Study Plus are offering the chance to learn a new language for free including:

French (KE152)
Spanish (KE089)
Arabic (KE091)
Business Mandarin (KE007)
Japanese (KE090)

If you already speak some Mandarin, we are also offering a short course on Chinese Language and Culture (KE088).

For more information, click here.

Book your place via SDS.

Do you #LoveYourMindLoveYourBody? Student Support and Wellbeing encourage you to enrich your life and try something new for free! We have a huge variety of inspiration for all students and staff at the #WellbeingFestival2018. It will be very interactive and a chance to relax and connect positively with your own mind and body, and with each other. Follow @unikentssw on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as we publish details of the events as they are confirmed over the next few weeks.

For the full programme please visit our web page.

Medway

Come along to the Student Hub, Faith Space, Drill Hall Library and CCCU Rowan Williams building at Medway on Tuesday 20 March between 12pm and 3pm to discover a variety of fun and practical ways to improve your wellbeing. Medway highlights include a Mental Health Stigma workshop, Drill Hall library wellbeing, GK Union, mindful colouring, Medway Activities, Medway Park leisure centre, free healthy snacks, and the University of Kent Krishna Consciousness Society.

Canterbury

Come along to Eliot Dining Hall on 23 March between 12pm and 3pm for an exciting line up of over 25 internal and external organisations coming to take part in the day, such as Espression Arts café, Canine therapy (the now famous cuddly George!), bush craft, live music, free healthy food and nutrition information, mindful colouring, various mental health and charity stands, representatives from the LGBT network, the Chaplaincy, the Sports Centre and Kent Union. In addition there will be some free workshops so watch this space for details and come and try something new: yoga, Tai Chi, mindfulness, raga singing, writing for wellbeing, HeartMath: stress management & herbal medicine.

A Cambridge CELTA qualification allows you to become an English language teacher and is recognised across the world, allowing you to teach in the UK or overseas. The Centre for English and World Languages (CEWL) runs a five-week full-time CELTA course starting on 18 June.

The deadline for applications is 28 May 2018 although applications are dealt with on a first-come-first-served basis.

For more information, visit our webpage or email: cewlcelta@kent.ac.uk

Following her recent letter to staff concerning the national situation on USS pensions and the industrial action which some UCU members will be taking from tomorrow, the Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Karen Cox has today written to the Chief Executive of Universities UK to express the University’s deep frustration at the way national negotiations appear to have stalled.

In her letter, she says:  “We are working hard to mitigate the impact on our students while maintaining high academic standards but, given that we are not free to resolve this issue at a local level, we remain deeply frustrated by the apparent deadlock in discussions at national level.

“We agree that the proposals put forward by UCU are unaffordable and, here at Kent, they would add £4.5m to our staff costs, which is not sustainable. However, we also believe there may be opportunities that may provide some basis for renewed discussions with the UCU and we are not clear whether these have yet been explored.

“We recognise that there are pressures from the Pensions Regulator and from other member universities to ensure that the scheme has a lower risk profile and that the Joint Negotiating Committee has had to balance the competing views. We all wish to see a sustainable pension scheme that does not require revision every few years, with the uncertainty and disruption that would be brought by this. However, you will recall that we have consistently raised questions over the decision to de-risk the USS investment strategy with UUK and directly with USS.

“The areas that I feel might be explored further include:

• whether there is scope for deferring the implementation of the de-risking of the investment strategy, given that it largely drives the increase in the projected deficit.  It would make sense to revisit the discussions on risk in an informed and measured manner, and to fully consider a range of options including the re-introduction of some element of Defined Benefits into the scheme if investment returns exceed the 2017 assumptions.
• whether there might also be further consultation with employers as to whether some limited additional contribution might be made should the currently proposed changes go ahead.”

You can find all the latest information for staff about the proposed pension changes and the industrial action on the HR website including the latest update from UUK.

Colyer-Fergusson Gallery is delighted to be hosting ‘Blue,’ a new exhibition by Canterbury artist Adam De Ville. A striking series of images exploring ideas of identity, belonging, loss and technology, the exhibition’s title-painting relates to the Chamber Choir’s rehearsal and performance of Pergolesi’s ‘Stabat Mater,’ a Baroque masterpiece setting the hymn to the suffering of the Virgin Mary during Christ’s crucifixion.

The exhibition is open during normal opening hours for Colyer-Fergusson; admission is free, and there is disabled access.

More information about the exhibition can be found here.

The Pride (‘Personal responsibility in delivering excellence’) Award recognises members of Kent Hospitality staff who go out of their way to deliver excellent customer service.

Any Kent Hospitality staff member (permanent or casual) may be nominated from Canterbury and Medway campuses. Each winner receives £100 of shopping vouchers, a certificate and a badge.

Nominations can be made by any member of University staff, students or visitors. Make your nomination online or alternatively you can pick up a paper form next to the red nomination boxes located in all Kent Hospitality’s catering outlets in Canterbury and Medway, as well College reception areas.

Please make your nominations detailed, providing as much information as possible why the nominee is being put forward for a Pride Award. The panel are looking for staff who achieve more than just what is expected in their role (ie hardworking, professional, positive and friendly attitude).

Congratulations to December’s Pride Award winners – Fay Allen, Student Accommodation Co-ordinator and Christine Nottage, Keynes Day Cleaner.

Nominate today!

The School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science (SMSAS) is kicking off the launch of their new one-year ‘Year in Data Analytics’ programme on Wednesday 21 February, 14.00-15.00 in Sibson Lecture Theatre 2.

The Launch Event with free food is open to all current undergraduate Kent students who would like more information on the programme and want to discover how adding a Year in Data Analytics to their degree can enhance their employability.

Data plays a significant role in today’s world, from predicting our shopping habits and personalising our social media feeds, to determining our eligibility to buy a home and influencing our accessibility to healthcare, social care and much more. Data is used in all sectors in various ways, and knowing how to understand different datasets can prove invaluable when entering the job market of our ever evolving and data-driven world.

For more information about the Year in Data Analytics visit http://bit.ly/YiDA or email us.

SMFA Audio Electronics Lecturer Sean Williams was on a programme called Radio Controlled on BBC Radio 3 on Sunday 11 February at 18.45 with other academics, talking about early experimental electronic music on West German radio in the 1950s.

To listen to the programme go to Sean Williams is a researcher with a strong background in music practice. He has released a number of records on various labels in the UK, Europe and the USA, and performs solo and with groups including Grey Area, and the Monosynth Orchestra.

For more info go to our webpages.