Author Archives: Alice Allwright

Murray Smith, University of Kent by Rob Greshoff

Entries for THE Awards 2021 now open

Entries for the Times Higher Education Awards 2021 are now open.

Entries are invited from UK higher education institutions (and for the first time, in Ireland too) across 19 categories, which will be shortlisted and judged by an expert panel,  with this year’s categories listed below.

This year focuses primarily on the 2019-20 academic year, so that includes brilliant responses to the many unforeseen challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, but the judges are aware that lots of work took place during that period that was unrelated to or unaffected by the pandemic, and are keen to read about those too.

  • University of the Year
  • Business School of the Year
  • International Collaboration of the Year
  • Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year
  • Most Innovative Teacher of the Year
  • Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
  • Outstanding Entrepreneurial University
  • Outstanding Estates Team
  • Outstanding Library Team
  • Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team
  • Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year
  • Outstanding Support for Students
  • Outstanding Technician of the Year
  • Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Research Project of the Year: STEM
  • Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year
  • Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year
  • THE Outstanding Achievement Award

Winners will be announced at a glittering hopefully in-person ceremony in late November.

Corporate Communications will once again be co-ordinating Kent’s award entries this year and is happy to support schools/departments with their submissions. Please email Corporate Communications by Friday 21 May if you know of a potential entry – deadline for all completed entries is Wednesday 9 June.

Further information on the awards is available on the THE Awards 2021 website.

Picture shows: Murray Smith, Professor of Film at the School of Arts, who was shortlisted for Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year at the THE Awards 2020.

Politics student wins Best Thesis in Political Theory 2020!

Hollie Mackenzie has won the Sir Ernest Barker Prize for best doctoral thesis in political theory in 2020 from the Political Studies Association (U.K.). The prize was judged by a panel of ‘esteemed and knowledgeable colleagues’ in political studies. Hollie will be awarded her prize at the Political Studies Annual Conference, April 2021.

Hollie’s thesis is titled ‘A Schizo-Revolutionary Labial Art-Politics’ and in keeping with the argument of the thesis and Hollie’s artistic practice it was presented as a sculptural piece in its own right.

The thesis was examined by Prof. Rosi Braidotti (Utrecht) and Prof. Maria Drakopoulou (Kent). In the words of Prof. Braidotti: ‘the experimental form as art project is both daring and perfectly attuned to the theme and thus suited to the content matter: a feminist practice of aesthetic and theoretical resistance’.

Upon hearing news of the prize, Hollie commented: ‘I’m absolutely delighted to be awarded this prize. It was a huge risk to submit an art-thesis instead of a traditional thesis, and the determination and hard work paid off. Creating an enfolded piece of scholarly writing and a melting sculpture was my feminine reinvention of the traditional idea of a thesis to challenge the hypermasculine systems, structures and content in which theses are written and defended in the discipline of political theory, and being awarded the Sir Ernest Barker Prize from the Political Studies Association confirms that a schizo-revolutionary labial art-politics is a welcomed and timely approach to creatively confront the hypermasculine institutionalisation of knowledge.

‘The experience of the art-thesis also presents a challenge to the reader that was welcomed by Braidotti and Drakopoulou, who both commended it was ‘highly innovative’, ‘highly original’, and ‘more approachable and enjoyable’. It is a pleasure to see that my call for different forms of expression, teaching and learning within political theory is being welcomed and I hope that it invites others to create a much needed space for feminine difference through their own responses to the question of what a schizo-revolutionary labial art-politics might become.’

Nadine Ansorg, Head of School, commented: ‘Hollie’s thesis radically challenges existing notions of how a PhD dissertation might be executed and look like, and fundamentally questions the hypermasculine institutionalisation of knowledge. By way of artistic practice, Hollie provides new ways of a feminine artistic problem of what a thesis may become for generations to come.’

The thesis was co-supervised by Dr Iain MacKenzie (Kent) and Anna Cutler (Tate), with Dr Harmonie Toros serving as second supervisor.

Hollie was also awarded the University of Kent Social Sciences Seminar Teaching Prize 2018

Staff Wellbeing Yammer Group

Are you interested in what is going on with Staff Wellbeing at the University? Are you involved in organising communications and events related to wellbeing in your local divisions or teams?

Then join the Staff Wellbeing Yammer group! This has been put together by Occupational Health and Wellbeing to form an energised and informed community focussing on staff wellbeing at the University. It’s for every member of staff, whatever role they perform.

