Yearly Archives: 2018

Condolences for Jacqueline Hill

We are saddened to learn of the death of Jacqueline Hill (née Marchand) on 28 April this year, at the age of 89. With her husband John, she was a founder of the original University of Kent Language Centre from 1966. She taught French language within what was initially the Institute of Language and Linguistics (ILL) and later the Board of Applied Languages and Linguistics (BALL) before her retirement in 1992.

As someone directly responsible for preparing students from a wide range of disciplines for study in Europe, she played a key role in building ‘the UK’s European University’.

Cellular Dynamics to feature at Cheltenham Science Festival

Cellular Dynamics – a collaboration between the School of Biosciences and the Music Department – will be one of the opening events of the Cheltenham Science Festival on Tuesday 5 June at 20.30 in the Parabola Arts Centre.

Cellular Dynamics merges cutting-edge biological research with live musical performance. It explores fundamental biological processes and concepts – such as cell growth and division, neural development, and synthetic biology – through projection of images and video derived from research undertaken at Kent. Curated and presented by Dr Dan Lloyd from the School of Biosciences, the performance features musical repertoire for piano – including Satie, Debussy, Glass and others – selected in collaboration with Daniel Harding, Deputy Director of Music, and performed by pianist and composer Matthew King.

The Cheltenham Science Festival is described by Professor Brian Cox as “the premier science festival in the UK”. Cellular Dynamics will also be featured at the Norwich Festival of Science (October) and the Hong Kong Festival of Ideas (January 2018).

Prestigious Inner Temple scholarship for Kent student

Kent Law student Andreas Malekos is one step closer to achieving his ambition of becoming a barrister after being awarded a prestigious scholarship of almost £20,000 by the Inner Temple.

The Inner Temple BPTC (Bar Professional Training Course) Scholarship of £19,700 will help support Andreas during his year of vocational training. The BPTC is designed to equip Andreas with the skills, knowledge, attitudes and competence to prepare for pupillage, the next stage in his professional training.

Andreas was interviewed at the Inner Temple, one of four Inns of Court that aspiring barristers are required to join, in March. After being taken to the Inn’s magnificent library, he was given half an hour to read an unreported case from a choice of three in his chosen area of law. He chose a criminal case involving psychoactive substances (legal highs), a topic he had studied in Public Law 2 the previous year.

He was then interviewed by a panel of four Inner Temple barristers, two of whom were Queen’s Counsel. Andreas said: ‘The panel members were incredibly charming and I immediately felt more at ease. I was first asked to analyse the case which I did by summarising the arguments made and the decision given. I was then asked for my opinion on the case – I criticised the judge for the lack of expert evidence referred to when reaching the decision that nitrous oxide (laughing gas) was not a medicinal substance.’

Andreas plans to begin his BPTC at City Law School in September. Although his main interests currently lie in both Criminal Law and Property Law, he says he is yet to come across an area of law that he doesn’t enjoy and will approach the BPTC with an open mind.

SMFA Fine Art students interviewed live on KMTV

School of Music and Fine Art students Olu Taiwo (MA Fine Art ) and Lynn Smith (BA Fine Art) were interviewed live on KMTV to talk about their 2018 degree shows.

Lynn Smith’s work explores nature and the spirit of place, investigating the landscape through sculpture, and using traditional craft within fine art.

Olu Taiwo’s work is concerned with memory – how we access and discard memories – experienced through his immersive art.

The 2018 Degree Shows, which feature work from graduating students studying Fine Art and Event and Experience Design, are open to the public every day from 10.00 to 17.00 until 26 May and are free to enter.

Find out more about the artists in the Fine Art Degree Show or book your ticket.

Kent to host festival on Blasphemy and Freedom of Expression

The Department of Religious Studies will host the Blasphemy and Freedom of Expression Workshop and Festival over the weekend of 2 and 3 June.

The two-day event is open to students, staff and members of the public, and the programme is as follows:

2 June 2018

Performing Blasphemy – a panel session chaired by award-winning director Shakila Mann. Other panelists include Christa Harris (director of documentary Inside Pussy Riot) and feminist activist Inna Shevchenk.

Blasphemy, Colonialism and the Politics of ‘World Religions’ – a panel session chaired by Yasmin Rehman from the End Violence Against Women Coalition and the Centre for Secular Space. Other panelists include writer and journalist Gita Sahgal and Professor Richard King from the Department of Religious Studies.

Sticks and Stones: Why Words Still Hurt – A talk by Maureen Freely from the University of Warwick.

Film screening: Stewart Lee’s 90s Comedian – A screening of Stewart Lee’s comedy performance 90s Comedian.

