Monthly Archives: November 2023

Events roundup: 27 November – 3 December

Find out what’s on this week, with Disability History Month events, Kent Union’s Cultural Celebrations Week and much more.

Monday 27 November: Support session and Disability History Month events

Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW) are running a support session for students affected by the recent terrorist attacks in Israel and ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This is a drop-in session taking place from 13:00-14:00 on Monday, upstairs in Locke Building near the Coop, staffed by a mental health adviser and counsellor from SSW. All students are welcome.

Our Accessibility at Kent: Empower Showcase is aimed at disabled students, to help you find out about all the services at Kent and Kent Union and how we can help you to learn, work and grow.

At lunchtime on Monday at the Hub, you can join us for an engaging and informative British Sign Language Basics Workshop. This workshop is your gateway to the fascinating world of British Sign Language (BSL). Whether you’re a complete beginner or simply curious about sign language, this event is for you.

Tuesday 28 November: Staying safe and Right to Food event with free meal

Meet our Specialist Advisers, part of Student Support and Wellbeing, at Medway campus. They are expert professionals who help students who have experienced or witnessed sexual assault, harassment, bullying, hate crimes and discrimination. Come along to find out more about Report + Support, our online anonymous reporting service and grab some freebies to help you stay safe.

At Canterbury, you can chat to Kent Police at their drop-in clinic in Locke Building. Talk to them about crime prevention, safety or any general enquiries you might have.

Our students are central to the success of the Right to Food initiative – a commitment to help ensure that everyone has the right to healthy, affordable and sustainable food. Come along to find out more about this exciting project and how you can get involved, then join us for a free meal and drink in the Gulbenkian afterwards.

Wednesday 29 November: Staying safe, mind maps and Coco the therapy dog

Kent Police are holding a drop-in clinic at the Drill Hall Library on Wednesday morning. Drop by and ask them any questions you have around safety and crime prevention. In Canterbury at the Sports Centre you can take part in a free self-defence class, helping to keep yourself safer in the modern world.

Take your mind mapping to the next level with this assistive software skills workshop. Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) will show you the wonderful world of mind maps, and how they can help you plan your assignments.

Looking for an easy way to de-stress? ‘Pause for paws’ and head to Nexus in Templeman Library for some cuddles with Coco the therapy dog.

Thursday 30 November: Christmas decoration making and Cultural Food Festival

Get in the festive mood by making some Christmas decorations in the Venue. Kent Union will provide the decorations so all you need to do is come along and start decorating, enjoying the Christmas tunes while you get creative.

On Thursday evening, come along to the Cultural Food Festival in Rutherford Hall. It’s a celebration of different cultures here at Kent and our student groups will be cooking dishes that you can buy! One meal token is £3 and 3 meal tokens are £7.

Friday 1 December: Your Uni Your Say festive giveaway and Neuro-Insurgence Open Mic Night

Come along to Nexus in Templeman Library for free festive treats including mince pies, fruit cake and Malteser reindeers! All you have to do is write a Christmas wish for what you’d like to see at the uni next year and pop it in the jar. Your wishes (or feedback) will then be shared with Mica – the Head of Student Experience at Kent.

In collaboration with the Stand-Up Society and the Accessibility Students Network, Kent Union is hosting the Neuro-Insurgence Open Mic Night. It’s a one-of-a-kind event at Woody’s that promises a night of laughter, connection, and solidarity amongst neurodivergent students and their allies. This event will include a variety of spoken word poetry, comedy and music acts in 5-10 minute slots, plus some free snacks and drinks.

Saturday 2 December: Trips to Rochester Christmas Market and London Museums

Explore Rochester’s Christmas Market and find some unique gifts for friends and family or try a range of delicious food. Meet outside the Hub, Medway.

Join your Res Life Ambassadors for a trip to London to visit The Natural History Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum. These museums all have free entry and are close to each other so you can visit one or all three if you wish. Meet outside the Venue. You will need to pay for your train ticket to London.

See more student events.

Opportunities

You’re invited to take part in one of the largest studies on student mental health. Complete the Cibyl student mental health survey for the chance to win £100 voucher or smart watch.
Are you planning to stay on campus over the winter break? Let us know! And find out how you can meet others who will also be staying on or near campus.

See more student opportunities.

Your Uni Your Say festive giveaway on 1 Dec

Come along to Nexus in Templeman Library on 1 Dec from 11:00- 14:00 for free festive treats including mince pies, fruit cake and Maltesers reindeers!

