Author Archives: Alice Allwright

Sign up to Death in the Diner – a murder mystery event

In teams of up to 6,  work together to catch the killer in this interactive murder mystery event! Get together a team of your friends and colleagues for this brand new show in Mungos on the 20 & 21 May 2022. Get your tickets here!

Knickerbocker Gloria’s is the gaudiest American themed diner in town, known for their milkshakes, roller skates and cheap chips. There was nothing unusual about the hustle and bustle of the evening crowd until a piercing scream of “murder” rippled through the diner. The body found stabbed, bloody and covered in sprinkles, Gloria’s murderer can’t have gotten far… But can your team deduce what led to the Death in the Diner?

In this interactive murder mystery event your team will interview the murder’s suspects, examine the evidence and try to avoid the sneaky red herrings. Put your sleuthing skills to the test and work together to catch the killer.

Tickets are £42 and include a table for up to 6 people (£7 per person when the table is filled)

Food and drink are not included in the ticket but there will be a menu available and a bar at the event.

About the University of Kent Players

Founded in 2013 we are a theatre group made up of staff and friends of the University of Kent from all walks of life with a shared love for theatre. We are thrilled to be back in 2022 with an original production.

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @unikentplayers

Facebook: University of Kent Players

Twitter: @UniKentPlayers

Belong and Grow Week 2022: 16 – 20 May

The T&OD team are happy to share the details for their upcoming Belong and Grow week, which will be coinciding with Learning at Work week, running 16 -20 May.

The main aim is to encourage you to take time during the week for your personal development and wellbeing, and we have created a programme of events that we hope you will find interesting and inspiring.

Full details of everything we have going on during the week can be found on their SharePoint site, which they will keep up to date with any changes to the programme.

You will find a blend of in person and virtual sessions, which cover a range of topics such as Tai Chi, creative writing, staff networks and CV writing skills. It will also include the return of the popular Coffee with a Mystery Colleague scheme, where staff have the opportunity to be matched with someone across the University who they may not normally get the chance to network with.

We hope to see lots of you join us for the week, and if you have any questions, please get in touch with the team at ldev@kent.ac.uk

AΦE WHIST – get discount for this immersive VR/AR experience

Over the course of an hour, WHIST takes you on an interactive journey, merging physical theatre with Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) technologies and an art installation, for a truly immersive experience.

Gulbenkian co-commissioned WHIST in 2017 and it premiered in the Colyer-Fergusson Hall in April that year before going on to tour the world. Now AΦE return to Gulbenkian Arts Centre as Associate Artists and WHIST returns with them as an international hit.

Inspired by the work of Sigmund Freud and Japanese artist Shuji Terayama, WHIST invites you on a journey into the unconscious mind, through the dreams, fears and desires of a fictional family. WHIST blurs the boundaries between consciousness and the unconscious, reality and fiction, the physical and the virtual.

When:

Wed 4 May –  Sun 8 May, times vary.

How much:

Tickets are normally £10 each – but Kent students and staff will receive a discount of £7 per ticket.

How to book:

To book your ticket for this virtual experience visit the Gulbenkian website.

Call for Papers: Research and Innovation Support Network Conference

This one-day conference will provide an opportunity for all research and innovation staff, across the University of Kent, to share their expertise and experiences.

Time and place

The conference will take place on Tuesday 5 July on Canterbury campus. Book your place via  EventBrite Research & Innovation Support Network Conference from Tuesday 3 May 2022.

Why now?

We’ve all experienced unprecedented challenges over the last two years, with many of us adjusting to new teams or ways of working, but there is also a lot to celebrate and be proud of.

We want to provide an opportunity to share these experiences, learn about the practical approaches being taken to support research and innovation, share ideas and resources, spark debate, understand if there are opportunities to collaborate and better support each other, and strengthen existing and develop new networks.

