Are you interested to find out how you can bring experiential learning into your modules through virtual exchange?

Virtual exchange (VE) or Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) uses technology to allow students to engage in meaningful, cross-cultural experiences as part of their education.  It can broaden access to international learning for every student, regardless of their circumstances, background or ability.  With recent events preventing traditional study abroad, these projects provide the framework for students to develop their cross-cultural attitudes, skills, and communication in addition to improving their digital literacy skills valued by employers.

International Partnerships and the Dean for Internationalisation would like to invite you along to an introductory workshop on Virtual Exchange.  During this 2-hour workshop, we will outline the key elements of VE; share examples of past projects; identify how we can we work with our existing university partners and present research on the impact of VE on student’s learning.  There will be opportunities for discussion and sharing possible ideas on how to adopt VE into your teaching.

Workshop Details

Introduction to Virtual Exchange

Monday 30th November, 10.00 -12.00

Register to join the workshop

Kent has devised a co-curricular virtual exchange initiative, Global Learning Online (GLO) to introduce students to cross-cultural academic learning experiences online to compliment their existing studies.  We are delighted to see GLO, firmly established within our Japanese provision and many students this academic year take up the opportunities on offer. 

Any questions, please contact e.l.marku@kent.ac.uk or deaninternational@kent.ac.uk

This term has seen Kent’s students embracing the various online, virtual exchange opportunities that have been on offer so far this year.

As the Covid-19 pandemic has prevented many traditional in-person study opportunities, many students have had to adapt to studying online with our partner institutions as part of their Year Abroad.  However, over 60 students have also opted to take opportunities provided by our partner universities and organisations as an extra-curricular activity, alongside their existing studies at Kent.

Exciting virtual exchange courses include exploring climate change, identity and communication in the digital world, Japanese common reading experiences and more.

My first impression was that it was a safe space to be very open and discuss all sorts of topics. I found it remarkable how honest everybody was about their own experiences and accepting they were of individual and cultural differences…I look forward to the other weekly sessions, it was a refreshing and eye-opening discussion.

Samantha Archer, English & French Law, Connect Express

All students that engage in these activities earn a certificate and transcript where applicable, awarded Employability Points and have recognition on their Higher Education Achievement Report.

Virtual exchange allows students to engage in meaningful, cross-cultural experiences as part of their education.  It can broaden access to international learning for every student, regardless of their circumstances, background or ability.  These projects provide the framework for students to develop their cross-cultural attitudes, skills, and communication in addition to improving their digital literacy skills valued by employers.

If you are a staff member and would like to find out how you could incorporate virtual exchange into your curriculum, register for our introductory workshop on Monday 30th November.

For more information, please contact internationalpartnerships@kent.ac.uk

Representing a range of culture, academic discipline, and personal interests, we are delighted to showcase this year’s cohort of Global Officers who are taking part in the Global Officers Leadership Development (GOLD) Programme.

Here are the Global Officers Profiles.

The programme is a co-curricular venture, designed to fit around your academic studies.  It provides a framework of activities for globally-minded undergraduate students at Kent to develop their leadership skills, global citizenship and cultural awareness.

So far this year, our Global Officers have explored their own Cultural Intelligence and how they can develop this further; engaged in various virtual exchange projects with students from across the world; participated in inspirational talks offered by our partner universities in addition to playing a key role in future culturally themed WebHangouts.

In addition to their core activity under the programme, Global Officers are available to partner with Kent staff for any divisional, school or departmental projects, events or activities on campus.  Some students are already engaged with International Recruitment on an International Experiences at Kent project as well as working with International Partnerships on supporting its activities relating to the Year Abroad.

“The Programme so far has been excellent, and I’ve been given so many opportunities to develop.  I’m looking forward to managing and organising events myself and engaging with the diverse student body” 

Jordan Pali, first year student, Finance and Investment with a Year in Industry.

If you have an activity that you would like to engage our Global Officers, please get in touch.

Did you know that you can also incorporate the GOLD Programme within your degree programmes by listing it as a wild module option, GOLD500? If your programmes do not allow for this, then students can still take this as an extra-curricular activity; applications for 2021/22 will open in the summer.

For more information about the Programme, please email deaninternational@kent.ac.uk

Despite tighter safety measures in place, the majority of catering outlets at Canterbury remain open for breakfast time treats, delicious lunches, barista coffees, and everything in between.

With the exception of K-Bar, The Street Kitchen and Create, all other units remain open for business, operating a takeaway only service.

Please remember to follow current safety and social distancing procedures when visiting an outlet, to keep yourself and those around you safe. If you would like more detailed information regarding Coronavirus and the University’s catering operations, a full list of FAQs can be found on the catering website.

Below is a list of campus outlets currently open during the national lockdown:

Origins (Darwin College)

• Monday – Friday, 12:00 – 21:00
• Saturday – Sunday, 15:00 – 21:00

Gulbenkian Café Bar (Gulbenkian)

• Monday – Friday, 10:00 – 15:00

Mungo’s (Eliot College)

• Monday – Friday, 09:00 – 14:00, 15:00 – 21:00

Dolche Vita (Keynes College)

• Monday – Friday, 08:30 – 17:00

Sibson Café (Sibson Building)

• Monday – Friday, 08:45 – 15:00

Hut 8 (Turing College)

• Monday – Friday, 12:00 – 22:00
• Saturday – Sunday, 17:00 – 22:00

Bag It (Rutherford College)

• Monday – Friday, 09:30 – 16:00

Rutherford Dining Hall (Rutherford College)

• Monday – Friday
• Lunch 12:00 – 14:00
• Dinner 17:00 – 20:00
• Wok Bar 12:00 – 20:00
• Saturday – Sunday
• Brunch 08:30 – 14:00
• Dinner 17:00 – 20:00

No.1 and The Galvanising Cafe at Medway are currently closed until the new year.

Please note, eat-in arrangements have been made for students on Bed and Bistro or Bed and Flex contracts.

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 16 November – Friday 20 November) webinars are as follows:

Monday 16 November 2020 –  ‘How Care first can support you’
Time: 12.30-13.00 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link.

Tuesday 17 November 2020 – ‘Nurturing relationships during Lockdown’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Wednesday 18 November 2020 –  ‘Information for MHFA’s, Mental Health Champions & Managers on supporting teams during Lockdown’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Thursday 19 November 2020 – ‘Men’s Health Awareness in line with ‘Movember’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Friday 20 November 2020 – ‘Building resilience during lockdown’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Care first ZEST is a Wellbeing Resource which is part of the Employee Assistance Programme package provided by Sodexho/Care first.  It is open to all staff.  It is the same resource package that was available previously via the University of Kent Wellbeing Hub.

The resource allows you to self-assess your health in 12 areas by answering a series of simple questions.  You can then set goals to improve your scores in the areas where you might be weaker.  You can access exercise regimes and dietary advice through the programme using various tools, for example, a food diary.  You can even link up with friends using the same resource and form buddy groups.  You can use these for diet and exercise challenges.  And you can link up exercise and movement apps, like Fitbit and Strava, to the Zest system as well.

One of the great features of the Zest Wellbeing Resource is that it has lots of articles on all elements of health and wellbeing.  There is something there for everyone.

To access the resource please visit the Care first zest website.  You can use the Organisation Code –  SODEXO01 and then register using your own details and set up your own password.