Are you confident in digital accessibility? It’s not too late to sign up for a few sessions at this year’s Kent Digital Accessibility Conference which you can attend virtually wherever you are on the 9, 10 and 11 June.

Last year, the University of Kent & Kent County Council hosted the first Kent Digital Accessibility Conference to help attendees learn more about digital accessibility and inclusion and the impact of new regulations coming into force this September for web accessibility.

This year we have even more expert speakers and workshops to help you prepare, including the UK government, Microsoft, NHS experts and a European perspective showing how other countries are handling new regulations.

We will also be hearing from students and will be discussing what we are doing towards Kent’s accessible student experience, alongside a host of engaging practical sessions to help attendees grow the specialist skills required to deliver accessible services. A full agenda with speakers and timings is on the Eventbrite booking page, examples include Google speaking on creating accessible experiences for people in the workplace and international experiences of accessibility by a medal winning paralympian.

Book your free place now on Eventbrite to then receive links for all sessions via email – there will be 2 morning sessions and 2 afternoon sessions each day for three days. You can join for however many or few capture your interest and you can make time for in your schedule – do check out the timetable below for details.

Everyone is welcome, please do share with colleagues in your networks who might find this of interest.

For any queries, please email AccessibilityEvents@kent.ac.uk

What’s your background and when did you join the University?

I started working at Kent in 2009, initially in a joint role between Kent Union and the University. – I started my Environmental career as an academic with a PhD and some postgraduate research, before switching over to professional services when I joined Kent.

What does your role at Kent involve?

I work between two departments, the Safety, Health and Environment Unit and Estates Department. Although we’re supported by many colleagues across the University, there are only two of us working on Environmental Sustainability, so we’re extremely busy.

My role is very varied – I can be doing anything from writing policies and procedures and advising colleagues on compliance with environmental legislation, to working with students on academic projects. Our annual report showcases the wide range of work going on.

How has your role changed as a result of Covid-19?

Like many, my work is mainly desk-based, so I’ve adapted quite easily to this new way of working. However, with much of the campus closed and activities like waste management or landscape work not happening, the operational side of things is currently on pause.

Instead of delivering training face-to-face, I’m recording training sessions using the Kent Player system.

I hope there are some positives to come out of this – like video conferencing becoming the norm and people thinking twice about travelling to meetings/conferences. I’ve also noticed people are more aware of nature and spending more time appreciating outdoor spaces. Our campus is precious, and I’d love staff and students to get more involved in its management.

What’s worked well and what’s proved tricky?

I’ve found things that I was worried about, such as learning how to do video conferencing, have been straightforward, but other things have been trickier. I hadn’t realised how much I rely on bouncing ideas off people and I miss being able to pop my head into someone’s office and ask a question.

Both my partner James (who works in the Registry) and I are working from home while also home-schooling two primary-aged boys. This has been difficult at times!

As a team, we’ve had to get creative with how to keep our staff champions engaged. My colleague Emily (Mason) produces a weekly newsletter to keep everyone connected and that’s been well received.

Can you tell us more about the University’s Environmental Management System?

The day-to-day running of the EMS is a huge part of my role. It’s a structured framework that helps large organisations identify/manage all their activities and their impact on the environment.

Our EMS is certified to ISO14001 (the International Standard for Environmental Management). I deal with many elements including, keeping our legal requirements up to date, internal/external audits, and monitoring our environmental performance against targets like carbon emissions.

Last month we had an external audit of the EMS conducted remotely. The auditor commented on the enthusiasm and knowledge of the operational staff he spoke to, showing we have great engagement in key areas.

In your view, which environmental change has made the biggest difference at Kent?

Increasing media attention on climate change and ecological breakdown has seen a huge shift in public awareness, and an increasing number of staff and students are getting involved in sustainability projects.

Our ultimate aim is to put sustainability at the heart of all Kent’s decision-making and we’re now starting to see that happen. We’re also looking at embedding sustainability into the curriculum – showing its relevance even in courses you wouldn’t expect – which is both exciting and interesting.

Outside work, and out of lockdown, what do you enjoy doing?

The one thing I love doing and am missing during lockdown is gymnastics. I started going to an adult gymnastics class 10 years ago and was hooked. At my age, it’s not easy and I ache after every session, but I can’t wait to get back.

What will you look forward to most once we’re back on campus?

I’m looking forward to playing in the VC’s Cup. I’m the captain of the Estates team and we’re the current reigning champions so I’m keen to get back and defend our title. I’m also missing the Street Kitchen food!

Update – deadline to send in your favourite stories is extended to midnight on Sunday 7 June! 

