Article by Jan Moriarty, Co-Chair of the LGBT+ Staff Network:

On 1 June, I got to reflecting about Pride Month and why it’s so important to me that we celebrate and commemorate our community, past and present.

I was brought up in the 1960’s and 70’s. When we look back through rose-tinted media glasses, those were supposed to be the days when you could be who you wanted to be, express yourself in myriad ways, shrug off the confines of social expectations. In reality, life in a Catholic, northern family didn’t quite have the freedoms of a new social era and there were very many expectations of behaviour. I’m not crying about it; I didn’t even notice it at the time.

I grew up straight, in a straight world, where it was fine to think about having a job, but you still had to know how to cook and clean and iron your future husband’s shirts! A world where American Tan tights (google it) were the expected uniform for young women (true story!). I saw education as my way out. What could be less confrontational than to leave home for university? I knew I was never going back.

I’d like to say that I started reinventing myself the moment I boarded the train to London with two stupidly heavy suitcases, but I was a very uncool student just as I had been a very uncool child. I studied hard, made friends, but I was no rising star. Then one day in 1985, a chance meeting changed my world. Suddenly there were colours, rainbow colours, and I discovered my true self.

The transformation was root and branch; my straight friends reacted badly, my family even worse. But LGBT+ people made me feel unique, wanted, part of a bigger family, one where difference is celebrated. The LGBT+ community is one of the most diverse, all-embracing, inclusive communities on the planet. The + is very important. The ability to self-define and still be accepted is a fundamental part of this community, which is what makes it so very special. And it’s not just about who’s allowed in; it’s about the support once you arrive. We look after each other, support each other, and use discrimination against us as fuel to support other minoritised groups.

I’ve stood on the shoulders of LGBT+ people who have gone before me, who refused to be boxed in to a hetero-normative world. And, in my turn, I have marched and campaigned for LGBT+ rights that young people can now take for granted. And the struggle is not over; it will never be over.

So Pride Month is important to me because that’s when I feel closest to my community. My LGBT+ family from 1980’s London is now scattered across the world, others we lost in the last pandemic: HIV/AIDS. But wherever I am, knowing that the core nature of this community is to protect its own and speak its truth gives me a sense of balance and belonging. It gives me a sense of Pride.

Get educated (the easy way):

June is Pride Month

As we near the end of our financial year (31 July 2021), colleagues are reminded of the continued need to limit our non-pay spend.

Lockdown rules may have been gradually relaxed and travel become less restricted, but we are still working within extremely challenging financial conditions.

To help minimise our non-pay spend, a number of controls introduced last year remain in place, including:

• Credit card use restricted to a small number of nominated areas
• Limited travel, especially overseas (see below)
• ‘No PO, No Pay’ process still applies

New travel policy

Following the UK Government’s recent relaxation of travel rules, our Procurement team has published an updated policy on staff travel during 2021-22.

The new policy states that staff should travel in the UK and abroad only where absolutely necessary and following detailed risk assessment and latest FCDO guidance.

Travel requests will have to be approved by your line manager or director. The expectation is that travel will be much lower in the financial year 2021-22 than in pre-pandemic years.

University taxi service

A new contract for University taxi services went live in May 2021.

A single monthly invoice for each section of the University is now paid from a single purchase order each month. This will reduce the number of card transactions, very low value invoices and expense claims for taxis. Our new taxi suppliers are:

• Longleys, for journeys around Canterbury, including Canterbury-airport bookings
• Vokes, for journeys around Medway, including Medway-airport bookings

An App will be launched for staff to use shortly. In the meantime, bookings can be made by  telephone and, for cost control purposes, staff will need go through their respective Division bookers.

IR35 legislation

From 6 April 2021, there are extra responsibilities when deciding whether off-payroll working rules apply. This is where consultants or contractors engage with the University through an intermediary, such as a Personal Service company. Further information is available on the Procurement webpages.

Best practice guidance

Our Procurement Team has put together a comprehensive guide to best practice in purchasing goods and services on the University’s behalf.

The new Procurement Manual takes account of changes in legislation post-Brexit and includes easy access to key information, as well as a list of contracts to help you choose which suppliers to use. The Manual will be updated and republished on an annual basis.

Click on a PDF version of the Procurement Manual, or find the latest guidance under a new Procurement Manual tab on the Procurement webpages.

The Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards recognise and celebrate the very best companies, collaborations and projects from across the London & South East region.  This year the University of Kent has made it through as a finalist in the Client of the Year category.  The nomination was submitted by Willmott Dixon to demonstrate their collaboration with the Estates Department on the construction of Sibson, Kennedy and Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS).

The judging panel, consisting of four industry professionals, were impressed with the presentation given by Mark Ashmore, Project Manager in Estates and sent Kent through to the final voting round for the People’s Choice Award.  The voting is now open and you can show your support by using the button at the bottom of the SECBE Awards 2021 finalist University of Kent blog.

Voting closes at 16.45 on Thursday 1 July and will be announced at the Virtual Summit & Awards Ceremony held that day.

Our official Employee Assistance Programme provider, Care first offers a numbers of services and provide useful advice and support, including weekly webinars.

This week’s (Monday 14 June – Friday 18 June) webinars are as follows:

Monday 14 June 2021 – ‘How Care first can support you’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Tuesday 15 June 2021 – ‘Men’s Health Awareness’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Wednesday 16 June 2021 – ‘How to identify if someone in the Workplace is struggling with their
Mental Health’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Thursday 17 June 2021 – ‘Ways to avoid feeling isolated whilst continuing to work from home’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Friday 18 June 2021 – ‘The Possible emergence of a Mental Health Pandemic’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Are you a member of staff with 5+ years of experience teaching or supporting learning? Find out more about HEA Fellowship at our introductory workshop.

The University of Kent’s Route to Recognition for Experienced Staff (RRES) is a non-taught recognition scheme for experienced staff (academic, support, technical, PGRs) with a minimum of five years’ experience of leading, teaching and/or supporting learning in higher education.

HEA Fellowship demonstrates a personal and institutional commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education.  Fellowship can help staff:

• Consolidate personal development and evidence of professional practice in your higher education career.
• Demonstrate commitment to teaching, learning and the student experience through engagement in a practical process that encourages research, reflection and development.

Fellowship is increasingly sought by employers across the higher education sector as a condition of appointment and promotion and is recognised and valued by a growing number of international institutions.

The workshop, led by Julia Hope, will take place via TEAMS on the 5 of July from 11.00 – 12.30. You can join the Team here.  

The session will include:

• how to apply and the application process
• what evidence you will need to put into your application
• the nature and role of the referees,
• the internal assessment process, and further support available for applicants
• an opportunity for Q&A, both as a group and individually

If you wish to attend, email recognition@kent.ac.uk to book a place.

If you are unsure which category of HEA fellowship you should claim for, have a go at the Fellowship Category tool. This self-analysis tool will ask about your professional activities in teaching and/or supporting learning in higher education. You will be asked about the range of activities you undertake in your practice.

International Partnerships hosted a two-day online engagement event for the University’s partners across the world at the end of May.

‘International Partnerships in Tomorrow’s World’ focused on how international partnerships in higher education have evolved and will continue to do so to meet the challenges of a post-Brexit and post-Covid landscape.

The event was an opportunity to share key developments at Kent, including the latest information on the UK’s Turing mobility scheme.

Debate and discussion followed, focusing on supporting students through international crises, a topic introduced by Philip Pothen as Director of Engagement, and on pertinent issues relating to the evolution of our partnerships. Dr. Anthony Manning (Dean for Internationalisation), Prof. Jeremy Carrette (Dean for Europe) Catherine Morris (Environmental Advisor) and Dr. Phil Anthony (E Learning Technologist) delivered sessions on curriculum internationalisation, the logic of transnational education, sustainability, and supporting staff in the move to online teaching respectively.

Hannah McNorton, Head of International Partnerships, reflecting on the event, said:

‘After what has been a turbulent 18 months, it has been wonderful to connect in this way with our partners, building on the benefits gained from our regular Catch up with Kent events to elevate the University’s activities and key developments across our international networks and connections’

Representatives from over 20 partners registered for the event covering 15 countries.

Alongside the general sessions, James Corbin, Head of Careers and Employability Service gave a presentation on finding online work experience to students from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. This took place in the context of Erasmus+ funded project focusing on supporting employability in the UK and Kenya, awarded to Kent in 2020. Nicola Urquhart, Lecturer in Careers and Employability and other colleagues in Kent Business School will deliver a session to Nairobi staff in the next phase of the project.

For further information about the University’s international partnerships, please contact: internationalpartnerships@kent.ac.uk