All you have to do is write a Christmas wish for what you’d like to see at Kent next year and pop it in the jar. Your wishes (or feedback) will then be shared with Mica – the Head of Student Experience at Kent. Your feedback is important to us so we know what we are doing well and how we can improve. To see all the changes the Uni and Kent Union have made in 2023 in response to student feedback, visit the Your Uni Your Say webpages.

Learn more about the event.

Cookies and Conversation on 7 Dec

Join us in the Library Café on 7 Dec, 15:00-17:00, for an opportunity to influence the services that matter to you, with particular focus on Library and IT services and how you search for information, resources, and books.

Your insights will help us create even better and more responsive services tailored to your needs.

Plus, enjoy some free yummy cookies and hot drinks as we enter into this holiday season together! We also have a few £10 Amazon Vouchers to give away!

Find out more on the events calendar.

See you there!

Find out more about how the University is listening to students. Have your say, make your voice heard and help us shape our services!

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Every year on the 25th of November, the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. But why this specific date? The answer lies in a tragic event that sparked an international movement. On 25th November 1960, the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic, were brutally murdered on orders of the country’s ruler, Rafael Trujillo. Since 1981, women’s rights activists have used this date to raise awareness of gender-based violence and campaign for its end. This day serves as a stark reminder of the violence many women and individuals who identify as women still face, even in the year 2023.

Let’s look at statistics

49 countries currently have no laws protecting women from domestic violence. 37 countries worldwide still exempt rape perpetrators from prosecution if they are married to or eventually marry the victim. And only two-thirds of countries have outlawed domestic violence. These figures paint a grim picture of the global state of affairs when it comes to violence against women.

Expect Respect at Kent

Every individual, irrespective of their gender, deserves to feel safe on campus. In light of this, here at the University of Kent we have a clear and strong message: we do not accept any forms of violence or abuse. But this commitment isn’t just a hollow promise. We believe that everyone has the power to do something about unacceptable behaviour.

Even if you’re not directly involved, if you witness any lack of respect, bullying, or abuse, you have a choice. You can call out the behaviour and report it. We believe that everyone’s voice matters and everyone can contribute to building a safer community.

If you see abusive behaviour, call it out

If you wish to report any incidents, the ‘REPORT + SUPPORT’ is our confidential online reporting tool. You can report and get advice about sexual misconduct and abuse, domestic abuse and stalking, physical and verbal abuse, spiking, harassment or bullying, discrimination or hate incidents. You can choose to report anonymously or get support from an adviser. If you wish to submit a report, provide details for our team to follow up on, or simply learn more, visit the Report and Support webpage. It’s a step towards taking control, getting support, and building a safer community.

Upcoming support events

To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we have organised the following events:

At Kent Sport on 7 Dec at midday there is a f ree self-defence class available for all students who identify as women, and non binary people.
There are also giveaways taking place on 28 November and 6 December in Medway. At the giveaways you can get free torches, gadgets to prevent drink spiking, condoms and more. There will also be specialist wellbeing advisers to talk through questions or concerns, or find out more about reporting issues.

Learn more

Want to learn more about the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women? You can navigate to the dedicated United Nations page to find out more about the scale of the problem and the initiatives that aim to pave the way towards a world free of gender-based violence.

Complete student mental health survey and win £100 gift card

Cibyl would like to invite you to take part in one of the largest studies on student mental health. We want to navigate the conversation and address how universities and employers can support you as you study and when you enter work. Take part in our 10-minute survey to have a chance of winning:

a £100 Just Eat, Deliveroo or Uber Eats gift card (given away every week – 8 to give away!)
an Apple or Samsung Smart Watch – you decide! (one given away when the survey closes!)

Take the survey now!

Mental health can be a sensitive topic for many, but please remember your answers will always be treated confidentially, anonymously and will never be analysed individually. Most questions are not compulsory, and you can stop at any time.

Events roundup: 20-26 November

This week there’s lots on including events for Disability History Month, sustainability and opportunities to spend time with others in nature.

Monday 20 November: Support session, British Sign Language and advanced essay writing

Fancy learning some British Sign Language? Come along to free BSL lesson in Pilkington, Medway, over lunchtime on Monday.

Improve your essay technique at this advanced essay writing workshop at Canterbury campus.

