his PhD at Kent was probably one of his most fulfilling and best experiences ever. ‘I chose University of Kent because of the support and interest I received from my prospective supervisors. I was also lured by Kent’s reputation, location and institution’s willingness to fully support my studies. I received tremendous support from my supervisors (Drs Joanna Williams pictured with George and Janice Malcolm), the Centre for the Study of Higher Education and the Graduate School. I was involved in two research projects and presented at several international conferences, which helped my growth as an early research career’.

In June 2018, George completed a postdoctoral research fellowship with University of Sussex and has returned to Malawi with his family. He is teaching at University of Malawi’s Polytechnic on part-time basis and also consulting with the Ministry of Education.

Bitesize Talks Schedule- Autumn Term

The Student Services Department has organised a series of Bitesize talks on various topics this term. The talks are open to all staff and no booking is necessary.

The talks are generally held in Canterbury and we video conference in to Medway.

Bitesize Talks – Autumn Term 2018/19:

11 October, 13.10-14:00 , CCLT1 (123) Understanding Mental Health Difficulties – Kate Pitchforth
15 October, 13.10-14:00, CESR2 / M1-16 The role of the Student Conduct and Complaints Office -Alison Mansell
22 October, 13.10-14:00, CESR2 / M1-16 The role of the Resident’s Support Officer -Stephen Burke
29 October, 13.10-14:00, CESR2 / M1-16 Building Student Resilience -Dr Elisabeth Curling/Lorraine Millard
5 November, 13.10-14:00, CESR2/ M1-16 The Autism Spectrum-Tom Sharp
19 November, 13.10-14:00, CESR2 / M1-16 Sexual Assault and Harassment; A University Response – Becky Wyatt
26 November, 13.10-14:00 , CSE109 / M1-16 The role of KU Advice Centre and the Student -Omolade Adedapo
03 December, 13.10-14:00, CESR2 / M1-16 Student Support Services at Medway – Jane Glew / Lynne Regan

Student Success Staff Seminars- booking now open!

We are delighted to announce that the Student Success Staff Seminars will be taking place throughout the year, both Medway and Canterbury Campuses. The purpose of these events is to update staff on the work of the project and allow colleagues from across the University to have input and exchange ideas. All staff are invited to attend so please do circulate this invitation to colleagues. It would be great to see as many of you as possible, feel free to bring along your lunch and thoughts!

For a full schedule and details of the seminars please visit the Student Success website.

The first seminar “Diversity Mark” will be delivered by colleagues from SECL, SSPSSR, SSES, and the Academic Liaison Service.

This seminar will take place on:

Monday 15 October 2018, Canterbury Campus, Templeman Seminar Room 2

Tuesday 16 October 2018, Medway Campus, Pilkington Building Room 127

The Diversity Mark Pilot Project at the University of Kent is a point of commencement for considering the inclusive curriculum. It is a collaborative project between the Student Success Project, Library Services in Information Services, informed by a cross-disciplinary working group. In consultation with academics and students, we will develop a guide to reviewing reading lists, to demonstrate how people can engage in building and developing representative collections.

To register attendance at this, or any of the other seminars published online please email through to studentsuccessproject@kent.ac.uk

Rock Choir gets off to a flying start: still time to join!

Monday lunchtimes will never be the same again, after the successful launch of Rock Choir here at the University! Organised by the Music department, Colyer-Fergusson Hall resounded to the sound of nearly 90 voices in a session led by Jonathan Grosberg.

There’s still time to join if you’d like; sessions are from 12.45 – 13.45 every Monday, open to staff and students at the University – and it’s free! Come along to the next rehearsal on Monday 15 October.

Book training and record your appraisal (RPD) using Staff Connect

From 23 October, you will be able to book on to training run by the Learning & Organisational Development (L&OD) team through Staff Connect, the same system that is currently used for HR and Payroll. Line managers will be able to view and authorise training requests and you will also be able to record your appraisal (RPD).

Staff Connect replaces the current booking system on the L&OD website and local practices for recording appraisals (RPDs). Training provided in other areas of the University will not be affected.

Also from 23 October, line managers will also be able to set up “delegations” in Staff Connect, enabling other members of staff to approve requests on their behalf. They can also nominate different delegates for different people management processes on Staff Connect, e.g. their PA for annual leave requests, and another manager for appraisals if this reflects what happens in practice. User guides for both managers and staff regarding delegation set up and management are available on the Staff Connect Delegation page.

If you have any questions about Staff Connect, there is guidance, including a frequently asked questions section, on the Staff Connect website.

To find out more about using Staff Connect to book on to L&OD training courses and to record appraisals (RPDs), please come to one of the demo and drop-in sessions available for all staff and line managers. Please go to L&OD Staff Connect information to find out more.

This is the latest update in the Staff Connect Phase 2 project. The recording of staff absence, including annual leave, and staff recruitment will go live in early 2019. If you have any questions about the project, please contact staffconnect@kent.ac.uk

Kent County Council By-election – 15 November 2018

Are you registered to vote in this election?