Submit a proposal 

We want to feature voices from research and innovation professionals across the university. Submissions are encouraged from colleagues at all career stages – from individuals who have never presented or run a session at a conference or event before, to more experienced voices from our community.

Below is a list of suggested topics, but we also welcome proposals outside of this scope:

  • Balancing roles and competing priorities
  • Current issues, challenges and problems addressing them
  • Inclusive research and innovation
  • Implementing external policies and innovation in a complex research environment
  • New tools and technologies: what, why and how of adoption and implementation
  • Research and innovation in a global environment
  • Reward, recognition, and career progression.

To submit a proposal please complete this Form.

The closing date for proposals is Friday 20 May at 12 noon.

Contact us

Email the organising committee with your comments or questions.

NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex – Research Week

Professor Sally Kendall, ARC KSS Research Capacity Lead, is pleased to announce the programme for this year’s Research Week which reflects equality, diversity and inclusion in all its forms. The week also highlights how it is important for applied research, researchers across all professions and disciplines and engaging with the public.

The week includes a line-up of learning and development events, research insight talks and presentations aimed primarily at early career researchers, PhD students and independent researchers. It has been designed to help bring people together across academia, health and social care.

All events are free, with virtual events taking place 20-22 June and an in person all day symposium on 23 June at the University of Sussex.

The programme includes a range of presenters from ARC themes, as well as some external presenters who will be sharing their work and expertise on topics such as inclusive research, visual communication and personal exploration/reflection.

Use our new app Order Up!

Order Up! is our new catering app for mobile ordering. It allows you to order food and drink from your favourite cafés, bars, and restaurant on our Canterbury campus.

Veggie or Vegan? We have dishes with you in mind! Why not try Origin’s Smoky Vegan Bean Chilli served with rice and guacamole? Or if it’s meat you crave how about our Hut 8 Big Stack Burger filled with a 1/3 beef patty, bacon, and cheese? Those options and so much more you’ll find on our  various catering outlets and their menus.

We have 4,900 people who use our Order Up! app and counting! As a student, staff member or visit of Kent, you too will enjoy all our app’s features and services.

How do I use Order Up!?

When you use our app, you’ll choose from the features we offer:

  • Order and pay at table
  • Order for collection or delivery
  • Use our contactless payment

You can also:

  • Browse through our menus
  • Look at your order history
  • Select our meal deals

How do I get Order Up!?

Download our app from the Apps Store or Google Play and you’ll order food and drink from your mobile wherever you are.

Want to order from your PC or laptop? No problem! Use our Order Up! web app on Safari, Chrome or any web browser.

Where do I order from?

Visit our Catering website and you’ll find a list of all our catering outlets to order from when you use our Order Up! app.

What have we achieved?

We’re very proud to have recently won the Marketing Award at the 2022 Public Sector Catering Awards for our Order Up! app. The award celebrates marketing campaigns that prove to be successful and exceed expectations. To make sure it was easy for you to use our Catering team spent many hours building the app and testing it by using the back our house software system.

To find out more about our award, read through our Staff News story.

Announcing iCCi Advisory Board – 31 March 2022

The Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries (iCCi) is proud to announce the formation of our inaugural Advisory Board. It brings together a diverse range of experts from across the creative industries, including representatives from our ART31 programme and the student body here at Kent.

Launched in September 2021, iCCi provides an innovative new approach to creativity at Kent. It aims to bring together everything cultural and creative Kent does on and off campus – connecting the University’s nationally recognised arts programme with its internationally recognised research and teaching.

It also forges new relationships with the expanding range of creative businesses in Kent.

iCCi is already playing a key role in the region, as lead partner in Creative Estuary, a £4.3m Cultural Development Project running until 2023.

Ambitious new projects include The Docking Station, the conversion of a listed building at Chatham Historic Dockyard into a unique creative facility including a state-of-the-art immersive digital studio, co-working space and artist studios, due to open in 2025.