Tuesday 21 November: Bali summer school, bookmaking workshop and advanced essay writing (Medway)

Udayana University in Bali is running three exciting Summer Schools in 2024: Sustainability and Ecotourism, Intercultural Communication, and Coral Reef Restoration. Find out more at the online information session about spending your summer in Bali.

Come along to our drop-in book making workshop to explore the creative, therapeutic and educational potential of a unique collection of artist books and learn to translate your emotional reality by making one for yourself.

Improve your essay technique at this advanced essay writing workshop at Medway campus.

Wednesday 22 November: Therapy dog, University Community Choir and sustainability workshop

Take a break with Coco the therapy dog, a certified Pets as Therapy dog with Pause for Paws in Nexus, Templeman Library. Coco is very friendly, calm and loves to be fussed over.

Try something new and feel more connected by joining the University Community Choir. They meet every Wednesday during term-time at the Canterbury campus.

Want to learn more about sustainability advocacy, and what Kent is doing in response to the sustainability emergency? Find out more about Sustainability at Kent, why it’s important, and how to develop your skills at our sustainability workshop in Jennison Lecture Theatre.

Thursday 23 November: CV and cover letter help and gleaning info session

Find out the essentials for CVs and cover letters, including trends, hints and tips. This event is taking place in Keynes and will also be livestreamed.

Are you interested in how we can prevent food waste by collecting growers’ surpluses and redistributing them to charities and food banks? Come along to the Gleaning info session at Woody’s.

Saturday 25 November: Outdoor activities

Your Residential Life Assistants (RLAs) are running multiple outdoor activities on Saturday. Choose between a nature walk in Blean Woods, meeting Ponies or a women’s social walk around Canterbury campus. Book your place on the Home at Halls App.

Sunday 26 November: Christmas arts and crafts

As we get closer to December, why not join the ResLife Ambassadors for an afternoon of Christmas themed arts and crafts in Keynes to get into the Christmas spirit.

See more student events.

Useful apps to download

Here are some useful apps, services and social media channels to download, use and follow as you start your studies at Kent. From getting around to helping you study smarter, here are a few of our suggestions!

Apps to download

Uni Kent Student App – This will hold all the information you need about becoming a student at Kent – a must have! It has quick links to key services such as your Kent email and Moodle as well as other useful features.

Safezone – This is the campus safety app which gives round-the-clock safety reassurance to all students and staff. It’s free to download and easy to use. You can access first-aid, security, or safety assistance via your phone.

Order Up! – Skip the queues with Kent’s app for table service and click & collect. The app can be used in all University of Kent catering outlets. Simply scan the QR code on the table to order.

Bus apps – These apps have a journey planner, live bus information (in real time) and you can even purchase mobile bus tickets at discounted prices. For Canterbury students, download the Stagecoach app. For Medway students, download the Arriva app. Find out more about travel and discount offers available to students.

Train apps – Southeastern. The ‘on Track’ app helps you access (also) real-time information on trains in Kent. Especially helpful if you’re looking to travel to London from Canterbury West and want to find out when the next train is! There is also National Rail Enquiries which provides information on trains for the whole of the UK if you are travelling outside of Kent.

Taxi apps – Only a few of the companies have an app some of which include: Longley’s Private Hire (Canterbury), Computer Cabs (Medway), and Vokes Taxi (Medway). You can find more information about booking a taxi in the UK and the full list of the services the University of Kent uses. If you’re a Canterbury student, check out the Student Safe Taxi scheme.

Circuit – This is the campus laundry service app. All launderettes on campus are card or app operated so if you need to do a wash, make sure you familiarise yourself with the app ahead of time. Find out more about laundry services on campus.

Home at Halls – This app is here to make your life easier whilst living on campus. It has a range of great features meaning you can report any accommodation faults you find, complete your room inventory when you arrive, access important information about your accommodation agreement, contact the team for support and receive updates and more all in one place on your phone. The app is free and whilst you should download the app in advance, you won’t be able to sign in with your Kent login until after you have collected your keys from reception.

Students’ Union app – Get the most from your student experience with Your Students’ Union App! Your one-stop-shop for getting involved with your Students’ Union. It’s your SU – at your finger tips! Discover events, vote easily in elections and join sports and societies with a few quick steps.

Other things to look at

Who doesn’t want to work and study smarter? Make sure to check out our software finder to discover free apps and software for students and staff to help you make the most out of your time at Kent. From helping you stay focused to supporting accessibility needs, we’d highly recommend you have a browse. Did you know, you can download Microsoft Office 365 for free?

