Monthly Archives: February 2022

Join our lunchtime concert on 9th February with outstanding pianist Michael Lam

Wednesday 9 February, 1.10pm, Colyer-Fergusson Hall, University of Kent

The Music department’s lunchtime concert series resumes for the term with a recital by outstanding pianist and University Music Performance Scholar with the Kent and Medway Medical School, Michael Lam.

The first time a University student has been invited to perform as part of the formal Lunchtime Concert series, Michael’s recital will include works by Bach, Mozart, Haydn, and Schumann.

The performance starts at 1.10pm in Colyer-Fergusson Hall; admission is free (please reserve tickets in advance), donations in support of the Music Scholarship Fund welcome.

Book tickets and find out more.

If you can’t make it to the concert but would still like to watch, we have set up a handy live stream so you don’t miss out.

Get a free professional LinkedIn headshot – Tuesday 8 Feb

A professional looking LinkedIn profile is an essential aspect of enhancing your chances of securing graduate employment.

On Tuesday 8 February, 9.30-16.00, the Careers & Employability Service is offering students the chance to have a professional portrait taken by Matt Cook Photography, free of charge, which can be used for their profile.

On the day:

This is being run as a drop-in session, whereby you turn up, add your name to the list and are seen in turn. This enables the photographer to see as many students as possible. Please allow time to wait, if necessary.
Whilst we will endeavour to see all students that attend, this will be dependent on attendance numbers. We therefore cannot guarantee that you will be seen on the day.
It is recommended you attend in business/smart attire.

Terms of Service

The photographer will be responsible for selecting the most suitable image during the session and undertaking the necessary editing work to ensure the image is suitable. No further editing of images supplied by Matt Cook Photography is permitted. Matt Cook Photography retains the entire copyright of the image and these may be displayed online for the purposes of advertising his work.

If you do not wish for your image to be used for promotional purposes, please ensure this is clearly communicated to the photographer.

The final images will be supplied to the students via a password protected online gallery and this will be made available within 1-4 weeks following the completion of the session.

More information.

Industrial Action at Kent

From Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience

On Thursday 27 January we received notification that the University and College Union (UCU) have announced further strike days as part of the national disputes over the proposed changes to the USS Pension Scheme and over pay and conditions. This will take the form of two periods of action at Kent:

14 to 18 and 21 to 22 February
28 February to 2 March

The UCU’s mandate for its members to take part in Action Short of a Strike (ASOS) – which includes members working strictly to contract, and not rescheduling any missed classes – remains in place until 3 May.

As a university we regret UCU’s decision, particularly as it comes so soon after the December strike, but we do have our mitigation plans in place so that any disruption to your studies is kept to a minimum and, as we did in December, we will be keeping you updated with any developments. We will also provide you with guidance and information about what the strikes might mean for you, as well as the support available to you.

While this is a national strike, we are continuing our talks with our local UCU colleagues to try and reach agreement on addressing what we all agree are important issues. You can read more about this on our webpages.

With all good wishes,

Richard

Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience

E-Learning webinar: ‘Pedagogy and Practice when teaching and learning Online’

The E-Learning Team are pleased to announce that the next event in our series of ‘Digitally Enhanced Education webinars’ will take place on Wednesday 16 February from 14:00 – 16:45 (GMT), with the theme ‘Pedagogy and Practice when teaching and learning Online’.

Agenda:

14:00 – 14:05 – Dr Phil Anthony (University of Kent): Introduction
14:05 – 14:20 – Professor Kathleen M Quinlan (University of Kent): Returning to the lecture hall? how to trigger students’ interest in large group settings
14:20 – 14:35 – Jessica Moody (Advance HE): Building ‘belonging’ in online teaching
14:35 – 14:50 – John Moran, Professor Debbie Holley & Adam Bancroft (University of Bournemouth): ‘Martian Attack: the story so far…
14:50 – 15:05 – Katalin Hanniker & Irina Niculescu (University of Surrey): Co-designing a module with students and staff from different universities, time zones and cultures
15:05 – 15:20 – Amy Rattenbury (Wrexham Glyndwr University): Locking down the fundamentals for Scaling Up your teaching
15:20 – 15:30 – Break
15:30 – 15:45 – Chris Morrison (University of Kent) & Dr Jane Secker (University of London): Copyright and online learning at a time of transition
15:45 – 16:00 – Dr Mark O Connor (University of Kent): Online and blended provision: What can we learn from MOOCs… and what else do we need?
16:00 – 16:15 – Ben Watson (UCL) & George Rhodes (University of Westminster): What are the foundations for meaningful adoption of a digitally accessible culture in the education sector? Lessons from multiple organisations.
16:15 – 16:30 – Dr Suzanna Klaf & Dr Amanda Irvin (Columbia University): Five Principles for Inclusive Teaching and Learning
16:30 – 16:45 – Dr Julie McGurk (Yale University) & Dr Jamiella Brooks (University of Pennsylvania): Rigor as Inclusive Practice

Please share

Colleagues from outside the University of Kent are very welcome to join this community and so feel free to circulate. Please ask anyone wishing to join to complete the Digitally Enhanced Education registration form if they haven’t already. We add them to the mailing list linked to the series.

If you would like to present at a future event, please submit a short synopsis and Phil Anthony will be in touch.

Best wishes,

The E-Learning Team

University earns gold award for work to protect hedgehogs

We are delighted to announce that the University of Kent has been awarded the gold Hedgehog Friendly Campus award!

The Hedgehog Friendly Campus is a programme funded by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. The aim is to offer support to staff and students at Universities to encourage impactful changes for hedgehogs. Hedgehogs in the UK aren’t just in a prickly situation, they’re in danger.

Hedgehog populations have plummeted by 50% since 2000. They are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, struggles to find food and water, littering, poisoning, and traffic on the roads.

Since the University joined the programme in 2019, we have been striving to ensure our campus is a safe place for hedgehogs to live. Some of our initiatives include:

The Landscape and Grounds team undertaking a training course to make them aware of the dangers hedgehogs face and what to do if they find a hedgehog that needs help.
The Grounds team making our campus more accessible to hedgehogs by raising the height of fences, leaving areas of suitable habitat untouched, and by installing ramps into steep-sided ponds. Hedgehogs are strong swimmers, but they may get stuck if there’s no way out!
Informative stickers being placed on machinery such as mowers and strimmers to remind the team to check for hedgehogs before using any equipment.
Regular meetings being held to discuss progress, leading to organised litter picks and surveys across campus.
New road signs around campus to make drivers aware that hedgehogs could be crossing.

Check out the videos on our webpage for more information. Now we have achieved Gold, we are aiming to expand the work we do for hedgehogs as well as many other species. We will soon be transforming the Hedgehog Friendly Campus working group into a new ‘Biodiversity Forum’. This will have a broader focus on the wide variety of biodiversity that is present on our campuses.

If you are interested in becoming part of the new Biodiversity Forum or working on any other biodiversity or sustainability projects at the University of Kent, please email the Sustainability Team at sustainability@kent.ac.uk.

Are you looking for a unique global learning experience?

We have partnered with Sharing Perspectives Foundation and Soliya to offer Kent students the opportunity to engage with peers around the world in small groups and gain practical experience in constructive communication and cross-cultural collaboration, through virtual exchange.

Opportunities Available

Climate Movements – 14 March – 13 May 2022

Explore themes around climate change, movement of people, climate refugees and politics of un/sustainability in this 9-week course. You will have weekly 2-hr sessions where participants can exchange ideas and perspectives in their intercultural, online group, stimulated by video lectures and audio-visual materials. Apply by 14 February 2022.

Connect Collaborate – 4 April – 6 May 2022

During this 5-week course, you will engage with peers around the world in small groups, exploring the themes of Inequality or Technology (you can choose). You will meet online for weekly 2hrs meetings and in your groups, create a social media awareness campaign, and an infographic that will accompany the campaign.