Professor Catherine Richardson, Director of iCCi says:

I am really delighted to have in place a Board with experience, talent, authority and such a diverse range of interests from across the creative industries. I know that they will support and challenge us to make a hugely positive and lasting impact on the cultural sector in Kent and beyond.

Announced on 31 March 2022, the board will hold their first formal meeting on 12 April 2022.

Board Members

Chair: Lizzie Hodgson

Lizzie is a consultant and strategist, founder of ThinkNation and Nile and Chair of RE: Generation 2031. She works within creative industries, global corporations, the public sector, government, and charities. She helps to identify purpose and vision, delivering impact and growth primarily through strategic communications.

Vice Chair: Mel Alcock

Mel is an experienced Chairman & Executive Director drawing upon experience garnered in Senior Executive roles at Fremantle, Disney, Sky, i-Crossing, and Curzon. Mel is currently Chairman of the British Board of Film Classification, Mentor at Ascension Ventures, Vice Chairman of Cement Fields and Owner of the Complete Circle Consultancy Ltd.

Aisha Dosanjh

Aisha is President of Kent Union, the student body for University of Kent. She studied Psychology at Kent, has been involved with a range of student societies, and as Uniion President is committed to working with students and enabling them to get involved with and lead campaigns on issues they are concerned about.

Ray Mia

An Immersive audio producer for Music, TV, Film & Audio Drama. Ray founded RECHORD.XYZ, is former Executive Vice President at UMG – the world’s largest music company and owner of Liverpool based record label JACARANDA RECORDS. A graduate of University of Kent, Ray is a supporter of creativity in the county, sitting on numerous boards including The Marlowe Theatre, The Thames Estuary Growth Board and Kent Music.

Conrad Murray

Conrad is Director at the BAC Beatbox Academy. He is a multi award-winning theatre-maker, writer, director, rapper, beatboxer, live looper and singer. He uses his Anglo-Indian working-class background to address issues such as class, race and heritage. He was listed as one of the Top 100 in The Stage newspaper’s annual industry list in 2021 and was named in The Observer’s top ten theatre shows of the year in 2020 for his work as musical director and composer on Pilot Theatre’s Crongton Knights.

Sonia Nayyar

Sonia Nayyar is the Project Manager for Cohesion Plus, a local diverse led arts organisation based in North Kent. Cohesion Plus is an Arts Council England recognised National Portfolio Organisation and delivers culturally diverse events and outdoor festivals across Kent. The aim of the organisation is to showcase culturally diverse arts and promote community cohesion, celebrating shared values.

Jo Nolan

Jo is Managing Director at Screen South, a Kent based Cultural Development Agency. She has extensive experience in independent film production, having developed her skills through Production Management, AD Department and Art Direction. Her contribution has been integral to the success of several award-winning talents from the UK independent film scene and she has delivered over 250 productions including features, award winning shorts and music promos.

Imogen Robertson

Imogen is a creative producer and consultant based in Medway and the South East. Having worked as a producer and general manager in theatre and the museum sector, Imogen returned to Medway, where she grew up, as Bid Director for Medway’s UK City of Culture bid. She has produced work for The National Trust, Madame Tussauds, Pussy Riot, Toyota and Stella Artois and has a particular interest in interactive and digitally innovative arts and work that engages audiences in contemporary issues and historic contexts in new ways.

Sacha Wares

Sacha Wares is a critically acclaimed theatre director, who has worked for more than twenty years at the forefront of British new writing. She is the founder of Trial and Error, a new creative studio producing drama and documentary using immersive technologies. She is associate artist at the Donmar Warehouse, innovation associate at English Touring Theatre and associate director at the National Theatre’s Immersive Storytelling Studio.

Nick Willis

Nick Willis is an artist and student who is passionate about arts opportunities for young people across Kent. He’s written and directed a short film with iCCi and BBC New Creatives, as well as currently working as a BFI Film Academy Young Programmer in London. Having been a part of ART31 and its Youth Board Generate for a number of years now, he is looking forward to assist iCCi in their exciting and ambitious plans to grow.

