Monthly Archives: July 2024

Summer at Kent

Summer at Kent: what’s on in August

As well as relaxing in the sunshine, summer is a great time to meet new people, develop your skills and explore!

Summer at Kent is a series of events aimed at students who are staying on or near campus, whether that’s for a few weeks or the whole summer.

Get involved this month

Plan ahead

Use the summer to plan ahead with sessions on how to find a part-time job, working abroad and how to plan your career.

Get outside

Head to the Kent Community Oasis Garden near Park Wood on Wednesdays and Fridays (10:00-14:00) for their open volunteering sessions. Everyone is welcome at Kent Community Oasis Garden, whether you’re an expert gardener, a complete beginner, or just coming along for a chat.

Get creative

Every second Friday, you can join us for Creative Spaces, a crafting and social meet up. Enjoy some crafts, come for a chat or just as a space to chill out.

Be productive

If you’re a postgraduate researcher, join the ‘Shut up and write’ session to help get past any writer’s block and give you that motivation to keep going. The idea behind Shut Up and Write is that you bring your notes and writing implements (whether pen and paper or laptop), and write in focused, concentrated bursts with short breaks for chats with other Researchers. It’s a great way to get writing, even if you edit later!

There are also dissertation workshops at Canterbury campus and online to help you focus on progressing your research project to a conclusion, managing the writing-up process and thinking about how to optimise your dissertation (presentation, formatting, purpose and direction).

Chill out

Relax in the Chill Zone with Nintendo Switch MarioKart, arts and crafts and games including Klask, Table Football and board games. Plus refreshments and cookies.

Celebrate love and acceptance

It’s Medway Pride on Saturday 17 August! Pride Medway takes place in Rochester and features a Pride Parade followed by the Pride Celebrations. There are still some free tickets available for Kent students. And look out for Kent students and staff in the Pride Parade! If you would like to join the Medway Pride Parade, please email R.S.Lamyman@kent.ac.uk.

Get prepared for any resits

If you have resits, there are online sessions around revision skills and coursework resit planning to help you progress.

See all Summer at Kent events.

 

 

laptop showing new student website

My Kent, the new website for students, is now live!

The new My Kent website is designed for current students making it easier for you to find the information you need while studying at Kent. 

Let us know what you think by emailing communications@kent.ac.uk or using the feedback button on the new site. 

Benefits include:  

🔎 A search bar that only searches services and information for current Kent students  

📚 All your Kent services and systems in one place  

🚀Improved design informed by students and user experience experts  

🌍 Website navigation designed for current students only  

These changes are following student feedback that you find it hard to find the information you need on the current Kent website.  

This is the start of a journey of continuous improvements to the website experience for Kent students. So tell us what you like, and don’t like, so we can continue to improve the student website for you.  

What do I need to do?  

Nothing – you will be automatically redirected to the new website. This change won’t affect Moodle, KentVision, your email or timetable.  

For consistency, the name of the student app has also changed to My Kent Student App.  

Postgraduate Conference success

Kent’s Annual Postgraduate Conference took place on Wednesday 3 July 2024, hosted by the Graduate and Researcher College (GRC), in collaboration with the Division of Arts and Humanities, the Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Kent Business School, the Division for the study of Law, Society and Social Justice, and the Division of Natural Sciences.

It was a remarkable celebration of the vibrant research community here at Kent, with a record number of students and staff attending.

Students and staff at conference Speaking at the Conference Reception, Gordon Lynch, the Director of the GRC said:

“The heart of the University’s mission is to produce new knowledge, to train people in developing new knowledge and ways of thinking, and to share that knowledge with the wider world. The annual PG Conference is a celebration of that work – whether it’s for all the innovative work done by our research students, all the investment in their training and development by supervisors and all the work done by other members of staff to make that community of learning possible. It’s been fantastic to see so many people engage with this year’s event and to continue to build on the partnership between the Graduate and Researcher College and our Schools and Divisions.”

Talk at conference in lecture theatre

Thank you to the student and staff organisers for their brilliant efforts in coordinating the Divisional sessions, and to the student presenters for their outstanding contributions. The engaging research talks, insightful panel discussions, impressive poster presentations, and dynamic interactive workshops made the day truly exceptional.

PGR Student Basma receiving award

Finally, we would like to extend our congratulations again to the winners and runners up for the Kent Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, GRC Prizes, and Divisional Session Competitions. A full-list of winners can be found on the GRC Annual Postgraduate Conference 2024 page.

Found in Translation

Margherita Laera Senior Lecturer in Drama and Theatre shares her experience of working with migrant secondary school pupils in Canterbury on this valuable project.

‘One of the most enriching work experiences I have had recently, has been working with Foreign Affairs theatre company on Performing International Plays school workshops, engaging secondary-school pupils and teachers with plays from around the world, often in translation, to foster love, curiosity and respect for global stories. Using international plays as a tool for social justice and representation through an inclusive pedagogy, we have made space for stories that rarely see the limelight but that matter to all, especially to those who don’t feel represented by the curriculum.