Global Circles, various dates

These 2 week facilitated dialogue sessions are ideal for those who are unable to commit to a longer course. Availability is limited and attributed on a first come, first served basis. Learn more about the topics, dates and how to apply.

Why join a virtual exchange?

Virtual exchange allows students to engage in meaningful, cross-cultural experiences as part of their education. It can broaden access to international learning for every student, regardless of their circumstances, background or ability. These projects provide the framework for you to develop their cross-cultural attitudes, skills, and communication in addition to improving your digital literacy skills valued by employers.

More information about these exciting new opportunities and how to apply.

Condolences for Sir Crispin Tickell, former Kent Chancellor

We were sorry to hear news of the death of Sir Crispin Tickell, Chancellor of the University of Kent from 1996-2006.

Sir Crispin was a career diplomat. He advised four prime ministers and, as cited in his Guardian obituary, had formidable intellect and displayed impeccable timing when intervening in policy.

In a long career, he had often found himself in the right place at the right time. In 1956, as a junior Foreign Office official, he dispatched a Royal Navy destroyer to deter a threatened Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands, an intervention that was successful.

He was involved in many negotiations on behalf of the British government, from arms control with the Russians, to entry talks to the European Community in 1972. But perhaps his greatest contribution to forming policy was on the environment. He argued for mandatory international pollution control, something that is finally taking shape.

In 1977, while taking a sabbatical at Harvard he wrote Climatic Change and World Affairs, one of the first, and for at least a decade, the only book on the coming climate crisis, and what governments should do to prevent it.

Sir Crispin’s final diplomatic post was as British ambassador to the United Nations and permanent representative on the UN Security Council from 1987 until 1990. It was in this post that he played an active part in the talks to end the Iran/Iraq war.

Following “retirement”, Sir Crispin chaired Major’s government panel on Sustainable Development from 1994 until 2000 and was a member of two Labour government taskforces. He was warden of Green College, Oxford from 1990 to 1997 and Chancellor of the University of Kent from 1996 to 2006. He was also president of the Royal Geographical Society (1990-93) and the Marine Biological Society (1990-2001).

You can read the full obituary for Sir Crispin on Guardian online.

Kent’s response to EHRC statements on upcoming LGBTQ+ legislation

The University of Kent is committed to fostering a positive working environment where all staff are treated fairly, with dignity, courtesy, respect and consideration. We recognise that the response of some institutions, both international and national, regarding plans to legislate for a ban on conversion therapy in England and Wales, and Gender Recognition Act reform in Scotland, are placing our trans colleagues at an increased risk of harm.

We do not – and will not – tolerate discrimination and harassment within our institution. We have been pleased to see growing awareness of the diversity of the trans and non-binary community and increased understanding of the breadth of gender identities. Unfortunately, this visibility has come with a rise in hostility towards some members of the trans community.

We encourage all staff and students to actively engage in increasing their understanding of the issues facing the trans and non-binary communities and to take action to create a more inclusive environment. To understand more around the specific current concerns, the Stonewall response to EHRC statements on upcoming LGBTQ+ legislation and Mermaids’ response to the EHRC highlight the impact that this is having on the trans and non-binary communities.

This is situated in an ongoing context, where Trans and non-binary people face discrimination and harassment:

At work, including from colleagues, managers, customers and clients;
In public, including verbal and physical abuse;
Online, particularly on social media where targeted harassment, bullying and abusive comments and even attempts to find and share trans people’s previous names and current address are increasingly common;
Trans people also face barriers to accessing healthcare, such as long waiting lists for treatment.

As an institution, we are committed to speaking out when we witness or hear transphobia, challenging decisions that exclude trans people, including ways of thinking that perpetuate a rigid gender binary, learning how best we can support our trans colleagues at all times, and educating ourselves and those around us.

For members of our trans, non-binary and intersex communities

Network support

Join our communities – the Staff LGBTQ+ Network, Kent Union LGBTQ+ Network and Trans, non-binary, intersex and questioning peer support group are here to support you.

Gender neutral toilets

We recognise that this is a particular concern for trans and non-binary members of our community, and we have maps of both our Canterbury and Medway campuses highlighting the location of gender neutral toilets.