For student discounts check out Unidays. From discounts on food and drink to clothes to technology it’s a must to check out! Happy browsing!

Staying active at uni – free gym membership

Join Kent Sport

All first-year students and students living in accommodation booked through the University are given free Kent Sport Premium Plus membership! This means you have access to all the facilities and services at Kent Sport.

Kent Sport operates all the sport and fitness facilities across the Canterbury campus. All students, staff, and members of the public are welcome to become members, with a wide range of benefits including access to:

Air-conditioned, fully-equipped gym with cardio, weights and strength training equipment
Large fitness and dance studio with up to 60 group exercise classes per week, including our LES MILLS Virtual classes
3 multi-purpose sports halls for almost any indoor sport including an NBA standard basketball court
3 full-size, floodlit artificial pitches for football, rugby, lacrosse, hockey and more
4 full-size indoor acrylic tennis courts within the Indoor Tennis and Events Arena
Dedicated boxing area
Social sport and activity programmes including ALL Active and Give It A Go (students and staff only)
Access to the Kent Sports Clinic performance, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation services (discounted rates for members)

You can join Kent Sport with a free Pay to Play membership, simply by creating a new online booking account.

Join a student sports club

Kent Union run more than 60 different sports clubs on campus, with sports ranging from American Football to Ultimate Frisbee, and each club is open to any student regardless of experience. The sports are represented at a range of levels, from recreational to competitive, so there is something for everyone!

View the full list of sports clubs

Sports Scholarship Scheme

The University of Kent offers athletes the opportunity to join the Sports Scholarship Scheme, which provides sport-specific training, advice, guidance, and funding to continue competing while studying. The Sports Scholarship Scheme is delivered by Kent Sport.

Get outdoors

There are lots of green spaces in Kent, so why not take advantage of them? Going for a jog or a walk outside is great for clearing your head after a long day of studying.

If you want to start running, parkrun is a weekly free timed 5km run, jog or walk every Saturday in parks and open spaces. The Canterbury parkrun starts at the Sports Pavilion on Parkwood Road, and the Medway parkrun takes place at Great Lines Heritage Park (Gillingham).

If you’re looking to take in more scenery, then check out Kent Sport’s Active Campus Routes webpage for some popular walking, jogging, and cycling routes across campus and further afield.

Exercise with a friend

It can be daunting to exercise alone in a gym, or to join a sports club by yourself. Exercising with a friend will mean you’re less likely to get bored, and you can motivate each other by planning new and exciting workouts! On those days when you don’t feel like working out, having someone to keep you accountable will mean you’re more likely to stick to your exercise goals.

Cycle or walk to uni

Instead of taking the bus or driving, take advantage of the many cycle paths and footpaths around our campuses. Walking or cycling as part of your commute is a great way of including activity within your daily life – and it’s good for the environment!

Find out more about walking and cycling at Kent

Managing your studies

Good time management and organisation are key to staying on top of your studies. You will need to plan your time and your assignments, maintain a good filing system for all your study materials, and ensure that you keep pace with your course.

Plan your time

Use a time planner

Use a time planner to take control of your time. This will involve organising your studies (lectures, seminars, reading and assignments) along with all other activities and commitments in your life (work, family etc) throughout the year. Try colour coding different activities on your planner to help keep track of them.

Plan each assignment

Start each assignment as early as possible. Working backwards from the deadline, consider the stages of work needed to complete each one and estimate how long you have to dedicate to each, then plot them on your time planner. Complete each stage of work on time to avoid last minute panics and to meet your deadlines. For a sample of stages in one type of assignment, see managing your essay.

Set achievable goals and prioritise tasks

Divide individual days into bitesize chunks of time and allocate an achievable task to each session e.g. 9-11am – Read/make notes on Journal article x; 11-12am – Draw up essay plan for assignment y; 12-1pm – Proof-read report z… etc. This will keep you focussed and productive, and ensure constant progress.

Consider which tasks are both important and urgent – e.g. Proof-read and submit assignment x – and prioritise these on your daily schedule.

Set up a filing system

Group, organise and store information and work in a logical order

Think about where and how you will group, organise and store course information, handouts, research and your notes so you can find them easily e.g. ‘Module X: Topic A/B/C/D’ or ‘Assignment Y: Research/Notes/Drafts’.
Number assignment drafts (essays, project reports etc) to keep track of the most recent version.
Use ring binders with labelled dividers, computer folders/files or a mixture both to stay organised and save time.