Do you have a favourite book that you just couldn’t put down? Perhaps it’s one that you’ve read recently, or a story that you just keep going back to – either way, we want to hear from you!

To celebrate National Share a-Story-Month, we’re encouraging colleagues across our campuses and centres to share their one all-time recommended read.

It could be a crime novel, a favourite childhood book or a work of non-fiction – the only essential is that it’s a book you’d love others to get lost in and enjoy a sense of escapism.  We will then pick 10 of the best recommendations and include them in a ‘Top 10 Books to read!’ feature on our staff home page.

What to do:

Please send the title of your one favourite story/book to stories@kent.ac.uk, along with  your name, the department you work in and a brief sentence/one line describing why it’s your ultimate read.

Send your recommendation by Friday 29 May – and who knows your much-loved book could be included in our Top 10 books feature!

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Alice and Wendy, Corporate Communications

Top 10 ideas:

If you have some good ideas for other possible ‘Top 10’ feature topics, share your thoughts with us at stories@kent.ac.uk.

The Centre for the Study of Higher Education will be convening the annual Learning and Teaching Conference from the 8 to the 15 June via Moodle. This year’s conference will focus on enhancing relevance: how we connect academic learning with the wider world.

The recent Principles for Powerful Learning Experiences at Kent study showed that students want and value opportunities to apply their learning to everyday life, real world problems and challenges, and potential career paths and activities. While this principle is one of the most important to students during their time at Kent, undergraduate student feedback suggests we can do more to embed it across the institution. This conference explores how we can create opportunities for students that are relevant to their goals, interests, cultural experiences, and ambitions.

Relevance pervades all of our decisions as educators. What do we want students to learn – and why? How do we develop students’ attributes to prepare them for productive and fulfilling lives after university? What do we ask students to read? With what other resources do we connect students? What examples are used to illustrate a concept? How are assessments designed? How do we engage students with local, national, and international communities, issues and perspectives? How do we help them see how professionals use the knowledge and skills we teach? Twelve papers will explore these questions and more in this online conference from 8 June to 15 June 2020.

To ensure maximum flexibility for academics juggling multiple commitments during this difficult time, the conference papers will be available online either as short (750 word) papers or 5 minute videos, with a facilitated discussion board from 8 June to 15 June. We recommend that participants allow 2 to 3 hours between 8 June and 15 June to review papers and contribute to the discussion board. Participants can use the discussion board associated with each session to ask questions or share their own experiences. Authors will be checking regularly during the week to answer questions and stimulate further discussion. In addition, feel free to connect with paper presenters individually for more in-depth discussion.

We recommend you revisit the discussion board before the live capstone event at 13.00 on 15 June. The capstone session will also be recorded for access for those who cannot participate in the live event. Conference papers will be archived for future reference.

Booking

To book your place, please sign up via Moodle

Do you have any great photos of our campuses or the local area from your walks during lockdown?

If so, we would love to share them on the University’s Instagram account – @unikentlive.

If you are happy to be featured on our Instagram account please tag us (@unikentlive) in your photos.

Alternatively, if you don’t have Instagram but would like your photos to be considered, please email communications@kent.ac.uk

The photo shown above is from Stephen Burke, Master of Eliot College.

Don’t forget to also share your favourite book with us by emailing stories@kent.ac.uk! 

UPDATE: Our free initial online consultations have been extended throughout June 2020!

The Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic is pleased to now offer free 20 minute online or telephone consultations with Vicky Annis, lead physiotherapist. Consultations are open to all, whether you have used the clinic previously or whether you have never experienced physiotherapy; and whether you are a student or staff member at the University of Kent or whether you are from the wider community.

The clinic, situated at the University of Kent sports centre on the Canterbury campus, remains physically closed while following government coronavirus guidance. However, Vicky has a wealth of physiotherapy experience and expertise and is keen to continue to assist and support people during these challenging times.

“I am extremely excited to offer free online physiotherapy consultations. This will enable me to keep in touch with clients and is currently the closest opportunity to fulfil what I enjoy doing the most. Whether this time is used to simply touch base, update on where you are at or ask questions, I am more than happy to help.”

She recognises that the unusual circumstances that we find ourselves enduring may for some lead to increased stress, anxiety, discomfort or pain. Many people may be tolerating issues without knowing where to turn for help and advice during this time of social distancing and isolation. The clinic wants to continue to support your freedom, ease of movement and quality of life during this pandemic. You can hear more from Vicky about this announcement in this video.

