Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with an abundance of festive events on the run up to Christmas! From cabaret to classic films the Gulbenkian has something for everyone this December.

You’ll find there’s plenty of festivities to take your fancy:

The Snow dragon – Wednesday 11 – Sunday 22 December
RHOH: The Nutcracker (recorded) – Wednesday 18 December at 19.15
The Albion Christmas Band – Wednesday 18 December at 19.30
It’s a Wonderful Life film – Saturday 21 December at 18.00
Family Film: Home Alone – Sunday 22 December, 11.00
Family Film: Frozen II – Friday 20 December – Sunday 5 January 2020

Feeling peckish? Then why not dine in their café and indulge in the evening menu with a special festive twist? The younger ones needn’t miss out as there’s a festive-inspired children’s menu too!

For more details on what’s on please go to the Gulbenkian website

If music is sure to get you into the celebratory mood then don’t miss out on these atmospheric concerts:

Caritas Chamber Choir a Choral Christmas – Saturday 21 December at Colyer-Fergusson Hall, 19.30
Celebration for Christmas with Kent Music – Sunday 22 December at Colyer-Fergusson Hall, 14.00

For more details click on the University of Kent Music website

Moreen Biron, a retired Tonbridge Centre tutor, passed away at home on Monday 9 December 2019.

Moreen’s broad knowledge of architecture, design and the decorative arts inspired students for over 30 years since the Tonbridge Centre was built in 1984. Her energy, enthusiasm and kindness was boundless, and she achieved much in a long life. Moreen made many friends through her association with the University of Kent, and she will be fondly remembered by all who worked with her or were taught by her.

Staff interested in sending condolences to her family, or attending her funeral (likely to be in mid-January 2020), should send cards internally to the Tonbridge Centre or email tonbridgeadmin@kent.ac.uk.

Dr Olly Double, Reader in Drama in the School of Arts, features in the the latest episode of the podcast Jokes with Mark Simmons.

Every week Mark Simmons and a guest share jokes they’ve written that just haven’t worked – because they’re too long, too stupid, too clever, too groanworthy or just too rubbish.

Olly is the author of Stand-Up! On Being a Comedian (1997), Britain Had Talent: A History of Variety Theatre (2012), and Getting the Joke: the Inner Workings of Stand-Up Comedy (2nd edition, 2014). Among the modules he teaches at Kent are Stand Up Comedy and Popular Performance.

In the episode, he talks about teaching students comedy, double acts, and the art of making stand-up comedy look spontaneous. ‘Stand up is a pretence, like it’s just a conversation. You play it like it’s off the cuff, and don’t put any effort into it.’

To listen to the podcast, please see the page here

For most people, preparations for Christmas are in full swing.

For many, there is much to look forward to: the family getting together, the giving and receiving presents, lots to eat and drink, a holiday getaway abroad, building memories and reflecting on Christmas Past.

For others, the upcoming festivities are a nightmare prospect: the family getting together, the giving and receiving presents, lots to eat and drink, a holiday getaway abroad, building memories and reflecting on Christmas Past!

Whatever your practices and beliefs about the upcoming mid-winter festivities, there are things you can do to help you manage through the period. Below are links to advice from a number of different organisations on what to do to keep healthy and well, in mind and body:

Reducing stress

• BUPA (reducing stress)
• BBC (reduce stress)
• The Spark Organisation (counselling service tips for a stress free Christmas)
• Medical News Today (reducing Christmas Stress)

Mental health

• University of Kent Wellbeing Zone
• MIND
• Mental Health Foundation
• Time to Change
• Anxiety UK
• Priory Group
• Heads Together
• Net Doctor
• Relate (relationships quiz)
• Samaritans
• BEAT
• Cosmopolitan (eating disorders)

Diet

• • BBC Good Food Guide
  • British Nutrition Foundation
  • British Heart Foundation (eating advice)

Exercise

• • Daily Telegraph (general fitness)
  • Real Buzz (fitness)
  • The Guardian (exercise)
  • Metro (fitness advice)

General wellbeing advice

• Forbes (general Christmas wellbeing advice)
• Real Buzz (general health advice)

Brenda Brunsdon, Occupational Health & Wellbeing Team Manager

As we start a new year looking forward to how we can be successful within ourselves, we also take inspiration in those around us. We each choose to be successful in certain areas of our lives whether it’s in our studies, work or extracurricular activities.

