Monthly Archives: March 2023

Gulbenkian Open Air Film Festival, 11 May – 8 June

Get ready for an epic summer of cinema under the stars! From 11 May – 8 June, as part of the Gulbenkian Open Air Film Festival, you can enjoy a different movie every Thursday night on the big screen outside the Gulbenkian Arts Centre!

The festival will be showing a variety of different films, from 90’s romantic comedy, Pretty Woman; to biographical fantasy musical, Rocketman.

Gulbenkian Open Air Cinema events are free to attend and non-ticketed, so you can just turn up on the night and enjoy the film!

What’s on?

Encanto (Sing Along) – Thursday 11 May, 21:00
Licorice Pizza – Thursday 18 May, 21:00
Pretty Woman – Thursday 25 May, 21:00
Shaun of the Dead – Thursday 1 June, 21:00
Rocketman – Thursday 8 June, 21:00

Gulbenkian Open Air Film Festival Poster 2023.

Will there be food and drink?

A selection of food, drink, and snacks will be available for purchase during the event. Enjoy fries, wings, nachos, ice cream, popcorn, sweets, and drinks while you sit back and enjoy the film.

There will also be an outdoor bar, serving a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Can I bring something to sit on?

There will be hay bales to sit on, but you are more than welcome to bring backrests, chairs, or picnic blankets to watch the film. We recommend you wrap up warm and wear lots of layers – even summer nights can get quite cold.

What happens if it rains?

As we all know, the Great British Summer can be unpredictable, so in the event of rain, film screenings will move indoors to the Gulbenkian Arts Centre cinema (except for Licorice Pizza on Thursday 18 May).

What time does the film start?

The film starts at 21.00, but you are more than welcome to arrive earlier, get comfortable, and order some snacks before the film begins. Food and bar open from 18.00.

Are the screenings accessible?

Access to the site is along level, hard paths.

The cinema area is predominantly level grass, with limited hard standing pathways. In the event of bad weather, mud and puddles are likely.

Please let us know if you require any additional support and our on-site staff members will be more than happy to help.

Are there toilet facilities?

Yes, toilets are available in the Gulbenkian Arts Centre.

Will there be subtitles?

Films will not be shown with subtitles. However, for hearing-impaired guests, we recommend the use of an app called ‘Subtitle Viewer’ where you can search for the film and play the subtitles as the film plays on the big screen.

For more information, please email Daniel Parsons – D.Parsons@kent.ac.uk

cartoon laptop screen showing head and shoulders of four cartoon people with a variety of clothes and hairstyles, no facial expressions

New Online drug and alcohol support group

The Forward Trust are running a free online course called ‘Change Up’ exclusively for Kent students to overcome the feelings of isolation that can accompany drug use or addiction, and to explore the links between addiction, mental health and self-worth, and the impacts on relationships.

By taking part, you’ll also get access to the Change Up community of young people who are taking part in or have previously taken part in the course.

Who with?

The course is run by a friendly, experienced facilitator from the Forward Trust named Rupert. There’s no hidden agenda to stop using, it’s just a structured setting to talk about your experiences and be supported.

What do I need to do?

It will run over five weeks online Thursday evenings 18:00-19:30 from Thursday 18 May to Thursday 15 June 2023, so you need to be available for all of those Thursday evening slots (18 May, 25 May, 1 June, 8 June, 15 June).

It consists of these five small-group sessions and two additional 1:1 sessions which are organised according to your availability.

If you’d like to participate, please complete the confidential Change Up self-referral form online. You will then be contacted by Rupert, the Forward Trust facilitator, on next steps to take part.

Questions?

If you have any questions, email WellbeingEvents@kent.ac.uk and we’ll be happy to help, or pass on your query if we can’t answer it. Or you can fill in the confidential self-referral form and the group facilitator will get in touch so you can ask any questions before committing to the course.

Want to know more about other wellbeing events and peer support groups? Check out the Student Support and Wellbeing events calendar, or follow @UniKentSSW on Instagram for the latest on what’s on and advice to stay well and connected.

Illustration of mosque on background with blue mountain silhouettes

Ways to support your Muslim peers during Ramadan

What is Ramadan?

