Monthly Archives: May 2021

Darwin bedroom

Need somewhere to stay for #KentSummerFest?

What is Kent Summer Fest?

Kent Summer Fest is a fun-packed fortnight of events taking place 21 June- 2 July, arranged jointly with the University, Kent Union and GKSU.

Come together for Kent Summer Fest to socialise, relax and experience what Kent and experience our campuses have to offer after such a difficult year for everyone.

You can look forward to outdoor screenings, live music, street food from around the world and more! This includes lots of evening events so you may wish to stay on campus to make the most of what’s on.

Can I stay on campus during Kent Summer Fest?

Don’t miss out on all the fantastic activities taking place during Kent Summer Fest. On-campus accommodation is now available to book for commuting students or those who have their off-campus accommodation contracts ending soon.

Canterbury students

Self-catering rooms in Darwin Houses are available to book from Saturday 19 June to Friday 2 July to allow you to make the most of everything going on. You can pick the dates which best suit you and the rooms include bed linen and towels with cutlery and crockery in the kitchen for your use.

Rooms cost just £30 a night which you can book online using the promotion code ‘KentSummer’ subject to availability. You must book between a minimum 3-night stay and a maximum 14-night stay, with payment due at the time of booking. If you need to arrive before the 19 July you can also take advantage of our exam accommodation offer.

Medway students

We have rooms available in Pier Quays too, so if you’re not currently living in Pier Quays and would like accommodation during Kent Summer Fest please email stay@kent.ac.uk with their required dates of stay, and a member of the team will respond to your enquiry.

Living in one of our Canterbury campus rooms already?

There’s still time to register for your free accommodation extension meaning you don’t need to move out until Saturday 3 July. Just follow the registration link emailed to you by the Accommodation Office (will be sent on Tuesday 18 May) if you haven’t already. Deadline to register is Friday 21 May.

So stick around, enjoy yourself and take part in all the activities taking place on your doorstep as part of #KentSummerFest

Three students at Medway campus outside

Covid-19 update: plans for Autumn 2021

From Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience

As we move into the final term of this academic year, and on behalf of all our University staff, I would like to take a moment to thank you for the resilience you have shown throughout the pandemic. I know this has been a difficult time for many of you and I, along with the rest of the University, have been humbled by your tenacity and dedication to your studies.

After many months of uncertainty, I am pleased we can now look ahead to the next academic year at Kent and plan the experiences you will be able to look forward to.

The government’s roadmap out of lockdown gives us every reason to be optimistic though, whilst we anticipate that we will return fully to campus as usual from September and will be preparing for this, we are also planning for other possibilities should there be any delays to that roadmap.

Campus

We are getting ready to open our campuses from September 2021 and look forward to welcoming you back to Kent.

There will be plenty of opportunities to make the most of our beautiful spaces and meet with other students, with a range of creative events, activities and ways to get together. Our venues, bars and cafes will be open, following any safety guidance that is relevant at the time.

We will be providing a broad range of events at both Canterbury and Medway, allowing you to reconnect with other students and to make the most of your University experience. Our events will include both face-to-face and online opportunities, ensuring all Kent students can get involved no matter where they are in the world.

Teaching

We are determined to give you the highest quality education and having listened to both you and our staff, are planning our teaching around ways that will best enable your success.

Most lectures will continue to be delivered online in the Autumn term, so that we can timetable as many small-group teaching sessions (eg, seminars, lab classes and studio sessions) for face-to-face delivery as possible. These are the sessions in which you can most effectively share and discuss ideas directly with our staff and your fellow students.

For the whole of 2021/22, summative assessments and exams will remain online, with only a small number of exceptions.

Planning in this way means we will be able to adapt our plans quickly as and when government guidelines give us more flexibility.

Whilst we look forward to welcoming you all back in person, we know that might not be possible for some of you. For those of you unable to return, remote study will remain an option for most courses.

Later this term, as plans progress, your school/department will email you with more details on how your subject will be taught from September and will provide advice for those requiring remote study.

Support

In the past year, we recognise that your studies have been disrupted and you have had to adapt to different ways of learning during the pandemic. We will continue to offer a wide range of support for your academic studies and good mental health, through our academic advisory sessions and services including those from Student Support and Wellbeing and Student Learning and Advisory Service. We are keen to ensure you get the most out of your time at Kent, so we are here to support you throughout your journey.

Along with colleagues from across the University, I will be providing a general update for the Summer Term as part of our series of Kent Student WebChats on Friday 21 May, 13.00-14.00. Please do sign-up online and add and any questions you would like to have answered.

Further information about our plans for the 2021/22 academic year, as it becomes available, will be added to your Coronavirus Student Information pages.

If you have any questions, please email CovidSupport@kent.ac.uk.