The Yammer feed will keep you up to date with what’s going on. And, it will let you spread the word to others about the wellbeing events and initiatives you organise. The feed will promote discussion about wellbeing at Kent and foster a sense of community, which, in itself, helps to enhance people’s sense of wellbeing. The more people who join up, the greater the level of interaction.

Nothing to lose, all that can happen is that you are more informed!

Music and Audio Technology in public health campaign

Composer and Music and Audio Technology Lecturer Dr Jackie Walduck has created Medway Sonic Hand-Washing Experience, a public artwork commissioned by Medway Council as part of their post-Covid Safe Return campaign, The Rainbow Effect.  The work is a sound-trail of 15 short Hand-washing compositions by Jackie, her colleague Richard Lightman, Kent Alumnus Logan Ellis and other Medway-based artists.

These are accessed via specially designed Hand Hygiene posters installed in bathrooms around the Borough – in libraries, leisure centres, the Brook Theatre and cafes and bars along Rochester High Street.  The posters contain QR codes which, when  scanned on a  phone, take the listener is taken to 20 seconds of sonic pleasure to ensure a clean wash, and more importantly, sufficient time for soap to break down the Coronavirus cell membrane.  Jackie collaborated with Dr Vladimir Gubala from Medway School of Pharmacy to create a voice-over explaining the action of surfactants on cell membranes on two of the tracks.

The sound trail creates an engaging and varied hand-washing experience, and with poster graphics based on glass sculptures by Roberta Mason, offers an alternative to conventional public health messaging.

The Borough-wide Rainbow Effect campaign was launched on 31 March 2021, and artworks will stay in place around Medway at least until June.  Further details can be found on the Medway council website and this Council press release.

Congratulations to our new Fellows and Senior Fellows of the HEA

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

Fellowship

Dr Ben Marsh wins international prize for his latest book

Reader in American History, Dr Ben Marsh, has won a major international prize for his book, Unravelled Dreams: Silk and the Atlantic World, 1500-1840, published by Cambridge University Press in April 2020, based on previous research undertaken in 2013 as part of an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) fellowship. Dr Ben Marsh is the second British recipient of the US Hagley Prize in Business History.

The award committee share, “In Unravelled Dreams: Silk and the Atlantic World, 1500-1840, Ben Marsh spins an epic tale in which imperial conquest meets entrepreneurial failure. Skillfully weaving together the threads of business history, the history of technology, and environmental history set upon the loom of the Atlantic World, Marsh examines the forgotten story of the European obsession with producing this luxury commodity both to replace Asian supplies for home consumption of the ruling elite, and as a profitable imperial export in its own right.”

Dr Marsh attended the virtual prize ceremony on Saturday evening when the announcement was made.

Dr Marsh shares, “Having invested ten years in the work, I was a little paranoid that it might fall into the gaps between sub-fields which I was trying to bridge – like imperial history, economic history, environmental history, and gender history. So to get this recognition is a really heartening affirmation that the time it takes to build these larger research projects is appreciated.”

 

Laptop, Coffee, Notebook, Pen & Glasses

Care first webinars w/c 5 April 2021

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 5 April – Friday 9 April) webinars are as follows:

Monday 5 April 2021 – BANK HOLIDAY

Tuesday 6 April 2021 – ‘How Care first Can Support You’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Wednesday 7 April 2021 – ‘How Care first can support you’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Thursday 8 April 2021 – ‘Social Media, Technology and Young People’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Friday 9 April 2021 – ‘Tips for Managers and Leaders during the COVID-19 Pandemic’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

 

woman working on a laptop on a desk with a notebook

Care first webinars w/c 29 March 2021

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 March – Friday 2 April) webinars are as follows:

Monday 29 March 2021 – ‘Spring Clean Your Wellbeing’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Tuesday 30 March 2021 – ‘Isolation After Lockdown Eases’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Wednesday 31 March 2021 – ‘How Care first can support you’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Thursday 1 April 2021 – ‘Managing Pressure’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Friday 2 April 2021 – BANK HOLIDAY

Kent logo

Covid-19 update – roadmap, testing and accommodation for exams

From Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience

Some of you will know that according to the Government’s current roadmap, the next stage of relaxing the coronavirus restrictions will take place on 29 March.