“The online physio appointments with Vicky have been so helpful and beneficial. She was able to apply her skills and knowledge about physiotherapy via a Zoom meeting during our consultation, and she provided me with a variety of exercises to work on during a two-week period after which we had a follow up appointment. Vicky is genuinely nice and caring and really helped me improve my running performance–I would not hesitate to contact her again!” Suzy Mejia-Buenano

To find out more about Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic please visit our website and to stay up to date Like us on Facebook.

Join the Music Department for a unique event on Tuesday 2 June, as we present a online Lockdown Lunchtime Concert as part of an online Summer Music Week!

From Scottish piping and Baroque woodwind to nimble electric guitar and a song from ‘The Prince of Egypt,’ we’re delighted to present a special Lockdown Lunchtime Concert!

Taking place between 13.15 – 13.40, this virtual concert will be featuring several University Music Performance Scholars and Award Holders recorded performing in isolation in their homes (and gardens!).

Click on this YouTube link and you can watch from wherever you are as we bring a selection of musical morsels for your lunchtime viewing pleasure.

The Reward Strategy proposals for changes to pay and additional reward are available to view on the HR staff webpages. All University staff are affected by these proposals and you are invited to give feedback before 5 June 2020.

The proposals are the result of a project that has been underway since 2018 to revise the University’s Reward Strategy, with the aim of:

• Providing a competitive offering across all roles and pay scales
• Futureproofing our pay arrangements
• Supporting our work to close gender pay gaps and increase transparency
• Addressing anomalies from the last Equal Pay Audit
• Accommodating growth in the National Living Wage

The proposals are also aimed at minimising redundancies as part of ongoing collective consultation, with a forecast that the proposed changes will save the equivalent of 23 posts, providing an important contribution to improving the University’s finances.

Proposed changes include:

• Changes to the Grades 1-10 pay framework
• Redesigned pay scales for senior Professional Services staff and Professors
• A new reward framework
• Additional reward mechanisms

Full details are included on a dedicated staff web page, together with background and transition information to enable you to understand what is being put forward.

Senior Professional Services staff and Professors should send their feedback directly to the Reward Team at hrrewardfeedbackseniorstaff@kent.ac.uk before 5 June 2020.

Staff in grades 1-10 should send feedback to their Staff or Trade Union Representative before 5 June 2020. Names of Trade Union and Staff Representatives are included on the web page to guide you to the appropriate person.

The proposals for staff in Grades 1-10 and the reward framework/additional reward will be discussed at the next JSNCC meeting on 5 June 2020 with a view to reaching a collective agreement. The proposals for the senior staff pay scales will be considered at the Remuneration Committee meeting on 12 June.

Your feedback is therefore important – thank you.

Alison Ross-Green | Director of HR and Organisational Development

Dr Laura Bailey, Lecturer in the Department of English Language and Linguistics, recently appeared on the Voice of Islam radio show to discuss the evolution of language.

Laura considered the recent statement by Elon Musk that language may well disappear in the next five years as an effect of technology.

“This is not something that we have the technology to achieve based on what we have now,” Laura stressed, “However, it is a thought experiment worth thinking about. Technology could help those who have disadvantages. However, we don’t want to reach the point where we’re reading each other’s thoughts.”

When asked on how technology could affect the way we communicate and talk, Laura responded: “I dare say it would, but whether it would be for better or worse, I don’t know. As linguists, we wouldn’t say any form of communication is better or worse.”

Listen to the full episode on Soundcloud (Laura’s segment begins at 37:57).

We are delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Graduate School Prizes. Visit the Graduate School for what the winners and nominators had to say.

Postgraduate Researchers

Laura Thomas-Walters, School of Anthropology and Conservation, with particular recognition for their contribution towards public engagement

Boniface Otieno Oyugi, School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, with particular recognition for their contribution to publications and grants

Simon Cooksey, School of Computing, with particular recognition for their contribution towards impact

Gianna Maria Eick, School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, with particular recognition for their contribution towards external collaboration

Alice Helliwell, School of Arts, with particular recognition for their contribution towards cohort building.

Postgraduate Administrator

Emily Rae, Paris Centre Administrator

Postgraduate Supervisor

Professor Murray Smith, Professor of Film Studies, School of Arts

Dr Tamar Jeffers McDonald, Head of School of Arts

Postgraduate Teacher

Eva Sigurdardottir, School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research

The Graduate School was delighted to receive a high number of exceptional nominations for this year’s Graduate School Prizes competition. The Graduate School recognises the significant contribution made to the University of Kent by Postgraduate Researchers, Postgraduate Teachers and academic and professional services staff across the University. We would like to thank everyone for their excellent work in support of postgraduate education and research at Kent.