With my best wishes,

Richard

Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience

Kent logo

Staff Webchat on Health and Safety on Campus – Thursday 20 May

Our next staff webchat will take place on Teams on Thursday 20 May, from 12.00-13.00. The theme will be Health and Safety on Campus.

The webchat, will be chaired by Professor Richard Reece, DVC Education & Student Experience, and takes place as the latest lockdown continues to ease. Richard will be joined by our Head of Safety, Health and Environment, Dr Jim Bloor, who will outline what the University has been doing to ensure everyone stays safe and how staff can help as more of us start returning to campus.

Ahead of the session, it would be helpful to have as many questions as possible so we can do our best to cover everything in the time. To do this, please sign-up via the form where you can include your question when prompted.

Webchat in June

You can also sign-up to our webchat taking place in June:

Thursday 10 June, 12.00-13.00: Kent Summer – Our plans to mark the end of term with a fortnight of fun and community on our Canterbury and Medway campuses from 21 June to 2 July. Sign-up via this form.

Find out more

Recordings and slides from all previous webchats are available on our staff webpages.

Darren Weir holding his award

COVID Hero Award for Darren Weir

Kent Law School Director of Lawyering Skills, Darren Weir, has been honoured with a ‘COVID Hero Award’ by Kent Law Society. The award was presented in recognition of Darren’s work on the Law School’s Lawyering Skills Programme.

The honour was one of a number awards made by Kent Law Society in recognition of legal professionals across the county “who have gone above and beyond over the last 12 months”. Award winners were announced by Stephanie Boyce, President of The Law Society, at an online ceremony held on Friday 7 May.

Darren was recognised for his work in directing the innovative Lawyering Skills Programme at Kent. He said: ‘This programme, which had to largely move virtually, would not have been possible without the help and assistance of the very many legal practitioners and judges (too many to mention). Thank you to them and thank you to the hundreds of students who have been coping with all their studies this year and taking part in the programme. What a great evening arranged by Alexandra Gordon TEP CTA and her team and sponsors. So many worthy winners.’

Darren was called to the Bar in 1998. For 12 years he specialised in criminal and regulatory law and practised from Stour Chambers in Canterbury following his London pupillage. Darren prosecuted and defended an array of offences from motoring to murder and appeared in all level of court including the Court of Appeal. He was the ‘go to’ local counsel for the Crown Prosecution Service at the time in cases of fraud and sexual offences. He was formally a member of the Criminal Bar Association and is a member of Middle Temple. Having previously been a pupil supervisor, he is undertaking further training to train pupil barristers in advocacy.

Catherine Mayer talk – how the pandemic has affected gender equality

As part of the University’s Belong and Grow week Catherine Mayer will be giving a talk on Monday 17 May at 10.00 ‘ titled ‘; ‘The Coronavirus Pandemic is taking Gender Equality back decades’.

Catherine will be talking about how the Pandemic has affected Gender Equality on individual and organisational level. She will also touch upon the topic of loss, grief and trauma. The talk will be about 30-40min with plenty of time for questions, comments and dialogue at the end.

How to book:

  • Log into Staff Connect
  • Go to ‘My Training Details’ à Training Requests
  • Search with the date 17/05/2021.

‘If you have any questions email ldev@kent.ac.uk

student studing on laptop

What’s on: 10-14 May

It’s the first week of the Summer Term, so this week’s update includes exams advice and support. Read up on revision tips from current students, double-check the online exams guidance and see our Exam Calm webpages.

Wishing you the best of luck with your exams!

Keeping you and your friends safe during Covid-19

Whether you’re on campus or at home, it’s important to follow Government guidelines to stay safe during Covid-19. Simple steps such as sticking to the rule of six/two households outdoors, no mixing with other households indoors and wearing a face covering make a difference. Visit our Covid-19 website to find out more.

Also, from today, symptom-free Covid-19 testing on the Canterbury campus is in the Sibson building and there is no need to book in advance.

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

students at Medway campus

‘Medway Your Way’ online survey

Medway Council are reaching out to young people, up to the age of 25, to find out more about what it feels like to be a young person in Medway by completing an anonymous online survey.

They hope to get young people more involved in shaping the future of Medway, and having a meaningful say in decisions and services.

Take the online survey here.

The survey closes on Sunday 23 May. For more information about Medway Your Way, please visit Medway Council’s website.

Association of University Administrators – upcoming events

Do you have an administrative job in a professional service department or academic school? If so, you might benefit from joining the AUA (Association of University Administrators).

The AUA @ Kent network is a cross-institutional group, encompassing all backgrounds, grades and levels of experience, which aims to support and enhance its members’ professional development.

Who’s who in the AUA at Kent

There are many active AUA members at Kent with different roles within the University and the nationwide AUA organisation.