Harassment reporting

We fully support and encourage all our students and staff to report incidents of harassment and discrimination.

Rainbow Lanyard

The University of Kent Rainbow Lanyard celebrates and promotes our work around Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Wearing one shows your commitment to providing a safe and comfortable environment for all of our LGBTQ+ staff and students. It also shows LGBTQ+ people that they can ‘bring their whole selves’ to you without fear of judgement or an unsupportive reaction.

For allies

We recognise that it can be challenging to know how to support other members of our community facing discrimination and harassment or speaking out when we witness or hear transphobia. Below are some actions that you can take.

Update your email signatures

Add your pronouns to your email signature, (Pronouns means how you identify — he/him, she/her, they/them, for instance — and how you’d like other people to refer to you. This is a great, inclusive practice for everyone, even or especially if you’re cisgender – if you’re not sure what this means, Stonewall have put together a helpful glossary).

Active Bystander training

‘Active Bystander’ is an innovative and award-winning training session which gives staff and students the skills to challenge unacceptable behaviours, including those which may have become normalised over time.

We have three sessions planned which are running in April, June and August all bookable via Staff Connect. Students have an online Bystander module that is part of the Expect Respect module on the student Moodle site.

Learn more about the challenges members of our community face

Online training in Staff Training Moodle on Transgender Awareness and LGBTQI – these are easily accessible, available at any time and give an introduction to the challenges members of our community face. We recommend that all staff engage with these training opportunities.

Access resources

Using the resources available removes the burden of questions, explanations and discussions from members of the trans community – the links below are an excellent starting point for people wanting to understand more.

Our LGBTQ+ network have a fantastic blog that covers ongoing news, events and challenges – stay up to date with the issues affecting the community.

Mermaids UK and Stonewall have easily accessible resources and Q&A that cover many of the relevant issues.

Rainbow Lanyard

Be part of the University Community Choir

If the winter blues or work stress is getting to you, it might be time to try singing the blues away!

Try something new and feel connection, create community and lift your spirits… We are delighted to invite you to join the University Community Choir, meeting weekly on Canterbury campus.

The pandemic has been a challenging time and left many of us feeling a bit isolated. Create new connections within the University community and get away from your work and study in a relaxed and uplifting environment.

Singing in a Choir has many benefits, it’s informal, social, and helps you focus on something different as part of a group. Most importantly it’s fun!

It’s free to join, and there are no auditions, and you don’t need to be able to read music. Come along to meet others, or bring a friend. Starting from 9 February, every Wednesday. Sign up now!

Upcoming dates

Wednesday 16 February, 14.00-15.00 (Grimond Lecture Theatre 3)
Wednesday 23 February, 14.00-15.00 (Grimond Lecture Theatre 3)

Spread the word to anyone else (staff or student) who might enjoy this opportunity. If you have any questions, please email Mita Mondal

EDI Forum: Join us for our first ‘open-access’ meeting on 3 February

Do you have an Equality, Diversity or Inclusion matter you would like to raise or discuss? The EDI Forum is the place to do this.

The EDI Forum provides an open-access channel for any member of the University (staff or student, regardless of location) to discuss an idea, issue, good practice initiative or concern relating to equality, diversity and inclusivity at Kent.

As the Forum is open to anyone, all meetings will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. We strongly encourage members of the equality staff and student networks to attend, as well as Divisional and Trade Union equality representatives and leads.

The Forum will be chaired on a rotational basis by its members. The (Interim) Head of EDI will be in attendance to ensure relevant ideas, issues or concerns are raised, investigated and addressed directly with EDI Strategy Strategy Group.

The first meeting is taking place via Teams on Thursday 3 February from 14.00-15.30. If you’re interested in joining the conversation, please go to the EDI Forum webpage where you will be able to link directly through to the meeting.

You can also find out more about the EDI Forum on the EDI Forum webpage.

If you have any questions please email equalityanddiversity@kent.ac.uk (staff) or becky.lamyman@kent.ac.uk (students).