Back-up work regularly on your computer to avoid any risk of losing it

Keep on top of your work

Be pro-active

If you find yourself falling behind with your studies don’t ignore it, reflect on the reasons, consider solutions and take action – action can even be seeking advice if you are struggling or not sure of what you are doing

Seek help in plenty of time if you need it

Ask your lecturer or seek advice from relevant university services which may include:

Resources

For more information on all topics mentioned above and more visit the Student Learning Advisory Service – University of Kent (SLAS) we also offer appointments and workshops.

What to pack?

‘Don’t over pack!’ is one of the most common responses whenever we ask students for the advice they would give for those about to arrive on campus for the first time.

It can be tricky to know what you might need and what you should bring with you, so this is definitely a decision that shouldn’t be based on ‘what more can I cram into the car/suitcase?’ So with this in mind, listen to the voice of experience as our students and staff share their top tips so you can save yourself the pain of trying to squeeze in a second food dehydrator…

Aleena, Psychology student and Liane, English Language and Linguistics student – ‘make a packing list’

Aleena: ‘Making a list would be useful, as I found I missed out [packing] a lot of essentials and had to spend money buying things I already had at home.’ Fortunately, we have a packing list to help get you started but another piece of advice is to ‘pack boxes so items related are put together (e.g. kitchen, bedding, bathroom etc.)’ says Liane ‘this makes unpacking quicker and easier’.

Laura, from our Accommodation Team – ‘check what’s already in your room’

‘Know what’s already included [in your room/accommodation] to avoid wasting valuable space by packing duplicates. You can check what is in your Canterbury or Medway bedroom online.’

Omar, Architecture student – ‘don’t forget the essentials but prioritise things you can’t easily buy’

‘Bring your chargers and double check on things that you need to use every day, such as soap, as it’s easy to forget. But don’t worry too much about these as you can literally get them from anywhere, just mainly bring the things that aren’t easily bought or replaced if you need them.’

Sam, from our Housekeeping Team – ‘know your bed sizes’

‘Aside from forgotten passports or driver’s licences, this is one of the most common mishaps for new students. There are different bed sizes across the rooms on campus (and in private accommodation) so don’t buy any bedding until you have accepted your room offer, and double checked the bed size online so you know which size sheets to buy. Some folks have trouble getting hold of sheets for the 7ft beds, but a king size flat sheet will fit.’

You can find out what size bed is in your room online.

Phil, from our Catering Team – ‘don’t pack the kitchen sink’

‘Just bring enough to get you started as you may want to go in with your flatmates for to buy some items. If you live in accommodation with a meal plan you shouldn’t need anything beyond your basic crockery and cutlery, as kettles are provided. If you’re going to live in self-catered accommodation we suggest just buying a set of crockery and cutlery for yourself, plus food storage containers and basic pots and pans.’

Beth, History and Social Anthropology student – ‘make it home’

‘The best bit of advice was to bring decorative items. Strings of lights, small potted plants for the windowsill or desk, photo frames with silly, happy photos, blankets and pillows, etc. It makes the room that bit more comforting and homely and can help with the homesickness.’

Ella, Wildlife Conservation student – ‘bring things that remind you of home’ 

‘Bring as many things that remind you of your home. Bedroom ornaments or just things, and bring white tack and printed photos and put them up all over your room.’

Harry, Psychology with Clinical Psychology student – ‘someone else will have what you’re looking for’.

‘Don’t stress about forgetting things and feeling like you need to pack every little thing – someone else will have what you’re looking for and will let you borrow it! Also, there is a shop on campus and everything you need can be found in Canterbury.’

Of course, there are also some things you should 100% not be bringing. You can probably guess these but anything with a naked flame, (such as candles, incense, joss sticks, oil burners, barbeques, or smoking paraphernalia) is one to avoid. Cars, mini-fridges, adhesive strip lights, heated airers, multi-way cube adaptors and pets are some of the other items featured on the prohibited items list.

Our Canterbury Arrivals and Medway Arrivals pages are full of useful info to help get you ready to arrive at Kent including more info on what to bring (Canterbury and Medway editions). Plus we’ve got more advice from previous students coming your way, including tips for settling in, so keep an eye on the Accommodation Twitter and Facebook pages for all the latest blogs and useful information before you arrive.

We look forward to welcoming you to Kent soon!