Monthly Archives: April 2021

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Covid-19 update: Return to campus

From Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience

On Tuesday, the Government confirmed that students in England will now only be able to return to universities for face-to-face teaching from 17 May at the earliest. This is disappointing news for all of us, and I have written to students today to update them and share our frustration at this further disruption to their studies. 

Latest Government proposals 

Under the latest guidance announced yesterday, students who are still off campus can only return for face-to-face teaching no earlier than 17 May, in line with the next phase of ending lockdown. As we are now moving into the exam term after the Easter break, our focus will therefore be on continuing to support students wherever they are based and ensuring we are doing everything we can to help them achieve the best possible outcome in their online exams from 10 May onwards. There is more information on support available for students on our Student Guide.   

The Government announced further details on asymptomatic testing requirements when students do return, plans to provide home-testing kits for students and an additional £15m in hardship funding to support those most in need. We are awaiting further details on what this means for us at Kent and will share more information as soon as possible. 

Kent Summer plans 

After what has been such a difficult year for everyone, we are determined to give our students a chance to come together to mark the end of the academic year. We are currently developing joint plans with our Students’ Unions to run a programme of activity throughout the summer term culminating in a two-week celebration at the end of June. We will provide further updates on this as soon as possible and I hope a number of you across the University will be able to help with shaping plans as they come together. 

Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience

Challenging Racism – Live Webinar 19 April and Inclusion Circle 22 April

Continuing with our ‘Challenging Racism’ campaign, staff are invited to join us at two key events – a Live Webinar on 19 April and an Inclusion Circle session on 22 April.

For our final Live Webinar on Monday 19 April at 13.00, we are delighted to welcome Dr Jason Arday on ‘Let’s talk about race’.  The 90-minute online webinar is facilitated by Inclusive Employers, with a guest speaker, panel discussion and Q&A session.

We will be looking at why talking about race is difficult and why silence is so damaging to all of us, including:

  • What we can all do to encourage and improve conversations around race
  • Language and saying the ‘wrong’ thing
  • Top tips for starting conversations about race

Dr Jason Arday is an Associate Professor in Sociology at Durham University and Deputy Executive Dean for People and Culture in the Faculty of Social Science and Health. He is a Visiting Research Fellow at The Ohio State University in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, an Adjunct Professor at Nelson Mandela University and a Trustee of the Runnymede Trust, the UK’s leading Race Equality think tank. He is a presenter, with Heidi Mirza, of a podcast on Dismantling Race in Higher Education. 

Book your place today via Eventbrite. You can listen to our two previous live webinars on the Challenging Racism Together webpages (scroll down to the bottom of the page).

Inclusion Circle

Our next Inclusion Circle ‘Taking action on race inequality and inclusion’ will take place on Thursday 22 April at 10.00, and is open to staff from all ethnic backgrounds.

The aim of the Inclusion Circles is to create a safe environment to listen to staff concerns, shared lived experiences, discuss a variety of topics, and show solidarity. The 90-minute session is facilitated by Inclusive Employers consultants Aminata Pungi and Addison Barnett, and will include:

  • An open discussion on how to tackle racial inequality.
  • A facilitated conversation focusing on the problems and ideas for solutions.

Spaces are limited so please email ChallengingRacism@Kent.ac.uk if you would like to join.

About Challenging Racism

The aim of the ‘Challenging Racism’ campaign is to promote unity, not division and to help understand and develop more inclusive behaviours. To do that, we all need to increase our awareness and understanding of racism and how it can be tackled within Kent, to ensure all staff and students feel safe and empowered.

Please share this and encourage your contacts and teams to sign-up so that we can all work together and take the first steps to address racism at Kent and beyond.  If you have any questions, email challengingracism@kent.ac.uk

#EDI #challengingracismtogether #choosetochallenge

Students sat on lawn

Postgraduate study at Kent – Instagram lives and scholarships

ZIn your final year? If you’re considering postgraduate study at Kent, check out these Instagram lives (@UniKentLive) coming up:

  • Wednesday 14 April at 14.00 – PG students Shelley and Laura will answer your Qs around Postgrad life at Kent
  • Friday 16 April at 15.00 – LLM student Alex from @kentlawschool will answer your Qs specifically around studying Law
  • Friday 23 April at 15.00 – Recruitment Officers Russel and Jon will give you application tips and advice and a tour of the Postgrad specific spaces on campus.

The Instagram Lives will be available to watch after on our Instagram.