“The month of Ramadan is the month in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people, and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.” [Qur’an, 2:185]

Ramadan is the holiest month in Islam. It is a month of intense spiritual rejuvenation during which Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Qur’an, and fast from food and drink during sunlit hours.

When is Ramadan?

This year, Ramadan was expected to begin on the evening of Wednesday 22 March and end on the evening of Friday 21 April.

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.

Ways to support your Muslim peers during Ramadan

Send well-wishes

Here are some common greetings you can use to share your well-wishes with your Muslim peers during Ramadan:

  • ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ – ‘Blessed Ramadan’
  • ‘Ramadan Kareem’ – ‘Noble Ramadan’
  • ‘Kul ‘am wa enta bi-khair’ – ‘I wish you well on this occasion every year’

Consider hosting an Iftar

Consider inviting your Muslim peers to Iftar (break fast) or dinner at your place. Or, you could even bring them over a dish so that they don’t have to cook.

Be considerate when scheduling meetings or other events

Try to schedule meetings in the morning to early afternoon when many Muslims still have energy from the dawn meal (Suhoor) and preferably meetings that don’t revolve around food and drink.

This is a small gesture that will aid the productivity of your Muslim peers, and make them feel appreciated and recognised.

Don’t feel guilty about eating or drinking in front of them.

While you may think you’re being considerate by not eating in front of a peer observing Ramadan, this could actually create unnecessary awkwardness.

Fasting is not solely about abstaining from food and drink, but is more so about reflection, prayer, and connection with God. Observing Muslims know this and so make an intention each day to adhere to the fast despite urges to do otherwise.

If you notice a peer isn’t fasting, try not to publicly ask why.

Not all Muslims will fast for a number of reasons – sickness, needing to take medication, pregnancy, women being on their period etc. Care should be taken not to offend people who are not fasting, by publicly asking for reasons as to why.

Similarly, some Muslims who may not be observant during the rest of the year, may observe Ramadan. Try to reserve judgement and not make any assumptions.

Do not trivialise their fast

Be mindful not to link their fast to a fad diet or reduce it to simply being a great way to lose weight.

To your Muslim peer, this is a deep and highly important religious practice, and they sacrifice their time, appetite and energy because they are committed to their faith.

Join the Ramadan spirit of giving charity

The essence of Ramadan involves recognising the blessings one has and showing gratitude by supporting those who are in need. While this is a prescription for Muslims, Ramadan could also be an excellent time for non-Muslims to offer their support.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

You might be embarrassed by the lack of knowledge, but most Muslims welcome questions from colleagues and friends.

Fasting is an individual experience. Asking a specific fasting person if they need or want anything from you is the best way in ensuring you are actually being supportive and inclusive.

—

Ramadan Mubarak from the Chaplaincy team! Follow @UniKentChaplaincy on Instagram to find out about spiritual support & facilities for students and staff of all faiths and none. We invite dialogue & participation!

Written by Ellie, Student Services, 31.03.23

pale blue background with pink shapes and two cartoon people wearing pink and blue clothes, holding a trans flag (pink, blue and white) looking happy

International Transgender Day of Visibility: 31 March

International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an annual event on 31 March, dedicated to:

  • Celebrating transgender people. 
  • Acknowledging the courage it takes to live openly and authentically. 
  • Raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide. 

Show your support

You can show your support to trans students and colleagues on TDOV by…

⚧️ Choosing to display your pronouns on your signature and your Teams profile 

🏳️‍⚧️ Using a trans flag backdrop for your video calls on 31 March 

🌈 Wearing one of our Rainbow Lanyards, based on the Inclusion Flag

🎓 Completing the Trans Awareness Training (staff) 

📃 Familiarising yourself with our policies, guidance and terminology 

🔎 Finding out more about TDOV and why it is so important 

Learn more about trans experiences and history

Listen to a wide range of trans people sharing their experiences

There’s no single universal trans experience. Take the time to listen to as many trans experiences as possible and recognise how their lives are shaped not only by their genders but also by the intersections of other aspects of their identities.

Here are links to just a few different accounts of trans people’s experiences: 

Some of the history of trans visibility and equality activism

Throughout history there have been people who didn’t identify with the sex they were assigned at birth. While the terminology they used to describe themselves has varied over the centuries, they have always existed and been visible in their local communities.

