An online training session on ‘Getting started with Impact’ is taking place on 8 December from 13.00 – 14.00 . The session targets those of you who might be thinking about developing the impact dimension of your research, but who might also face challenges, including lack of time and resources and competing priorities.

The session will discuss how to start an impact, what impact looks like, how to find time, resources and deal with competing priorities, how to find partners and how to develop meaningful and sustainable partnerships.

The session will start with a panel discussion with Prof. Jennie Batchelor (School of English), Dr Kaitlyn Regehr (School of Arts), and Prof. Henrik Schoenefeldt (School of Architecture and Planning) who will share their experience.

This will be followed by a Q&A session, to discuss further the opportunities and challenges of starting with impact. In this session, impact is understood broadly, as including but as not being limited to impact as defined by the REF.

To join the meeting on 8 December please email the Research Excellence Team.

Are you interested in engaging with a world outside of academia? Would you like to find out how colleagues are using film, festivals and a myriad of other ways to engage with lay audiences or policy makers? Perhaps you’d like to improve your media skills or learn more about different communities and how to reach them. If so then please join us on Wednesday 15 December from 14.00 – 15.30 for a staff webchat focusing on the relaunch of Kent’s Public Engagement Network (KPEN).

To join the webchat, please complete this sign-up form. 

KPEN is an informal space where academics, researchers and professional service staff can come together to discuss engagement in all its various and glorious forms. Offering a central hub for engagement, KPEN is designed to enable us to work together to improve and guide our practice and offer a safe space to support and encourage each other.

At the re-launch we will present our new public & community engagement website together with training opportunities coming up in the New Year and the introduction of weekly advice surgeries. There will be an open forum discussion where you can have your say about the way you’d like KPEN to be shaped and any other ideas or thoughts you might have around the field of engagement.

The session will be led by Kent’s Director of Engagement, Philip Pothen alongside the University’s Public & Community Engagement Officer, Jill Hurst.

It should be an informative and enjoyable session and we encourage as many of you to come along as possible. If you have any questions contact Jill Hurst.

The Music Department’s final Lunchtime Concert of the term sees jazz/soul/funk trio, The Deptford Rivieras, coming to Colyer-Fergusson Hall.

The concert will take place on Wednesday 8 December at 13.10 

The trio, featuring Hammond organ, is led by saxophonist with the Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Phil Veacock; the group has just released its latest album, and brings its unique combination of styles that promises to be a swinging finale to the series this term.

As always, admission is free – suggested donation £3 – please reserve a ticket in advance where possible to help manage socially-distanced seating; audience-members are encouraged to wear a mask if they wish.

For more details please take a look at the What’s On page.

The concert is generously sponsored by Furley Page Solicitors.

The Centre for the Study of Higher Education congratulates the following colleagues who applied for Senior Fellowship and Fellowship of Advance HE (formerly the Higher Education Academy) through the Route to Recognition for Experienced Staff (RRES), and successfully gained national recognition for their leadership, excellence, expertise and commitment to professionalism in teaching and learning.  

Senior Fellowship

• Barbara Adewumi – Student Success (EDI) Team
• Jo Collins – Graduate and Researcher College
• Triona Fitton – Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice
• Chris Morrison – Copyright, Licensing & Policy Manager
• Penélope Pacheco-López – Division of Human and Social Sciences
• Chris Shepherd – Division of Natural Sciences

Fellowship

• Fraser James – Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
• David Waterson – Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences

Our official Employee Assistance Programme provider, Care first offers a numbers of services and provide useful advice and support, including weekly webinars.

This week’s (Monday 29 November –  Friday 3 December) webinars are as follows:

Monday 29 November 2021 – ‘How Care first can support you’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please go to webinar link 

Tuesday 30 November 2021 -‘ The benefits of staying positive’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please go to webinar link

Wednesday 1 December 2021 – ‘The positives of structure and routine’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please go to this webinar link

Thursday 2 December 2021 – ‘Tips to manage burnout’
Time 12.00-12.30 – to register please go to this webinar link

Friday 3 December 2021 – ‘Festive wellbeing’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please go to this webinar link

Looking for somewhere social to go for your Christmas Dinner? With your department, or friends?

Woody’s are taking Christmas Dinner bookings now for any date Mon 13 – Thursday 16 December. You can choose between 2 or 3 courses and all meals come with the usual festive trimmings of crackers and mince pies!

2 courses – only £12!

3 courses – only 15!

Bookings can be done by messaging Woody’s on their Instagram or Facebook pages. Or you can drop-in and book at the bar. Click onto the Festive Menu Flyer and get booked in soon!  

Christmas themed classes – Monday 6 December 

Join Jeni and the team for an afternoon of festive-themed Christmas classes, including Santa’s Spin Surprise and 12 Days of Boxfit. Costumes optional! Keep an eye on social media channels UniKentSport where details of all the classes will be shared soon. Classes are free for Premium Plus and Premium members. Make sure you book a space on the class through your online account.

Santa Run – Tuesday 7 December

What better way to get in the festive spirit than a gentle 5k run around the Canterbury campus, following Santa on his sleigh? Join our popular Santa Run, starting at the Plaza at 1pm. Festive outfits encouraged, and the first 100 finishers will earn themselves a shiny (chocolate) medal. When you cross the finish line, head up to The Pavilion Café Bar for a nice (free) warming cup of hot choc, a mince pie and Christmas music! We’ll then announce the winners of the best dressed competition.

You can sign up to the event here on the Gulbenkian website. 

Christmas Jumper Day – Friday 10 December

Throw on your best (or worst!) Christmas jumper and join Kent Sport staff as we raise funds for Save the Children. A donation box will be set up at main reception at the Sports Centre.  

Closing dates

We’ll be signing off for the year on Wednesday 22 December, meaning all Kent Sport facilities will be closed from this date. We’ll be reopening on Tuesday 4 January.  

Stay Well at Home

Wherever you’ll be this Christmas, at home or on campus, you can still stay active with Kent Sport through our Stay Well at Home content. Check out our range of virtual classes and wellbeing articles.

As always, follow us on social media UniKentSports for the latest updates. And visit our website.

As a member of Produced in Kent, the Gulbenkian Café is passionate about supporting the diverse range of food and drink businesses in Kent.

The menu showcases what can be done with the fantastic local produce found right here in the Garden of England. Options include cooked breakfasts, burgers and hand rolled pizzas, made with fresh produce from nearby farms, butchers and cheesemongers.

Our suppliers include Foodari, Cheesemakers of Canterbury, Preston Family Butchers, Coastal Farm Eggs, Simply Ice Cream and many more.

Our coffee supplier, Garage Coffee, is an award-winning speciality coffee roaster based in the beautiful village of Hoath, just outside of Canterbury. They roast in small 12kg batches for optimum quality, and only roast speciality grade coffees which are always fully traceable and fairly traded.

Garage Coffee is the winner of the Kent Non-Alcoholic Drink of the Year at the Produced in Kent ‘Taste of Kent’ Awards 2021 for their Maypole coffee blend, which is served right here in the Gulbenkian Café.  

For more information about the Gulbenkian Café, and to view our opening times, please visit our website.

The Transport Team are encouraging students and staff to interact with @unikent_travel on social media by opening a Transport competition with prizes.

The prizes include vouchers for various food outlets on Canterbury campus and the winner will be announced on Friday 17 December 2021.

To enter the competition:

• Get a picture – this can be a photo you have taken or one that you have created.
• Think of a good caption – either promoting road safety or sustainable travel home for Christmas.
• Post the image and caption – you can post this on Twitter and/or Instagram.
• Tag @unikent_travel in your post to enter the competition.