At the end of July, the T&OD team wanted to recognise the commitment of our Digital Specialists who have been creating online learning for our staff. They entered Jena and Amy into the Learning Pool Awards in the category of Rising Star. This award recognises someone starting out in their career, or new to learning and development.

Jena Dady was previously a Talent Advisor within T&OD but applied for the role of Digital Specialist as part of the department’s restructure. This wasn’t something Jena had previous experience in, yet her enthusiasm, and willingness to learn something new and support the change of training methodology in the T&OD team shone through. Jena picked up the software quickly and has a truly collaborative approach to design, ensuring content is accessible as well as engaging, and informative. Jena continues to look for ways to innovate and learn, including looking into the use of VR as part of the learning experience for staff.

Amy Terry joined the T&OD team in September 2020. As this was during the pandemic, Amy had to start her new role working from home, where she didn’t have the usual introduction to the team or networking opportunities. Not only did Amy have to learn about the organisation and her team, but she also had to learn new software and the remote learning approach we were taking during the pandemic. Although this was challenging, Amy’s energy brings light to any room or meeting. Her pragmatic, matter of fact and organised approach meant she started to make differences very quickly within the team and organisation. Amy is methodical, dedicated and produces high-quality learning modules, that are accessible and easy to learn from.

At the end of September, the T&OD team received the excellent news that both Jena and Amy had been shortlisted out of a large number of entries. On 13 October they attending the awards event and although they didn’t win, it was lovely to see two people from Kent being recognised. They were also very happy to receive their goody bags!

The University’s Honorary Degrees Committee will meet in November and again in March 2023 and we are looking for nominations for the award of honorary degrees for the consideration of the Committee.

Anyone can put forward a nomination and to ensure the award of honorary degrees across a broad range of academic disciplines and subject areas it would be helpful to receive a number from each Division and from across the academic disciplines.  You can find all the necessary criteria and guidance, including the nomination form, on the Honorary Degrees Committee SharePoint page.

Nominations should be returned by the 31 October 2022 for the November meeting, and 21 February 2023 for the March meeting by email to councilsec@kent.ac.uk

We have recently partnered with Leading Routes to deliver a series of events and workshops aimed at Black students, who would like to explore opportunities to continue studying and working in academia.

Leading Routes is a pioneering initiative that aims to prepare the next generation of Black academics, by exploring new ways to strengthen the academic pipeline for African Caribbean students, from a Black-led perspective.

Leading Routes will be running a series of events and workshops for students and staff at Kent. These events and workshops are being promoted and managed by the Graduate and Researcher College, learn more and book your place on our website now.

As well as the student events, there are also two online workshops scheduled specifically for Academic, Research and Professional Service Staff:

• The Pipeline – challenging meritocracy and acknowledging structural barriers for Black students – 14 November, 13.00 – 14.30
• Changing Cultures – practical steps towards long term change – 16 November, 13.00 – 14.30

Don’t miss out and book your place today!

Read more about Leading Routes

By Dan Harding, Head of Music Performance

23 October 2012 marked a revolution in extra-curricular music at the University; the moment the doors of the new Colyer-Fergusson Building opened for the first time. Since the vibrant Gala opening which took place the following December, the award-winning facility has been the centrepiece of campus-based music-making in Canterbury, with nightly rehearsals and weekend performances galvanising the space.

Sir James Colyer-Fergusson was a passionate supporter of the University music at Kent, and his generous legacy laid the foundation for the building’s construction. This, alongside contributions from over 200 individual doners and support from the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s Matched Funding Scheme, means the building resounds during term-time with music by students, staff, alumni and members of the local community coming together to explore a wide range of music.

Some of the highlights include the Music department’s popular Lunchtime Concert series. This has provided a welcome respite from the working day once a month during term-time, hosting concerts ranging from Scottish folk group Fara to the Deptford Rivieras, sitarist Jonathan Mayer, saxophonist Martin Speake, and others. Students have also had the opportunity to engage with visiting performers in workshops and coaching sessions, including working with the Glyndebourne Touring Orchestra, the London Conchord Ensemble, percussionist Denis Kucherov, and Dame Anne Evans.

Alongside this, a wealth of internationally acclaimed musicians have performed in the prestigious concert-hall over the past 10 years, including Sir Willard White, the Brodsky Quartet, Joanna MacGregor, Robert Wyatt, the London Community Gospel Choir, Stile Antico, Jess Gillam, Imogen Cooper and Rachel Podger. Renowned harpsichordist Trevor Pinnock has even recorded the entire series of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier in the concert-hall for the Deutsche Grammophon label.