From 29 March

You may meet outdoors, including in private gardens, with 5 other people not in your household (the ‘Rule of 6’) or as 2 households. Indoor socialising is still not permitted.

You may take part in outdoor sporting activities including team sports. The planned reopening of our sports facilities is outlined on our Kent Sport website.

The ‘stay at home’ rule ends on 29 March. Consequently, you can return to your campus or term-time accommodation from then onwards should you choose to do so and access our currently available facilities. Please bear in mind that teaching for the majority of you will continue to be online until the end of term, and if you do return to campus we encourage you to minimise travel and take part in regular Covid-19 testing.

Postgraduate research students (PGRs) are still expected to work from home unless this is impossible. Access to campus office spaces for PGRs remains extremely limited and only under special circumstances with prearranged agreement. Those PGRs who have already been working on campus can continue to do so under the same conditions.

Our Student Guide events calendar contains many different online activities that you can take part in, as well as links to Kent Union and GKSU, so please get involved.

Covid-19 testing

Thank you to all of you back on campus who are getting tested regularly at our asymptomatic testing site. It is so important you continue to do so, to help look after your friends and those around you.

Please play your part so we can all get back to the life we miss at Kent.

For students on the Canterbury campus, did you know that by being tested regularly you’re entitled to free coffees and lunch? Find out more about our great reward programme.

Summer Term accommodation at Canterbury

Would you like to live on the Canterbury campus during the Summer Term, to help with your studies and taking your examinations?

We can provide a range of accommodation options, from 24-hour to the whole term. 24-hour accommodation will be charged at £35 per night. This price includes bedding, kitchen equipment and your own shower facilities. Longer booking periods are available at discounted rates; please contact accomm@kent.ac.uk for further information.

Our booking form is now available, please enter the promotion code EXAMSTUDY to reserve your room. Availability is limited until the Government restrictions are eased (currently 17 May at the earliest) so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience

Introducing a new approach to Knowledge Exchange

On Wednesday 24 March, Research and Innovation Services (RIS) welcomed practitioners from PraxisAuril, Research England and Universities UK to talk to Research and Innovation (R&I) staff from across the University about the emerging Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) and Knowledge Exchange Concordat (KEC).

The aim of the KEF is to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public funding for KE and to further a culture of continuous improvement in universities. It will form the third pillar of assessment of university activities, alongside the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and the Research Excellence Framework (REF). The KEC will support this, by asking Universities to sign up to good principles and practice which embed KE into the institution.

“The KEF will help us to enhance our KE activities at Kent and benefit the region and beyond. Our submission to the development year KEF as well as participation in the KEC are already clearly helping us to get a much clearer sense of what we have achieved, what we’re doing really well and what we can achieve in the future on the KE front. They will enable us to live up to our ambitions as a civic University, permitting not just high quality research but also to making wherever possible a positive difference within society and more widely.” Shane Weller, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation Services

Whilst many R&I staff members work with some element of knowledge exchange, few have come into direct contact with the KEF and the KEC. Last weeks’ event, which was open to all academic staff supporting knowledge exchange and innovation within our Schools, and Divisions, was an opportunity for staff to increase their understanding of the KEF and KEC, and build their confidence in how they can play a part in the University’s Knowledge Exchange activity and reporting.

Tamsin Mann, Greg Wade, Hamish McAlpine, Myles Hanlon and Carole Barron
Tamsin Mann (top left), Greg Wade (top right), Hamish McAlpine (bottom left), Myles Hanlon (middle), Carole Barron (bottom right)

 

The event kicked off with an introduction from Deputy Vice Chancellor of RIS, Shane Weller, followed by an overview of the KEF from Dr Hamish McAlpine, Head of Knowledge Exchange Data and Evidence at Research England. Policy Manager, Greg Wade, and Policy Researcher, Myles Hanlon, from Universities UK then shared their knowledge from leading on the development and implementation of the KEC, after which Tamsin Mann, Head of Policy at PraxisAuril provided a rounded perspective on what the KEF and KEC might achieve and some of the challenges and opportunities facing the Knowledge Exchange community in the University sector. In the second half of the event, staff members joined Shane Weller and Director of Knowledge Exchange and Innovation and appointed KE Condordat Evaluator, Carole Barron, for an internal discussion about what the KEF and KEC will mean for Kent.

A full recording of the event is available for University of Kent staff to watch online here.