Postgraduate study talk

Join Professor Paul Allain, Dean of the Graduate and Researcher College, Dr Tim Hopthrow, Deputy Dean of the Graduate and Researcher College and Stephen McLaughlin, Postgraduate Funding Officer for a Postgraduate Study at Kent presentation and Q&A session. Takes place online, Wednesday 21 April 12.00-13.00.

Come and ask questions about postgraduate study at Kent and find out what funding options there are for Master’s and PhD study.

Exclusive funding for Kent students

Kent has over 100 awards for students with a First or 2.1 degree undertaking postgraduate study at our locations in the UK and Europe including new scholarships exclusive to Kent Finalists:

Learn more about our postgrad offer at Kent by checking out our #StayOn #StandOut webpage.

student sat at laptop

What’s on: 12-18 April

This week we will see the further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions, you can learn how to ace virtual job interviews, and check out our Exam Calm webpages.

Using the library or on campus during the break? Book your Covid-19 test now 

Getting tested for Covid-19 couldn’t be easier with testing centres on campus. We are also giving you a free hot drink at Canterbury to say thanks.

For those observing Ramadan, the British Islamic Medical Association has published advice on testing during the fast.

Book your asymptomatic Covid-19 test now

Events for you to try this week: 

Browse all events

Have you read this? 

Browse all student support

Keep an eye on:

Let us know what you think of these updates by emailing communications@kent.ac.uk

Marking Ramadan 2021

Ramadan begins on the evening of Monday 12 April and ends on the evening of Wednesday 12 May 2021. Muslims follow the lunar calendar, so the exact start and end dates depend on the sighting of the moon so these dates can vary slightly.

Ramadan is followed by the festival of Eid-ul- Fitr, a celebration to mark the end of Ramadan, which will take start on the evening of Wednesday 12 May and the evening of Thursday 13 May 2021.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the name of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

Muslims believe it is the month during which the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) over 1400 years ago. Ramadan is the holiest month of the year for Muslims and it is considered that the reward of good deeds during this month are multiplied several fold.

During Ramadan, from dawn until sunset, Muslims are obliged to abstain from all forms of food, drink (including water), smoking and sexual activity. Most Muslims will wake before dawn for a meal before the start of their fast (also known as Suhoor), and break their fast (also known as Iftar) with dates and water at sunset, and then a meal.

This year, fasts in the UK will last around 15-16 hours. The start and end times vary as the month progresses.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The overall purpose of the fast is to gain Taqwa (which means to gain piety or God consciousness). This is achieved through an increase in prayers, reading the Qur’an, self-reflection and self-discipline.

Find out more

For further information and guidance for managers and staff, take a look at the Inclusive employers Ramadan 2021 fact sheet.

Welcome to Chris Sleeman, Interim Head of Admissions

From Simone Davies, Director of MORA 

I am delighted to welcome Chris Sleeman, Interim Head of Admissions, to MORA (Marketing, Outreach, Recruitment and Admissions).

Chris joins us from Regent’s University London, where he was Head of Admissions and held a variety of roles during his 10-year career at the institution. Prior to entering Higher Education, Chris worked in business development and business support/consultancy, building networks, and implementing process improvements.  Over the coming months, Chris’s focus will be on leading the team, post a review of admissions, to improve processes and services to benefit our applicants and the University.

I am sure you will join me in welcoming Chris to the University of Kent.

Simone Davies | Director of MORA

Next Generation Impact event – ‘Perspectives on Impact’

The University’s Research Excellence Team, in collaboration with KMTV, present ‘Next Generation Impact’, the first streamed impact series for all levels of academic and professional staff across our sector.

The series will tackle all aspects of the impact agenda, from engagement to working in partnership and funding impact activities. With panels of esteemed experts within the field, pertinent and provocative questions will be addressed as the ‘Next Generation’ of impact is considered in terms of expertise, maturation of research impacts, and how we move forward as a sector in facilitating and maximising impacts.

The first virtual event titled ‘Perspective on Impact will be taking place Monday 26 April between 12.00 – 13.00. Find out who will be on the live panel on the Next Generation webpage  and book your place via Eventbrite.

The team look forward to seeing you there!

 

Murray Smith, University of Kent by Rob Greshoff

Entries for THE Awards 2021 now open

Entries for the Times Higher Education Awards 2021 are now open.

Entries are invited from UK higher education institutions (and for the first time, in Ireland too) across 19 categories, which will be shortlisted and judged by an expert panel,  with this year’s categories listed below.

This year focuses primarily on the 2019-20 academic year, so that includes brilliant responses to the many unforeseen challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, but the judges are aware that lots of work took place during that period that was unrelated to or unaffected by the pandemic, and are keen to read about those too.