In 2019, we spoke to four individuals who shared their fitness journey with Kent Sport. From injuries to championships to getting back to sport, each person’s story relayed how they enriched their lives further through sport and fitness.

Rebecca Barton-Hagger
Kent Sport scholar – Karate
Rebecca Barton-Hagger’s story is all about her journey through the karate world and her time at the University of Kent. She’s gone far and wide to gain her international reputation within karate. View her story here.

Oliver Daws
Kent Sport scholar – Golf
After suffering a traumatic injury, Oliver has endeavoured to keep his sporting career moving forward. View his story here.

Shun Chang
From Let’s Play to Premium Plus member
Shun Chang was a frequent Let’s Play participant that wanted more from his university experience. View his story here.

Patrick Stillman
Kent Sport scholar – Fencing
Discovering fencing at a fairly young age, Patrick Stillman has made the most out of his university experience by juggling his studies and his passion for sport. View his story here.

Share your journey with us
Whatever your triumphs are, share your fitness journey with Kent Sport – we want to hear it all!
If you’d like to share your stories, please get in touch with our Marketing team at sportsenquiries@kent.ac.uk. Or drop us a DM on our various social media channels @UniKentSport.

Do you have any availability to help the Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS) with its Multiple Mini Interviews?

We are seeking support on the following dates at the University of Kent campus:

Tuesday 7 January 2020
Wednesday 8 January 2020
Thursday 9 January 2020

You would be supporting the selection process for the first cohort of medical students, joining KMMS, meeting some of the first students and getting an insight into how the Medical School selects doctors in training.

The sorts of things we need help with are: timekeeping (the multiple mini interview circuit consists of seven different stations with a specific amount of time for each station so good time keeping is crucial!), handing out of information to students, chaperoning students, directing people around the circuits and any general admin responsibilities.

These are three 12-hour days for KMMS staff so we would be incredibly grateful of your time and support!

We have created videos for our students about MMIs on our website (scroll to the bottom of the page) so you might like to watch them too.

Please get approval from your manager as needed.

To find out more, or to offer your time please email Mary Langford: mary.langford@kmms.ac.uk

Message from the Vice-Chancellor

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Richard Reece as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience). Richard, who is currently Associate Vice President for Teaching, Learning and Students at the University of Manchester, will be joining us on 30 March 2020.

Richard will bring a wealth of expertise and strong leadership to this key post. In his current role, he has been involved in the establishment, setting and monitoring of institutional strategic and operational priorities to provide students with the best possible environment for teaching and learning. He has also championed parity of esteem between teaching excellence and research excellence and has led a number of projects aimed at creating an inclusive teaching and learning environment.

As Professor of Molecular Biology, Richard is actively involved in the promotion of science and teaching through his work with learned societies and other organisations. Under the auspices of the Royal Society of Biology, Richard established, piloted and rolled-out the accreditation programme for biology undergraduate degrees in the UK. This accreditation was the first of its kind.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Professor Christina Hughes for her ongoing work as interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience). Christina has agreed to remain with us until April which will allow for a seamless handover in this critical area.

Want to learn all about the history of the University of Kent and Gulbenkian arts centre?

As Gulbenkian celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, a youth-led project named Radical Roots and Dangerous Ideas (with support from Barbican Centre) delves into the archives of the theatre, where plenty of fun facts about its heritage is discovered.

To find out all about their fascinating finds take a look at their blog – Radical Roots and Dangerous Ideas: Archives and Gulbenkian’s Heritage https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/specialcollections/