If you are living on the Kent campus or in the Tyler Hill, Harbledown, Blean or Rough Common areas and are eligible to vote in the UK, you can vote in this election, but you must be registered to vote from your term-time address by Tuesday 30 October 2018.

There will be a Polling Station at the Senate Building for registered students living on campus to cast their vote; for all other areas you will receive a Poll card advising you of your Polling Station.

In addition, Kent students could win £100 1st prize or £50 2nd prize just for registering to vote (if eligible) before 11 December 2018 (T’s&C’s apply).

Students from the UK, EU, Commonwealth, British Overseas Territories and British Crown Dependencies are all eligible to register to vote.

As a student, you can be registered to vote from your home address and your term-time address.

In national elections such as a General Election or a Referendum, you must only vote once (from either address) and in local elections you may vote from both addresses (providing that they do not fall within the same local authority).

Register now at gov.uk/register-to-vote or call 01227 862007. Alternatively, look out for the electoral registration form that will be delivered to you shortly.

HAVE YOUR SAY – YOUR VOTE MATTERS – DON’T LOSE IT!

Putin and Trump: A Study in Deception? – Rutherford Grass Roots Lecture

As part of the Rutherford Grass Roots Lectures, the Rutherford College Master’s Office is hosting a talk by Professor Richard Sakwa, Professor of European and Russian Politics at the School of Politics and International Relations on Putin and Trump: A Study in Deception?

All staff, students and the general public are welcome to attend the talk in Rutherford Lecture Theatre One on Thursday 11 October from 18.00-19.00.

Further details can be found at here

CSHE Seminar: Phenomenography: A Much Misunderstood Research Approach

Colleagues are invited to the CSHE Seminar taking place on Friday 12 October, from 14.00-15.00 in the UELT Seminar Room, Canterbury.

The seminar, on Phenomenography: A Much Misunderstood Research Approach, will be presented by Professor Gerlese Åkerlind, Professor Emerita, The Australian National University.

Since its inception, phenomenography has been frequently misunderstood. Initially, growth in attempts to use the approach outstripped the publication of descriptive literature, leading to extensive variation in practice. Then, the relatively small numbers of experienced phenomengraphers available to act as reviewers has meant that published papers have not necessarily been reviewed by someone well experienced in the approach, leading to errors in descriptions of phenomenography in the peer-reviewed literature. In addition, developmental changes in the approach over time, with associated changes in theory and practice, have exacerbated misunderstandings.

This seminar will map substantive changes in phenomenography over time, addressing questions such as: Is phenomenography a theory, a method or both? What is ‘new phenomenography’? What is the relationship between phenomenography and variation theory? What are the most common misunderstandings of phenomenography?

The article on Variation and commonality in phenomenographic research methods is available here.

Please confirm your attendance by completing the online booking form.

Tom Henry delivers Think Kent lecture

Tom Henry, Professor of History of Art in the School of Arts and Director of the Rome School of Classical and Renaissance Studies, has delivered an online lecture for the Think Kent series entitled ‘Men in Black: How to Interpret Raphael’s Self-Portrait with a Friend in the Louvre’, which is now available on YouTube.

The Think Kent lectures are a series of TED talk-style lectures produced with the intention of raising awareness of the research and teaching expertise of Kent academics and the international impact of their work.

The lecture follows on from Tom’s curation of an exhibition held at both the Louvre in Paris and the Museo del Prado in Madrid, entitled ‘Raphaël à Rome: les dernières années‘, focusing on the final years of the renaissance painter and architect.

The lecture discussed one painting, Raphael’s Self-Portrait with a Friend (c.1519-20), completed shortly before the artist’s death in 1520. Tom argues that to interpret the picture, it is necessary to understand the range of the painter’s activities in his last few years.

In particular, the identity of the second figure in the painting is unknown; however, Tom argues that he is the Italian painter and architect Giulio Romano, a pupil of Raphael, and he develops this argument with a discussion of the role of cloak-giving in artistic adoption and inheritance in the Renaissance period.

The talk may be viewed below or on YouTube via this link:
https://youtu.be/M3zNDnTXkBw

FilmBites talk: Doris Day Confidential

In the first of this term’s FilmBites talks, Dr Tamar Jeffers McDonald, Head of Film in the School of Arts, talks about Doris Day, her film roles and performances and explores the source of the enduring virgin myth which persists to this day.

Doris Day Confidential: Hollywood Sex and Stardom (2013)
‘I’ve been fascinated by the clashes between the way Day is commonly remembered, her star persona, and her actual work in films. When I set out to write this book I wanted to work out why people always say “Doris Day always plays a virgin”. What does it mean to “play a virgin”? What is it in her roles or performances that makes the automatic response? In exploring these questions I found that very little the actor herself did accounted for this myth about her. I discovered instead that the movie magazines – cheap, colourful, numerous publications that swamped American news stands from 1911 to the early 1970s – were responsible for creating and eventually punishing Doris Day for the virgin myth.’
Tamar Jeffers McDonald

The FilmBites talks will showcase academic research and book publications by film lecturers at Kent

The talk will take place in the Templeman Library (next to the DVD Collection, Block B, Ground Floor) from 13.00 – 13.20 on Thursday 11 October.