AUA Advocates at Kent this year are:

  • Natalia Crisanti, Student Engagement and Communications Officer, Student Services
  • Emma Spiller, Education & Student Experience Manager, Study of Law, Society and Social Justice
  • James Redmond, Director of Operations, Division of Natural Sciences

In this unprecedented year, we’ve had to flex and grow as HE professionals, and we hope that he AUA @ Kent network will be a source of inspiration, practical ideas and support for colleagues.

Upcoming events

Here are some of the upcoming networking and learning opportunities and events available for members of the AUA @ Kent group:

Looking after your mental health – Wed 12 May 12.30 – 13.30

A brief overview of the psychological impacts of the pandemic, including those most pertinent to the HE sector. To book, visit the AUA South Network website.

AUA Conference Presentation – Thurs 27 May 12.00 – 13.15

Hear highlights from the AUA Annual Conference 2021. This will include a shortened version of one of the working sessions delivered by Kent colleagues on Think Kent Global Showcase and the GOLD programme, and perspectives from a session on Networking. Email aua@kent.ac.uk to receive a Teams link.

HE Beyond Brexit and Pandemic: future plans – Thurs 10 June 12.30 – 13.30

Brexit, Covid-19, and the climate emergency are forcing us as a sector to review, and in some cases, reset the way we do things. To book, visit the AUA South Network website.

Reflection on pandemic working – Fri 2 July 11.00 – 13.00

This is an opportunity to discuss our experiences and learnings of the past year and think about how we’d like to develop over the coming year. Whether you joined Kent recently, changed jobs within the organisation, or had to flex your way of working to respond to changing needs, this will help reflect on the challenges and strengths we can take forward. Email aua@kent.ac.uk to receive a Teams link

Canterbury picnic – July tbc

Informal lunchtime gathering outside Dolche Vita cafe (or an alternative location depending on weather conditions!) come and meet others and discuss how you’ve found remote working/ return to campus/ feelings on September return. Email aua@kent.ac.uk to be included in a Doodle poll to find a date.

 Wellbeing days on Canterbury campus – Jul/August tbc

Several sessions to help staff recharge and enhance their wellbeing such as Mindfulness, Tai Chi/ yoga/ workshop on improving sleep. Email aua@kent.ac.uk if you’re interested to be included in a Doodle poll to find a date.

Keep in touch

To join our mailing list, find out about joining the nationwide Association of University Administrators or suggest future AUA @ Kent events, please email us at aua@kent.ac.uk.

The Summer Festival of Food

The beginning of the Summer term marks the start of a brand-new food festival on the University of Kent campus.

The 6-week-long Summer Festival of Food will take place on the Registry lawn around an impressive stretch tent structure and will feature a dazzling array of street food dishes from around the world.

The festival will run from Monday 10 May to Friday 18 June, and will be open Monday to Friday, 11.30 – 14.30, and Friday evenings 18.00 – 21.00.

The Street Kitchen, Smokeworks, Canvas, and Taste of Thailand will join forces to create the ultimate multicultural foodie experience. Each week, the street food stalls will serve food from a different part of the world, meaning visitors will be able to enjoy vibrant dishes from Europe, Africa, Asia, and The Americas. There will also be a special week dedicated to Kentish cuisine, featuring Kentish Old Spot Sausages, Brogdale beef burgers, beer-battered haddock with chips, and gypsy tart.

Themed weeks:

  • 10 May – 14 May – Flavours of Europe
  • 17 May – 21 May – Flavours of Africa
  • 24 May – 4 June – Flavours of Asia
  • 7 June – 11 June – Flavours of The Americas
  • 14 June – 18 June – Flavours of Kent

On Friday evenings, visitors will be able to enjoy live music, a pop-up bar, and an outdoor cinema (on selected nights).

Screenings for the outdoor cinema will be held on the Gulbenkian lawn. Tickets must be pre-booked in advance via the Gulbenkian box office. Each ticket is for a zoned area which can accommodate up to 6 students. Food and drink can be purchased through the OnTapp app.

Friday 28 May – 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Friday 4 June – Dazed and Confused (1993)

The Summer Festival of Food will be laid out in a socially spacious way, allowing a safe experience for everyone following all government guidelines. Visitors can keep themselves and others safe by respecting all people on site and following all guidelines/procedures that have been put in place, maintain good hand hygiene, and keep a safe distance between other households/groups throughout their visit.

Find out more by visiting the Summer Festival of Food webpage.

Oscar Films Screened at Gulbenkian from 18 May

The University’s cinema at Gulbenkian is opening again from Tuesday 18 May 2021.

From the 18, the Gulbenkian will be screening this year’s Oscar film winners:

  • Nomadland
  • Minari
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
  • Mank and Sound of Metal plus Ammonite
  • The Dig and Rocks and more.

Tickets are only £6.95 for Uni Kent Staff and £6 for Students. Go to the Gulbenkian website for full listings and tickets (note Box Office open for screenings only from 18 May so please book online).