Over 250 students and staff regularly use the practice rooms each academic year, and the Music department’s annual programme of events comes to a flourishing climax each summer in Summer Music Week, celebrating the end of the musical and academic year.

And it’s all thanks to Sir James’ visionary legacy that this can take place, offering remarkable, memorable opportunities to all those who both come to participate as well as come to watch. This December, we’ll be launching the start of a year-long series of events across our music-making, welcoming back many musical alumni, and continuing to celebrate extra-curricular music at the heart of the artistic life of the University community. We look forward to seeing you!

As part of the anniversary celebrations to mark the ten-year anniversary of the opening of the Colyer-Fergusson, the Music department is delighted to have commissioned a new piece by the composer Russell Hepplewhite.

The piece, written for mixed-voice choir and string orchestra, is a setting of the Magnificat interspersed with four new poems written by Nancy Gaffield in the School of Creative Writing, each inspired by an historic painting. There will be two performances of the piece next year, on Friday 31 March in the Colyer-Fergusson Hall at 7.30pm and Friday 9 June in the Colyer-Fergusson Hall at 7.30pm, as part of Summer Music Week.

The KentVision Project has successfully delivered enhanced features and functionality. This will improve the student and staff experience when working on activities such as board of examiners, compliance and student finance.

These upgrades and new features will help improve a variety of processes – reducing administration burdens on staff, removing unnecessary communications, and delivering a better experience for students. It also includes improvements to existing technology released, following feedback from staff.

What has been delivered?

• Improved usability of the right to study screen in enrolment ensuring that students are able to progress through enrolment and re-registration in a timely manner, helping us comply with Home Office rules.
• Improvements to the results release process and result letters ensuring they are clear and meet the needs of our students for the re-sit period.
• Enhanced functionality including changes to improve progression/award rules and exam board reporting particularly for the re-sit period. Post-exam board functionality will allow chairs actions to be recorded and CSAO will be automatically notified – removing administration burden and preventing unnecessary communications.
• Full support for the clearing processes, ensuring permissions are allocated, known issues are resolved, and underlying processes for the new telephone offers initiatives are enabled.
• A new process to roll forward scholarship fund reference data to the next academic year.
• Improvements to the student financial registration processes – ensuring facilitation of student engagement and timely addition of payment information.

This release is the culmination of hard work, and we commend everyone involved for their work – including the KentVision Project Team, IS colleagues, and the users of the system dedicating time to ensure improvements are realised.

Next Steps

• Technology and process improvements to continue over throughout October including Change of Circumstances and also the development of the integration between KentVision and the new CRM.
• New automated communications for student immigration compliance will help us stay in touch with the relevant students and ensure we comply with government regulations.
• We continue to make minor technology and process enhancements for the new admissions cycle – creating a better user experience for staff.
• Technology and process improvements to the end-to-end UKVI reporting process to ensure they are fit for purpose and meet our compliance requirements.
• Business readiness activities, including transition plans and training and communications.

The Cycle Hub, our on-campus bike hire facility, has reopened for weekly and termly bike hire for all students and staff. Hire from a range of bikes and enjoy cycling around campus or take in the beautiful Kent countryside.

Hire prices are £50 for a term, £20 for one week*. To hire a bike, please visit the Cycle Hub at The Pavilion or complete the online form.

We also offer a range of maintenance services and shop items. See our website for more details https://www.kent.ac.uk/sports/cycle-hub

The Cycle Hub is open every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 14.00 and 18.00.

*A refundable deposit of £50 is required for both hire periods.

This is a walking event taking place on the 28 & 29 October at 18.00 for people who identify as female or non-binary.

Meet us at the Gulbenkian and join us for an evening walk to a secret location, where you’ll get a totally new view of our beautiful campus.

Ever:land at Night is a rare opportunity to be at one with nature, after dark, as part of a small group, sharing an immersive experience of landscape, and personal stories of our relationship to other life forms. This is collective time outside in the spirit of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing).

Following the lead of the Reclaim the Streets movement, EVER:LAND, led by artist and curator Emma Leach, is exclusively for people who identify as female or non-binary.

Students are free.

Staff can use code EVER50 to get £2.50 tickets.

Book ahead as spaces are limited for each walk.

To book please visit the Gulbenkian website.

We’re lucky to have some amazing students at Kent. Our Kent Stars campaign acknowledges and celebrate our students’ successes each month.

Do you know of an inspirational student or student group? Complete this short online form to let us know!