Trans activism didn’t start in just the last few years. Over the last century, trans people have fought for equality in a wide range of ways. Many trans people around the world have taken to the streets in protest against police harassment – most famously Sylvia Rivera at the Stonewall Riots in 1969.

Others have used the courts to push for legal rights. For example, in 1952, an upper class Scottish trans man, Sir Ewan Forbes of Craigievar, succeeded in getting his birth certificate changed from female to male. Unfortunately, the court records were made secret so April Ashley’s lawyers were not able to access them during her divorce court case in 1970 which severely set back trans people’s access to legal gender recognition in the UK.

Read Christine Burns’ brilliant memoir, Pressing Matters, to find out how key trans legal rights were secured in the UK. 

Written by Lynne Regan, Student Support and Wellbeing, 15.03.23

Togetherall

Activate your free access to Togetherall to combat exam stress

Exam season can be a particularly stressful time for students. Kent’s partner organisation, Togetherall, has a variety of resources to help you make it through your exams and explore new self-help tools along the way.

All Kent students have free access to Togetherall, which you can activate with your student email.

Togetherall highlights

Here are some of our favourite features of Togetherall.

Journal

You can write about absolutely anything using the journal feature – your mood, what you’ve been doing recently, or things that make you happy. You can even add emojis 😊!

Your entries are saved and dated so you can go back and re-read anything you have previously written. Although other users cannot see your journal entries, they are visible to Togetherall’s professional mental health team to ensure user safety.

Goal-setter

This interactive tool allows you to enter a specific goal and the date you would like to achieve it by. You can also enter the reason why you are interested in this goal for extra motivation to keep going.

When you have completed your goal, you can tick it off. All previous successful goals are stored so you can review how much you have achieved over time.

Self-help courses

Togetherall offers several short courses to help you manage complicated feelings around exam season…

  • Managing emotions: Explore what emotions are, how to tolerate your emotions without distress, and strategies you can employ to make managing your emotions easier.
  • Managing stress and worry: Learn about how your sleep, lifestyle, and schedule can help or harm your stress levels. It also offers different ways to face your worries and how to plan for future stressful situations.
  • Balance your thinking: Identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts. You can then build a plan to help you maintain your progress in the future.

Togetherall also offers self-help courses in other personal issues you may be dealing with, such as bereavement or health anxiety.

Please note that Togetherall is mainly a self-help platform. For 24/7 phone, text or WhatsApp support from trained professionals, you can contact our other partner organisation, Spectrum Life.

Self assessments

You can take a short, evidence-based questionnaire to track your feelings on specific topics. For example, depression, social anxiety, and general distress.

When taken repeatedly, you can track your development over time and start observing patterns. For example, you may notice that your anxiety tends to increase after specific events or at certain times of the week.

If you think you could benefit from meeting with a counsellor to address issues concerning you to get thoughts, feelings, behaviour and perspective on life back in balance again, you can access counselling for free through the University of Kent by contacting counselling@kent.ac.uk (Canterbury campus) or MedwayCounselling@kent.ac.uk (Medway campus).

Articles and external resources

There is a range of content available, from personal stories of overcoming hardship to advice from qualified psychologists. You can browse specific categories, such as “student experience” or “loneliness”, to discover the articles most relevant to you.

This section will also direct you towards Kent support services.

Are you interested?

Learn more about Togetherall and how to activate your FREE access while you are still a Kent student.

More support at Kent

For information on wellbeing support and resources available to Kent students (including 24/7 support services), have a look at the Student Support and Wellbeing webpages.

You can also @UniKentSSW on Instagram for tips and reminders on staying well throughout stressful times.

Written by Daisy, Student Services, on 22.03.23

2023 Summer Ball. Saturday 3 June.

Summer Ball end of year party, 3 June

Summer Ball is the ultimate end of year party where campus transforms into a one-night-only festival with 3,000 students getting dressed up and coming together for live music and free fairground rides, as well as street food and themed areas. It’s the only way to kick off the start of summer.

When and where is it? 

Summer Ball is on the evening of Saturday 3 June 2023 and is held on the Canterbury Campus of the University of Kent.

How do I get tickets? 

