Yearly Archives: 2018

kent bunny

Kent Bunny’s Epic Easter Egg Hunt is back!

Take part in the egg-citement for the chance to win one of over 100 prizes!

From 19-23 March there are over 100 eggs to find, and over 100 prizes to be won!

To join the fun, and be in with a chance to win cracking prizes, you need to find the eggs that Kent Bunny has hidden across the Canterbury and Medway campuses, as well as at the University’s centres in Paris and Brussels. He has also hidden some ‘onscreen’ – take a selfie in front of them and submit to Twitter, Instagram or post to the Facebook event using #KentBunny.

At the end of the week, everyone who has found an egg or taken a selfie with them will then be entered into the grand prize draw for the chance to win a very fancy camera or an iPad mini.

The competition is open to all who want to play. Get involved on twitter @unikentevents, Facebook @UniversityofKent, Instagram @unikentlive and online www.kent.ac.uk/events/

#KentBunny

Mel Clewlow

New Director of Kent Sport

The University is pleased to announce the appointment of Mel Clewlow as its new Director of Kent Sport.

Mel, who was previously Assistant Director, (Physical Activities and Finance) has been interim Director since August 2017.

Commenting on Mel’s appointment, Director of Commercial Services (interim), Kevin Stuckey said: ‘I am really pleased to have appointed Mel as Director of Kent Sport and I’m confident that her appointment will ensure Kent Sport has a very bright and positive future. I know that Mel will continue to work with her team to provide our students, staff and the wider community with a truly first class sporting experience at Kent.’

LTN-image for Campus On-line story

Running an effective Board of Examiners

Colleagues are invited to attend the Learning and Teaching Network session titled ‘Running an effective Board of Examiners’ on Wednesday 21 March 13.15-14.30 in Sibson Seminar Room 2, Canterbury.

Presented by Malcolm Dixon, Head of Quality Assurance.

This session will give an overview of the processes relating to running effective Board of Examiner meetings. Participants will be given up-to-date guidance about the Credit Framework and related examination conventions / procedures for the classification of awards, in accordance with Annexes J and K of the Code of Practice. The relevant policies and procedures will be reviewed, and there will be time for questions and discussion.

This session is for University staff who are involved with organising, attending or recording Board of Examiner meetings. Staff new to Boards of Examiners are strongly encouraged to attend.

As places are limited attendance will be restricted to one person per School.

To book a place, please email cpdbookings@kent.ac.uk

GCRF-COMPASS project website now live

Professor Elena Korosteleva, Director (Professional Studies) of the Global Europe Centre was awarded nearly £3 million for The COMPASS project back in October 2017 which aims to open up communication with academics in former Soviet states of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan by setting up hubs of excellence in research in these countries.

She and her research partner, Professor Siddharth Saxena from Cambridge, say this is a research initiative to empower the target countries in research, impact governance and public policy outreach. COMPASS will enable a sea change in the UK’s strategic relationship with the region.

As part of the project, a website has been developed to showcase its work, research and events as well as information about the project and its investigators. The website is now live and can be found here.

GCRF-COMPASS is a capacity-building project  which seeks to establish ‘regional hubs of excellence’ at the top-level HEIs in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, to enable them to become UK lead research partners and ‘nodes of excellence’ for knowledge production and transfer, across the region and globally.

medway course

Kent’s staff invited to the short CPD course Introduction to Interprofessional Working within an Organisational Context.

What impact do cultures, sub-cultures and frameworks related to leadership have on interprofessional collaborations within and across organisations?

This one day transdisciplinary CPD course on Saturday 24 March 2018, 09:00 – 17:00 is open to all individuals who undertake collaborative activity as part of their role. Collaboration may include working in partnership with colleagues within the organisation or may involve working collaboratively across organisations, for example; through projects, major initiatives such as mergers or in negotiating service strategies.

Working collaboratively with others requires skill and is strongly influenced by the context in which the collaboration takes place and the intention of the participants. The aim of this CPD event is to provide an understanding of concepts and theoretical frameworks related to collaborative leadership within and across organisations and to identify key cultural issues that might enhance or inhibit collaboration.

Topics covered will include:

  • Considering the emergence and purpose of organisational culture
  • Identifying norms and values related to organisational culture
  • Considering how cultures form
  • Critiquing evolving theories of leadership and their impact on collaborations
  • Reviewing the role of the team within collaborative practice

On completion of the event, you will be able to:

  • Critically appraise differing models, concepts and frameworks related to leadership and team working; specifically styles and approaches impacting on multidisciplinary working.
  • Demonstrate a clear understanding of the context, characteristics and culture of interprofessional and collaborative working and interaction, both within and across organisations.

The fee for this CPD event is £60.

This short CPD course can be booked and paid for via the University’s online store.

For more info: cppmedway@kent.ac.uk or call 01634888929

Event location: Centre for Professional Practice, Medway Building, Chatham Maritime, Medway, ME44AG, Room M2-28

finance

Loyalty Discount

Kent recognises the family and personal loyalty shown by registration on multiple degrees by siblings, children of alumni, husbands and wives studying together, or alumni studying for additional degrees when privately funded.

A discount of 10% of the first year’s tuition fee will be allowed on registration and payment of tuition fees, as set out below.

  • All applications must be made within the first year of study.
  • The deadline for applications from September starters is 31 December.
  • For January starters the deadline date for applications is 31 March.
  • Please note that if the student commences course part way through the year discount will only be given for the tuition fees for that particular academic year.

For more details please see our webpage.

Need financial support? Help is here!

Are you an undergraduate UK student who has been income assessed by Student Finance and are in receipt of an income assessed student loan?