3 June 2018

Law, Blasphemy and Censorship – A panel session chaired by Professor Maria Drakopoulou of Kent Law School. Other panelists include Shakila Mann and Clara Connolly, lawyer and activist.

Speaking Out on Sexual Violence within Sikh Communities: An Interview with Gupreet Kaur Bhatti – Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti is a British Sikh writer who writes for stage, screen and radio. Her play Behzti [Dishonour] was controversially cancelled by the Birmingham Rep after violent protests. Her most recent play is Elephant. She will be interviewed by Sukhwant Dhaliwal.

Blasphemy and Comedy – A discussion with comedians Daphna Baram, Giacinto Palmieri, Ravi Holy and Sameena Zehra, chaired by Dr Shaun May of the School of Arts.

Stand-Up Blasphemy – A comedy session in the Gulbenkian, performed by Daphna Baram, Giacinto Palmieri, Ravi Holy and Sameena Zehra.

2018 Summer Schools

The dynamic and exciting range of summer schools at the University of Kent are back this July.

The summer schools are for students or professionals looking to enhance their knowledge on a subject they are passionate about. With more than 50 institutions across 20 different countries to choose from, why not get a taste of the Go Abroad experience this year?

Martina Saiu, an International Business undergraduate, attended an Intensive German Language Summer School in Vienna and gave the following testimonial:

“I am really glad I was offered the possibility of attending the summer school. It was a wonderful experience, which helped me to improve my skills, widen my horizons and open my mind to new cultures and lifestyles.”

Attending a summer school overseas is a great way to experience another culture, gain a global perspective, enhance your studies and make friends from around the world. Don’t leave it too late to apply!

New podcast launched by Dr Chris Deacy

Dr Chris Deacy, Reader in Theology and Religious Studies in the Department of Religious Studies, has just released the first in a new podcast series on nostalgia.

The podcast accompanies Chris’ research on nostalgia. It asks:

We often know what our colleagues are researching and teaching, but we don’t always know what it is that inspires those interests and passions. What is it that shapes us?
How did we end up where we are – not just the books we read and the ones we wanted to write ourselves, but what influenced us in terms of the music, the films, the sporting events and the relationships and family members that brought us to where we are now?

The podcasts will consist of unscripted interviews. The first interview is with Dr David Walsh from the Department of Classical & Archaeological Studies, and covers everything from music taste to whether he has fulfilled his childhood dreams.

You can listen to the podcast on the audioboom website.

Peer recognition for placement student Hubert Dziedziczak

Hubert Dziedziczak, a Computer Science (Networks) with a Year in Industry student, has won the Employee of the Quarter award while on placement at the Wates Group. The award formally recognises individuals who perform tasks far beyond their job description in helping the company achieve its objectives. Nominations are made by colleagues, with the employee with the most votes announced at quarterly team briefings.

Hubert said: “It was great to be recognized by my colleagues for all my hard work, and to see that people understood that I’m trying my best to push my year in industry to its boundaries in order to learn as much as I can.”

Hubert is the fifth computing student from Kent to do a year in industry with The Wates Group and another student will be joining the group in the summer. The School of Computing sends more than 100 students on placements every year. The School has strong links with industry in Kent, nationally and internationally and has two dedicated placement officers who help students secure roles. The Industrial placement programme is available to all undergraduates and taught Master’s students in the School.

Hubert’s award follows the success of Jordan Norris, another Year in Industry student who won an employee award for going ‘above and beyond’ during his placement year.

CEWL move to Chipperfield

The Centre for English and World Languages will be moving to the former KBS building on Friday 8 June after a full refurbishment. The building will be renamed Chipperfield after Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield, Pro-Chancellor at Kent from 1999 to 2005.

CEWL will be occupying the north wing of the building (closest to Sibson) on all three floors, along with the atrium and reception area. This will provide the Centre with flexible meetings and events space, dedicated social and teaching space, and a welcoming environment for the 1,800 students they teach each year.

Kent Business School will continue to occupy the south wing on both floors.

For further information, please contact cewl@kent.ac.uk.

Medway Festival of Learning and Teaching 2018 – call for papers

The Universities at Medway fourth annual festival of learning, teaching and assessment will take place on Thursday 13 September at the Medway campus.

We welcome contributions on any practices or pedagogical research you are undertaking with particular ref to inclusive practice. Inclusive practice is a strong theme that runs through all three universities and their partner colleges. Inclusive practice incorporates multiple aspects including curriculum design and delivery, assessment and feedback, technological innovation, education for sustainable development, staff-student partnerships, internationalisation, research-led teaching and graduate attributes.

Find our Call for Papers here.

To submit, please complete the conference proposal template
and upload it to the conference submissions page by midnight on Monday 2 July.