Tickets go on sale Friday 31 March 2023 at 12:00 and are available for purchase online from the Summer Ball website. 

Who puts on Summer Ball?

Kent Union, your students’ union, hosts the Summer Ball each year for students to celebrate the end of the academic year. Kent Union is a registered charity and all the profit they make is invested straight back into our students.

What was Summer Ball 2022 like?

Last year’s Summer Ball saw some huge acts including Sigala, Karen Harding, Notes, Avelino, Nippa, Santero and Twisted Time Machine, as well as world-class DJ’s. There was also free fairground rides and games, the VK double decker bus, food trucks, insta-worthy photo opportunities, free candy floss and popcorn, Redbull tropical bar, stilt walkers, face painters, 360 photo booth and so much more! Check out the official highlight video to get an idea of the vibe. 2023 is guaranteed to be just as epic!

Student in library

Final year students: how the Templeman Library can help you

As you approach the end of your final year, we are here in Templeman Library to support you through the next few months.

Help with your assignments

You can get 1-2-1 help from your Liaison Librarian on resources for your final assignments and dissertations, plus referencing advice.

Online support is available on our Library Research Skills Moodle page, including finding material for your research and managing your references.

Exam-time study support

During exam time, you’ll find additional study spaces and silent study areas plus bookable individual study rooms in the Templeman Library. Study in the way you want to by choosing a study space to suit you. The Templeman Library is open 24/7 until mid June and the Drill Hall Library is open 24 hours, five days per week (09:00 – 00:00 weekends) from 24 April until mid -June!

Study and work smarter! Check out some of the great tools we recommend, to help you manage your time, take notes and stay focused plus more.

Look after yourself

Browse our Wellbeing and Self-Help reading list or check out the accompanying book displays in the Library. Libby Kent is a leisure collection of e-books and audio books from a wide range of publishers and genres including contemporary fiction, classic fiction, wellbeing and self-help books, themed reading lists such as LGBT titles and Black Asian and Ethnic Minority authored titles, and more.

Need some time out? The Templeman Library’s Chill Out Zone on Floor 1 provides a quiet space to relax and take a break from studying.

Careers and employability reading list

Have a look at our Careers and Employability reading list to find books to help you with career choices and preparing for applications and interviews.

Training session: Using library e-resources to get ahead in the job market

Did you know the library subscribes to business databases which can help you with your job search?

Join our online training session on Friday 31 March 10:00 -11:00 and discover how you can use library databases to help you with your job searches, and to stand out in interviews and applications.

You’ll find out how to access key data about companies, markets, and consumers to demonstrate your knowledge and initiative in your job search.

This is an online event: no need to book. Use this link to join the session: Using library e-resources to get ahead in the job market

After you graduate

Don’t want to miss out on the great resources when you graduate? You can join the Library as an alumni member.

Students sat chatting

Life after uni

Trying to picture life after uni? It can be unsettling to think about the academic, wellbeing and social support networks falling away. But from finding your next step in work or study to building a balanced life after you graduate, there’s lots to help you plan for the future.

Life After Uni Week (Monday 3-Friday 7 April 2023) has you covered with a week of events from employers, recent alumni and the Careers team on career journeys and the support students can access from Kent even after graduation. It’s a great opportunity for final-year students to calm any worries they may have about getting a graduate job they’re interested in, and to get their questions answered.

Careers support – even after you graduate

Did you know that the Careers and Employability Service provides graduate careers support for alumni up to three years after you graduate?

You can also register for Target Jobs, a service which helps you explore opportunities from internships and work placements to graduate schemes, as well as offering online courses and advice to help support your career journey.

Another great resource for networking is the Kent Alumni group on LinkedIn!

Perks of being a Kent graduate

Interested in doing a Master’s degree? How about money off your postgraduate tuition fees? Find out more about further study at Kent’s Further Study Postgraduate webpage, and information about the alumni scholarships.

Kent offers a range of services and discounts for Alumni.

Finding community post uni

Moving from a university environment where there are societies, sports teams and nights out going on all over the place can be unsettling, especially if you are moving back to a smaller town or village where there are fewer people you feel similar to.

This doesn’t have to mean the end of your communities and friendships from uni. See if you can find local sports teams, or perhaps try some online friend-finding apps to find other people in a similar situation to you. Is there a way you can keep going with any new hobbies you have picked up by finding a way to connect with others online?