  • University of the Year
  • Business School of the Year
  • International Collaboration of the Year
  • Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year
  • Most Innovative Teacher of the Year
  • Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
  • Outstanding Entrepreneurial University
  • Outstanding Estates Team
  • Outstanding Library Team
  • Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team
  • Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year
  • Outstanding Support for Students
  • Outstanding Technician of the Year
  • Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Research Project of the Year: STEM
  • Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year
  • Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year
  • THE Outstanding Achievement Award

Winners will be announced at a glittering hopefully in-person ceremony in late November.

Corporate Communications will once again be co-ordinating Kent’s award entries this year and is happy to support schools/departments with their submissions. Please email Corporate Communications by Friday 21 May if you know of a potential entry – deadline for all completed entries is Wednesday 9 June.

Further information on the awards is available on the THE Awards 2021 website.

Picture shows: Murray Smith, Professor of Film at the School of Arts, who was shortlisted for Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year at the THE Awards 2020.

students sat outside

Covid-19 update: Government Restrictions, Exam Guidance, No Detriment Policy

From Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience

This year’s vacation period signals a further relaxation of Coronavirus restrictions as the Government moves into Step 2 of its roadmap to get the country out of lockdown. As of 12 April, non-essential retail will re-open along with some entertainment venues and hospitality outlets.

On the Canterbury campus:

On the Medway campus:

  • The Student Hub reception will be open from 10.00 – 16.00 Monday to Friday
  • Keep an eye out on the GKSU website and social media for further updates and activity

We’ll all need to continue to play our part in keeping everyone safe as restrictions start to ease, so please carry on observing all social distancing regulations and guidance concerning Hands, Face, Space when using campus spaces and facilities.

With the Rule of 6 now in force, I hope as many of you as possible can take the chance to socialise outdoors in groups of six or as two households – do remember though that indoor socialising is still not permitted with those not part of your household, and there can be consequences if you do not stick to the rules. Thanks to all of you for continuing to help us keep our campuses safe as we continue with preparations to get life back to normal at Kent.

Summer Examinations 

We have published a guide to help you prepare for your Summer online examinations and revise effectively. There are a range of resources you can access as well as tips for structuring your revision and staying focused.

Remember that if you wish to stay on campus for any part of the Summer term, we have a range of accommodation options available starting at £35 per night. You can book online using the EXAMSTUDY promotional code to reserve your room.

No Detriment 

We have added a new bank of FAQs to our No Detriment Measures 2021 webpage based on our continued commitment that no student is disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic.

Covid-19 testing 

For those of you staying on campus over the Easter vacation, please help us have a great summer together by continuing to get tested twice weekly for Covid-19. If you intend to travel, please take a test before you leave for your permanent home. You should also get tested at a nearby community facility, if possible, before you return to campus after the Easter break.

Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience

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Covid-19 update – 8 April 2021

From 12 April, we will be moving into Step 2 of the Government’s roadmap to ease the country out of lockdown. From Monday, non-essential retail can reopen along with some entertainment venues and hospitality outlets.

For example, on the Canterbury campus, Kent Sport will open its indoor gym facilities and other services as outlined on its website. The main Co-op store and Library Café will also reopen.

In line with the roadmap guidance, all staff should continue to work from home unless they are deemed critical or essential workers. If you are working on or accessing campus, having followed the latest Government guidance and are Covid-19 symptom-free, it is very important that you get tested twice a week. We are offering asymptomatic Covid-19 testing for both students and staff at both Canterbury and Medway. Booking is currently open at the two sites.

Graduations

We recently wrote to all our final year students confirming our delayed plans for this year’s graduations. While everyone will still receive their certificate so there should be no need to delay plans for employment or further study, it is important that every Kent student can enjoy the graduation ceremony they deserve. Unfortunately, we are unable to guarantee this for this summer – however, we will be welcoming all our final year students to celebrate their graduation at Canterbury or Rochester Cathedral next May.

Summer celebrations

We are working on joint plans with our Students’ Unions to make the most of summer and celebrate the end of term, including a festival fortnight of fun and community on our Canterbury and Medway campuses from 21 June to 2 July. We are aiming to have something for everyone, with music events, outdoor catering, sports programmes, screenings, workshops and much more to coincide with the planned removal of Government restrictions.

Watch out for further announcements on this soon, and I hope as many students and staff as possible can join activities when we can this summer and come together safely to mark the end of a difficult year for everyone.

Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience