Monthly Archives: April 2020

Watch our video about managing anxiety during a crisis

We have three more weeks left of self isolation and the University are keen to help you though this stressful period. As well as numerous online resources to assist your studies we also have tips on how to stay healthy and how to manage your stress.

A video on how to cope with anxiety during a crisis has been created by Carers Trust East Midlands and Gerard McGill, who is a counsellor at the University.

It covers how to manage your anxiety, how to spot triggers and the small things you can change that will make your life less stressful.

The short video shares tips on how to create a daily routine, implementing exercise, having a healthy diet and how to communicate with your family and friends.

You can read a story with some more tips on how to manage your anxiety.

Teaching Online: Learning from Colleagues’ Experiences

With all of us suddenly shifting to online teaching, this is the perfect time to hear from innovators who were engaging their students online before the COVID-19 crisis. This symposium is being convened by the Centre for the Study of Higher Education. As the symposium will be conducted virtually, participants will also be able to experience different methods of online teaching first hand from a learner perspective.

The event kicks off with a live session on virtual lecturing at 13.00 on 7 May. That session will also be recorded for access for those who cannot participate in the live event.

To ensure maximum flexibility for academics juggling multiple commitments during this difficult time, the other symposium papers will be available online either as short papers or short videos, with facilitated discussion boards from 7 May to 16 May.

Log on anytime during that period to see how colleagues are making the most of Moodle and engaging students in discussions online. Use the discussion boards associated with each session to ask questions or share your own experiences. Feel free to connect with paper presenters individually for more in-depth discussion.

You can self-enrol on Moodle at where you will also find links to the live events on 7 May.

If you have any questions or difficulties enrolling, please contact heprogsadmin@kent.ac.uk.

Dragan Todorovic on self-isolation and creative writing

Dragan Todorovic, author and Lecturer in Creative Writing in the School of English, was interviewed by Steve Ladner on BBC Radio Kent’s Mid Morning programme earlier this month.

In the interview, Dragan discusses self-isolation due to COVID-19, creative writing and increased discipline and time to write. Dragan draws comparisons with works written during historical times of isolation, and the importance of these documents for future generations:

‘Some of the hugely important books in the history of creative writing have been written in times of isolation of some sort, from Bocaccio’s Decameron to Apollinaire’s Calligrammes and many other books’, Dragan explains. ‘It’s not only about the stories, but it’s also a vital document of how people lived at the time. Everything written at this moment is a document of the time, and we owe it to future generations to write it and leave it for them’.

Dragan also provides advice as to where new writers can start:

‘You have to write about yourself. There is no good creative writing unless you know how to write about the self. Writing a memoir is a fantastic beginning for most people, but it’s also very rewarding’.

The full interview can be heard on the Soundcloud website, with the segment featuring Dragan starting at 3:11:20.

Three students tell us how to make the most of studying remotely

Studying remotely can have its advantages – curating your own environment, working to your own timescale not to mention saving time and money. we spoke to three students who are making the most out of studying at home.

Zoe Horsham – MSc in Social and Applied Psychology

How are you coping with studying remotely?

I’m really enjoying having the opportunity to study remotely. I find that the use of online meetings for lectures saves a lot of commuting time and gives me more flexibility within my day.

Which online resources are you using?

I am using Zoom for meetings/lectures, and Kentplayer for recordings of lectures when livestreams aren’t available, which is accessed via Moodle. Moodle is my main source for all of my assignment information as well as where I can submit my coursework.

Give us an outline of your day

I aim to wake up at around 8am, and the first thing I do is make a list of all the things I want to achieve that day (taken from a list of weekly targets I set up on Monday evening). I aim to keep a 9 to 5 structure for my workday as best as I can. I work in my room or in the garden in the nice weather until around 1pm.

Then I have a break during which I take my allowed exercise time and use it to walk my dog. I aim to get back and start work again at around 2pm, and continue until 5pm, trying to complete as many items on the list as possible. Any that aren’t completed get pushed to the next day’s list, which I’ll add to the following morning. Then in the evenings I relax by watching videos and surfing the internet, and playing video games.

Sam Walker – BSC biomedical science and I’m in my final year

How are you coping with studying remotely?

I have found studying remotely much more effective for me as I have a family and commitments, so being able to work from home and log onto sessions via my phone etc enables me to carry on what I’m doing at home with the kids and work. There are moments when it’s hard as well, for instance when you have deadlines and it makes it much harder to try get them done in peace without the kids under your feet. However, studying remotely gives you so much more flexibility as all the sessions are recorded so if I am busy with something at home I can log onto the session in the evening once the kids are sorted and catch up then.

Which online resources are you using?

I have been using Zoom to enable face to face chats with lecturers and students during live revision sessions. WhatsApp has been used to ask each other questions in relation to study, also we have a group on Facebook with a few lecturers where we can post questions. We have access to Moodle which contains all the recordings and slides for the lectures, also we have full access to the library online as well. I’ve never struggled to find the information I needed from home yet due to the resources available.

Give us an outline of your day

Normally I get up between 8am and 10am depending on when the kids come in to wake me up. Generally I will lie in bed, log onto my student portal and check my emails, our question forums and if anything has been scheduled for the day. Then throughout the day it all depends on how demanding the kids are and how much free time I get to myself to whether I can sit on the computer and do work.

Generally I have had live Zoom sessions going while cooking dinner, preparing lunch doing housework etc. Unless there is a pressing deadline I generally do bits where I can. If not, the night becomes my time to catch up on things that I missed during the day When I get time to myself I just want to sit down and enjoy a few minutes not running round. In my downtime – when I get it – I generally curl up in bed with my other half and watch Netflix or play the Switch or Xbox.

It is hard studying with kids but doing it remotely makes it so much easier to adapt to my lifestyle. I also save a lot of money on petrol – I used to spend two hours travelling into Uni for a 45 minutes lecture, so this mounts up in costs.

Jay Bevan – BSc Computer Science and AI

How are you coping with studying remotely?

I am treating it as I would a normal home day, inserting a couple hours of work into the schedule at my leisure. I’m finding it easier to pace myself and feeling more productive when I control more of my hours.

Which online resources are you using?

I use Moodle and supporting websites relevant to my course like Khan Academy.

Give us an outline of your day

I’ll wake up at 9am, have breakfast at 9:30am and then work until 12pm. Between 1pm to 3pm I will do circuits in front of the house with various bits of gym equipment for an hour. I will then resume work at 3pm and work through till 5pm.

Virtual Exchange Opportunities

Erasmus+ is offering opportunities for young people to engage in free online facilitated dialogue with students across borders and cultures allowing them to improve their digital literacy and employability skills.

The following activities are available:

Social Circles

Participants discuss current issues that matter to them and develop a better understanding of each other’s viewpoints in small group discussions.

For more information and to apply, please click on the Social Circles link

Countering Hate Speech

A five week interactive open online course that takes participants on an action-oriented journey on countering hate speech.

For more information and to apply, please click on the Countering Hate Speech link

Sustainable Food Systems

Engage in intercultural dialogue during live online group sessions and learn about the challenges and opportunities of the agricultural sector in the Mediterranean

For more details and to apply, please click on the Sustainable Food Systems link

For more information, please contact International Partnerships at internationalpartnerships@kent.ac.uk

Job Retention Scheme

As you will be aware, the Government has launched a number of support packages in recent weeks to support organisations during the current coronavirus crisis including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This Scheme allows employers to receive grants to cover the wages of their workforce who will remain on payroll but who are not temporarily able to work during the coronavirus outbreak, which is referred to as ‘furloughing’.

The University is not immune from the significant pressures resulting from this unprecedented situation and we are responding quickly to the changes in line with Government guidance.

As a University and your employer we are intent on protecting employment for all our staff during what we acknowledge is a very unsettling time for everyone. As such we are proposing to make use of the Government Scheme and to furlough those staff for whom there is no continuing work during this period.

We would like to reassure all staff that those invited to be furloughed will continue to receive 100% of their current pay. The Government have agreed to fund 80% of pay and the University is committed to topping up so that furloughed staff receive their normal expected pay and both the staff and the University will continue to pay normal pension contributions. Other terms and conditions of employment and continuity of service will not be affected during this period.

This means that some staff will be designated (with their agreement) as a “furloughed worker” in the coming weeks, which means they will not be provided with work. There are strict criteria for the furloughing of staff and directors will be working with HR over the next few days to consider those categories of staff where furloughing for a period may be appropriate. It is expected that those individuals identified for furloughing will contacted in week commencing 20 April.

We will continue to update you on the situation and more detailed information can be found in the FAQs. In addition you may wish to refer to the Government guidance for more details of the Scheme:

The Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is initially set to run until the end of May 2020, but the Government has said that the Scheme will be extended if necessary. We are keeping the situation under review and will keep you updated as the coronavirus crisis unfolds in the coming weeks.