Wellbeing and mental health support networks

Aside from NHS mental health and wellbeing services, there is also a range of charities and organisations that can assist you in staying safe and supported. Check out our list of self-help resources, most of which are open to everyone.

Alumni groups in your community

Network, share stories and support fellow alumni by joining a Kent alumni group that is relevant to you! These groups can be based on location, school of study or year group, and often communicate around a Facebook group or through emails. They are also amazing ways to plan events with like-minded people – and even your class reunion!

Staying in the loop

Want to stay involved in the University of Kent news and events? Register to receive regular alumni newsletters. You can also follow @UniKentAlumni on Twitter, @UniversityofKentAlumni on Facebook and @UniKentLive on Instagram.

Interested in learning more about how you can prepare for life and work after graduation, and how Kent can support you? Check out the programme of events for Life After Uni Week.

Written by Emilie and Joshua, Student Services, 23.03.23

Students in classroom

Events roundup 27 March – 2 April  

This events roundup features loads of events to help you prepare for exams and life after uni if you are graduating this summer. Including a series of Master’s degree talks and our Postgraduate Open Day on 1 April if you are considering further study. 

Monday 27 March: build your resilience and Wellbeing Café  

On Monday there is an online workshop to help you build your resilience ready for applying for jobs and the workplace.   

Go along to one of our regular Wellbeing Cafes to talk about mental health and try a wellbeing activity.  

Tuesday 28 March: Essay writing in exams and travelling gallery  

You can start preparing for exams by attending this ‘Essay Writing in Exams’ workshop at Canterbury and Medway on Tuesday.  

The SHIFT Festival continues with the Birth Rites Collection Tour. This unique, travelling collection of artwork is currently on the Canterbury campus, and you can book on to a free tour of the collection with Curator Helen Knowles.  

Wednesday 29 March: Careers in engineering talk, Exam Chambers and mock assessment centre  

Interested in a career in engineering? Then don’t miss this free talk by Georgia Thompson who is one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering in 2022. 

Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) are offering an exam practice session at Canterbury and Medway to help you improve your performance in exams and reduce any feelings of anxiety. There’s no revision and no marking, just an opportunity to practice. See all exams preparation events.  

Get some tips and prepare for assessment centres which are now common practice when applying for graduate jobs.  

Thursday 30 March: Exam support, finding a part-time job and ‘Art Against War’ gallery   

Exam support continues on Thursday with sessions to help you with your exam technique and managing stress at both Canterbury and Medway.  

Interested in finding a part-time job to fit around your studies? Get some tips at this careers session.  

See ‘Art Against War’ gallery in Templeman Library, an exhibition which portrays lived experience of the ongoing war in Ukraine. This has been curated with Kherson State University, which is twinned with the University of Kent.  

Friday 31 March: community gardening and vintage sale  

Everyone is welcome to a gardening session at our Kent Community Oasis Garden on Friday. It is a great opportunity to relax, learn some gardening skills and make new friends. 

Find some new vintage pieces at the Vintage Kilo Sale in the Venue between 10:00 and 17:00 on Friday. 

Opportunities

  • Do you want to be part of creating a memorable student experience for students living on campus? Join the Residential Life Assistant team to gain invaluable work experience and get 50% discount on your on-campus accommodation for the 2023/24 academic year.
  • Enhance your employability skills by doing a free Study Plus course. 
Industrial action

Industrial Action update and support

From Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education & Student Experience

This week (Wednesday 22 March) marked the last day of the latest period of strike action at UK universities.

I know this has had a real impact on many of you, and so I want to apologise again for the continued disruption to your studies. I fully appreciate that this national action is over issues affecting staff at Kent, but this is not your dispute – your patience throughout has been greatly appreciated.

On our Industrial Action website, you will find:

At the moment, no further strike days are planned, but the University and College Union (UCU) are in the process of balloting their members on further strikes and action short of a strike (ASOS) so, unfortunately, further disruption is possible.

There have been some positive signals from the national negotiations aimed at resolving the issues and these talks are continuing – we will update you as soon as we know more.

If you have any questions regarding industrial action, you can email IndustrialAction@kent.ac.uk