Or a postgraduate UK student who has made adequate provision to cover their tuition fees and living costs before the start of their course (without having to rely on applying to this hardship fund)?

If so, you may be eligible to apply for additional financial support via the Access to Learning Fund (ALF).

You can find more information regarding the ALF, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, on the University website.

If you would like to make an application you will need to make an appointment with your Union Advice Centre.

Canterbury students should contact the Mandela Reception in person or on 01227 827724.

Medway students should contact the GK Unions Advice Centre in person, by email on advice@gkunions.co.uk or on 01634 888989.

Please note that if you are eligible to apply to ALF you will need to complete the application form and take it along to your appointment with all relevant supporting documentation.

ALF awards are discretionary so there is no guarantee of an award.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us at:

Financial Aid Office, Room G43 Registry, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NZ

01227 824876 / 823851 / 823488

Email

Normal opening hours: Monday to Friday : 10.00 – 16.00 (closed from 12.30 – 13.30pm for lunch)

Mick Woods

Memories of Michael (Mick) Woods, Grounds Supervisor (Manager)

Mick started work as an Estates Worker at the University on 17 February 1975, whereupon he was told – “If you last winter up here you’ll stay forever”. He subsequently became a Gardener in 1979 and then Grounds Supervisor (Manager) in 2002. Mick eventually retired in 2011 having given 36 years to managing and maintaining the University’s grounds.

Mick was well liked and respected around the University with his cheery disposition and “can do” attitude; he was always calm under pressure and well organised and was a leading light in keeping the Grounds Section moving forward, and played a significant role during the 1987 hurricane when he worked tirelessly to clear the campus of fallen trees.

Mick also played a very active role outside the University and had a keen interest in the great outdoors and was part of a shoot, enjoyed his fishing and a whole host of other outdoor pursuits. Mick had an orchard at his home in Staple Street near Faversham where he grew plums and apples, and because of the volume of fruit produced, sold his produce through a local fruitier.

His other passions were Formula 1, and in particular Michael Schumacher and Ferrari and darts. The Grounds team have memories of lunch times filled with fun, laughter, a Pepsi and a Wagon Wheel (his favourite).

Mick was also a popular member of University Council, a Trade Union Representative, a Health and Safety Rep and also a School Governor (Abbey School)

Mick leaves behind his wife Bev, daughter Lisa, son-in-law Scott, and granddaughter Olivia.

His funeral is on Tuesday 6 March at 09.20 at Barham Crematorium. His friends are all welcome to attend

Juliet Thomas, Assistant Director of Estates, Facilities Management

National Apprenticeships Week 2018

Apprenticeships – Find out more at our Tea and Talk sessions this week!

This week (5-9 March) marks the 11th annual National Apprenticeship Week.

The week provides an opportunity to celebrate, promote apprenticeships and explore how Apprenticeships can benefit people and organisations. To show our support for Apprenticeships within Kent for both employees and academic schools (who want to explore how to deliver them), the Learning & Organisational Development Team and the Centre for Higher and Degree Apprenticeship wish to invite any member of staff to join us to learn what Apprenticeships can offer you, at our Apprenticeships Tea & Talk.

The sessions will take place on:

  • Thursday 8 March at Medway campus (Rochester Boardroom) from 15.00-16.00
  • Friday 9 March at Canterbury Campus (Darwin Boardroom) from 10.00-11.00

Apprenticeships are paid jobs that incorporate on and off the job training. A successful apprentice will qualify with a nationally recognised qualification/standard on completion of their apprenticeship.There are no age limits and existing staff can access training via the levy as well as new recruits.

With a large range of standards available that can support and develop staff, different levels of apprenticeship allow people of all levels of experience and capability to access structured training and development. Levels vary from intermediate level 2, advanced level 3 and higher level 4, 5, 6 (equivalent to Certificate, Foundation degree and above) and 7 (equivalent to Masters).

At the Tea & Talk will be representatives of Learning & Organisational Development and the Centre for Higher & Degree Apprenticeships.

Employee Apprenticeship Support, the Learning & Organisational Development Team are on hand to support any staff member who is looking to develop their skills by completing an Apprenticeship Programme. There are many Apprenticeships to choose from that can support staff in many different roles.

The Centre for Higher & Degree Apprenticeships (CHDA) supports opportunities for Academic Schools and Centres to develop new Higher and Degree Apprenticeship Programmes. The next round of internal funding to support programme development in Schools and Centres will be announced in March. CHDA can provide advice about opportunities available to develop programmes and the support CHDA offers Schools and Centres including programme recruitment and administration.

For further information contact: Loretta Izod (L&OD), ext 16567/email l.j.izod@kent.ac.uk or Hannah Sullivan-Guckian (CHDA), ext 8467/email h.sullivan-guckian@kent.ac.uk

Graduation photobooths

2018 Pre-Graduation Photobooths

Graduating this July?

The Congregations team will be on the Canterbury and Medway campuses this month for the 2018 Pre-Graduation Photobooths!

What is a photobooth? Graduating students come to see us on Jarman Plaza (Canterbury) or outside Medway building (Medway) to write a message and have a photo taken, ready to be displayed in the Cathedral for your guests to see before your graduation ceremony. So who do you want to thank? Family, friends, the library… caffeine..?

CANTERBURY

Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 March, 11.00-14.00
Jarman Plaza

MEDWAY

Wednesday 28 March, 11.00-14.00
Outside Medway building

See you then #KentGrads!

Follow us on social media for updates:
Facebook: /UniKentCongregations
Twitter: /UniKentCongs