We have worked with all kinds of schools, 16 across the country this year, from the most underserved to the most privileged, because we believe that every single young person needs to have a chance to experience and respect stories and characters that emerge from other cultures. As well as at The Royal Court Theatre in London. However, one of these events recently took place closer to home, on campus, in the form of a two-day theatre translation workshop with Ukrainian refugee students and British GCSE Drama students from The Archbishops’ School in Canterbury.  Together they chose and translated a children’s play from Ukrainian to English, ‘Rubbish: Straw, Balloon and Shoe’ by Kateryna Penkova which they performed in front of an audience on the second day of the workshop.

We are incredibly proud that the feedback on our workshops from pupils and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The staff made us want to learn more about our cultures and respect people for who they are”, Workshop Participant

“I noticed students from racially minoritised groups taking the lead in discussions” Teacher

Teachers have highlighted that the workshops helped diverse pupils feel validated and recognised, and supported everyone in acquiring the skills that support English literacy. As well as engaging with social issues, building confidence, working in groups and speaking in front of a large group, improving their wellbeing, engagement and attainment at school and, for the English native speakers, practising foreign language skills.

We have lots to celebrate at the end of our fist academic year. Thanks to the trust of teachers and to our funders – ACE, AHRC, South East Cultural Innovation Forum and University of Kent.

Are you interested in our work? Get in touch! m.laera@kent.ac.uk’

Medway Activities Awards

Kent Stars: Superstar Society

This month’s Kent Stars are the Medway Music Society who won Society of the Year at the latest Medway Activities Awards. They won for transforming the society, and running successful events that would often get up to 70 students attending.  

The nomination said: “I think it is impossible to ignore the achievements that the society has made over the past academic year… I wholeheartedly think the Medway campus would simply not be the same without the Music Society.” 

Hear more from the Medway Music Society and its President Skye: 

“We are the Medway Music Society, we hold regular events with amazing live music as well as interactive events such as quizzes and karaoke. Firstly, to introduce myself and my team: 

  • President: Skye Ryan, third-year student on the Music Performance and Production course. I am a keen guitarist, bassist and vocalist. 
  • Vice President: Chloe Jagger is a second-year student on the Social Sciences course and she is an amazing vocalist. 
  • Social Media Manager:  Izzy Logie is a third-year student on the Music Performance and Production Course and she is a great vocalist and drummer. 
  • Treasurer: Ash Luk is a third-year student on the Music Performance and Production Course and is a stunning bassist and vocalist. 

Medway Music Society 2023-24Front-left: Chloe Jagger; front-right: Izzy Logie; back-left: Skye Ryan; back-right: Ash Luk 

Society of the Year
“Winning Society of the year came as a complete shock as we thought due to the other amazing societies, who have also done so many amazing things for Medway students, the running would be very tough. Yet to hear that we won we are so grateful. 

 

“This year we have really pushed the society to get back on its feet and rise to its former glory as we saw how amazing it could be and the experience it provided for students. Though this did not come easy, there was a lot of work to be done throughout the summer in the build-up to our freshers event to make sure we started off with a bang. 

“This event made a great first impression and we couldn’t have done it without the help of the music lecturers Dr Rich Perks and Dr Richard Lightman. They helpfully guided us through the process making sure we thought through every detail so that this event would set us on track for an amazing year and it truly fulfilled its purpose. 

“And so, winning society of the year was not just down to us but down to all those who supported us along the way. Including our returning crowd of students who stuck with us through the hard times as they knew we would come out on top.” 

What advice would you give to other students?

“As for advice we would give other students running societies… 

“First of all, it is not a small job, if you want success you have to be dedicated and stick to the plan even when it doesn’t seem worth it. 

“Secondly, fix the small problems as they cause so much frustration and yet are fixed so easily. For example, we kept having problems with the key code of our cupboard door and this small fix has led to smoother running events. 

“Thirdly, rely on your team. If you can’t do something yourself, ask for help, there is no point in making it difficult for one person when with the help of your team it can get done more easily and efficiently. 

“Lastly, have fun. If you’re not enjoying it then why should you do it. This was the one rule we took on when starting out as we felt that for this society to work it shouldn’t be painful to run. Yes there will be bumps along the way but overall if it is taking a toll on your wellbeing and you can’t fix a better way then just don’t do it..” 

What are your plans for the next year?

“Next year we plan to continue to grow the society, we have an amazing team taking over that have plans to elevate the Music Society to new levels. Such as getting gigs in different locations, perhaps introducing a music society after hours, a dedicated club night and much more (secret plans to be revealed next year so stay tuned). 

“We, the current committee, can’t wait to see how the Music Society will continue to develop next year.” 

Do you know an inspirational student or student group? Let us know. 

Learn more about the Kent Stars campaign. 

Medway Pride rainbow

Free Medway Pride tickets now available

Tickets allocated specifically for the Universities at Medway for Medway Pride on Saturday 17 August are available now!

Please only book the tickets you need, as these are limited.