Marking Ramadan 2022

Article by the Talent and Organisational Development team 

Ramadan begins on the evening of  Saturday 2 April and ends on the evening of Sunday 1 May 2022.

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.

Ramadan is followed by the festival of  Eid al-Fitr  which for the year 2022 is celebrated/ observed on sundown of Monday 2 May ending at sundown on Tuesday 3 May.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the name of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

Muslims believe it is the month during which the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) over 1400 years ago. Ramadan is the holiest month of the year for Muslims and it is considered that the reward of good deeds during this month are multiplied several fold.

During Ramadan, from dawn until sunset, Muslims are obliged to abstain from all forms of food, drink (including water), smoking and sexual activity. Most Muslims will wake before dawn for a meal before the start of their fast (also known as Suhoor), and break their fast (also known as Iftar) with dates and water at sunset, and then a meal.

This year, fasts in the UK will last around 14-15 hours. The start and end times vary as the month progresses.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The overall purpose of the fast is to gain Taqwa (which means to gain piety or God consciousness). This is achieved through an increase in prayers, reading the Qur’an, self-reflection and self-discipline.

What is Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of the month of Shawwal, which follows Ramadan as the 10th month of the lunar-based Islamic calendar.

Its name comes from an Arabic term which translates as the “feast of breaking the fast” and, although not a public holiday in the UK, it is for many Muslim countries.

It marks the end of Ramadan and was originated by the prophet Muhammad. It is one of two global festivals celebrated by Muslims every year, the other being Eid al-Adha, which falls later in the summer and honours Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for one to three days, depending on the country. Fasting is forbidden on the Day of Eid, in contrast to the 30 days that came before.

Find out more

For further information and guidance:

University Teaching Prizes 2022 – applications open

Applications for our 2022 Teaching Prize awards are now open! Every year we reward individual colleagues or teams for their fantastic work in teaching and/or learning support.

For this year prizes will be given in each academic division. There’ll also be a university-wide prize for learning support.

Who can apply

Colleagues can apply from all divisions and professional services teams.

For this year’s application you’ll need to think about three criteria:

  • Excellence in Teaching or Supporting Learning
  • Dissemination and Influence
  • Above and Beyond Expectations of Normal Working

How to apply

To apply please complete our University Teaching Prizes application form.

When to send it by

Please send your form to the Centre for the Study of Higher Education by 17.00 on Friday 13 May 2022.

What happens next

Chaired by Professor Richard Reece, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Education and Student Experience, the panel will meet early June 2022.

Prizes will be given out at the end of the Learning and Teaching Conference on Monday 20 June 2022.

For more information visit our Teaching webpage.

Lead by example initiative

At Kent, we wish to encourage excellence amongst students, leading by example. In light of our Good Neighbour initiative, we aim to celebrate local student residents who exemplified what it means to be a kind and respectful neighbour.

At Kent, our aim is to inspire students to be good neighbours, by drawing from the model students living in our communities and bringing them to the forefront. We would like to recognise the achievements of those students who go the extra mile and embed themselves within their neighbourhoods.

Do you have local student residents displaying exemplary behaviour and community spirit in your area?

Are your student neighbours benefitting the area where you live and giving back to their community?

We would like you to get in touch with information about your excellent student neighbours. Please provide their address and some information about why your neighbours deserve recognition for the award.

You can either:

Contact us on communityliaison@kent.ac.uk.

Fill out the Good Neighbour Award form online.

We look forward to hearing your experiences and celebrating students who deserve recognition for their contributions to our local community.

We plan to interview the winners of the Good Neighbour Awards and share these case studies with our cohort of students to inspire and empower them. We will use these real-life examples to inform our resources for the future and make them relevant to students living locally in years to come.