We appreciate that this is a difficult time for everyone as we continue to work together in very difficult circumstances. We are grateful for your continued commitment to the University and support for each other and wish you and your families well during this time.

Tips for studying remotely from other students

It can be a bit of a culture shock to going from studying in a group, having lots of face to face time to studying on your own. A few weeks ago we published a post with tips on how to study remotely and today we have caught up with three students who are sharing their study tips and their own individual approach to studying remotely.

Jay Bevan – MSc Computer Science and AI

Use Pomodoro timers, I like to do 45 minutes as that gets through the peak of my focus and just before I start losing it. Stick to a fairly lax schedule so you can reshuffle things to your liking, the freedom you get will make you more productive and you’ll stay in a positive headspace.

Sam Walker – BSc Biomedical Science

Definitely put away all your distractions such as the TV. Always try to log on in the morning so at least you get a rough plan for the day. Don’t stress too much if you can’t make a session as there is always a way to catch up. Use your lecturers; they are there to answer questions and they have the knowledge to help you.

Zoe Horsham – MSc in Social and Applied Psychology

It’s important to have a structure to your day even when you don’t need to go anywhere, because without one your body can easily fall into the trap of wanting to sleep all day. To-do lists really help give me a sense of productivity at this time, which is really key at the moment when there’s lots of things that I’m not able to do.

Studying in a different space to where you sleep is ideal as you can relax more easily at night and fall asleep faster. Make the most of the online resources that are available and don’t be scared to contact lecturers or supervisors during this time. They are still there to help you, and expect to hear from you if you have any issues. Arranging Zoom meetings with them can really help explain things and save sending long emails. Plus it gives you a stronger sense of interpersonal connection which can be important when you’re working independently from home all the time.

Coronavirus: collecting your experiences

Special Collections & Archives is looking to collect your experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All of us are experiencing an exceptional time in our lives, where the COVID-19 coronavirus has had an impact on how we live, how we work, and how we interact with each other. Archives have an important role in recording these extraordinary times. In Special Collections & Archives we preserve the history of the University of Kent and the history of the regions and communities of which the University is a part, and we would like to create an archive collection that records the experiences of people in Kent in relation to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

We would like to collect records of your experiences of – and responses to – the pandemic. Your record of your experience can be anything – including diaries or journals, artistic responses, poetry, short videos, and photographs. This can be in digital or physical form and we invite responses from all members of the community – whether you are juggling working at home with caring responsibilities, trying to carry on studying, volunteering in your community to shop or chat to others, or working on the front line as a keyworker.

Your contribution to the archive will be kept by Special Collections & Archives as a donated item and we will catalogue and preserve it alongside our other archive collections. It will also be made accessible to others in our reading room, contributing to research and engaging people with this important part of history.

If you would like to contribute something, then please start to make your record in whichever form you choose. We’ll provide more information about how to send your responses in at a later date. If you have any questions about this project, then please contact specialcollections@kent.ac.uk

For information about Templeman Library resources during this period please click here. If you’d like to know about how Special Collections & Archives can support your research digitally please click here.

Wonke Podcasts

Wonkhe is the home of higher education policy, bringing the sector together through expert analysis.

A community of diverse voices, they provide platforms to drive the policy conversation forward and bring about real change.

Their podcast platform publishes The Wonkhe Show – which is a weekly roundup of everything going on in Higher Education. From University budgets and admissions to mental health during COVID-19, Wonke provides a great selection of podcasts for you to listen to.

To subscribe on your mobile device you can search for Wonkhe’s podcasts on iTunes, google play or your favourite podcast app.

Kent WebChats

The University has now launched Kent Student WebChats which is a new and informal series of live online discussions via Zoom. The WebChats are designed to help students keep in touch with staff and other students.

Staff representatives at Kent can also use these sessions to communicate with students, whether they are still on campus, now at home or overseas.

Any student is welcome to join any WebChat session, however to appeal to certain communities, these are the four sessions using the following themes for this week:

Undergraduate Student Session – Thursday 16 April 13.00-14.00

Chinese Student Session – Friday 17 April 11.00-12.00

International Student Session – Friday 17 April 12.00-13.00

Postgraduate Student Session – Tuesday 21 April 14.00-15.00

With over 72 students signed up so far, they represent a broad cross-section of programmes of study.

Please feel free to encourage students to sign up to the WebChats relevant to them.