Author Archives: Annabel Chislett

Using creative and imaginative forms of assessment

On Tuesday 10 October 2017, 12.55-14.00 in the UELT Seminar Room, Professor Charlotte Sleigh from the School of History will present this session as part of the ‘New Approaches to Teaching for Experienced Staff at Kent’.

This session aims to stimulate participants to think of new and creative ways to assess students in their learning. It will consider authentic ways to re-connect assessment both with liberal values of learning and instrumental skills for employability. It will also address some of the difficulties and pitfalls (institutional and student-based) in going off-piste in this manner.

Please email to book a place.

student-projects

Student Projects Grant Scheme now open for applications

Need to fund an idea or project?

The Kent Opportunity Fund offers bursaries of up to £5,000 from the Student Project Grants Scheme! Applications open on the 16 October.

What is the Kent Opportunity Fund?
The Kent Opportunity Fund has been established to support a broad range of scholarships, student projects to enhance extra-curricular activities at Kent, and bursaries to support students experiencing financial hardship. Committees of Kent staff, alumni and donors allocate the funds raised and ensure that they go to the students most in need.

To find out more and apply please follow the link: https://www.kent.ac.uk/giving/opportunityfund/projects/

WMHD

World Mental Health Day 2017

It’s World Mental Health Day on 10 October and to show support, GKUnions are hosting a range of events promoting ways that YOU can look after number one!

Come and join GK Unions for #WorldMentalHealthDay and you can benefit from:

  • A Scream Room to let out your frustration healthily!
  • A Good Mood Board: How do you look after your wellbeing? Share a tip on the board and you could brighten up someone else’s day!
  • Adult Colouring: Let your inner child free!
  •  Information on Mental Health services locally and within the University
  • Resources to help you look out for number 1 this year!

Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year, but 10 October is a great day to show your support for better mental health and start looking after your own wellbeing.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1437755879636193

WMHD

World Mental Health Day 2017

It’s World Mental Health Day on 10 October and to show support, Student Minds and UKC Mental Health Group will be out on the plaza between 12.00 and 14.00 promoting ways that YOU can look after number one!

Between 12.00 and 14.00, the University’s Support and Wellbeing Team will also be there, promoting their services.

You can make your own Wellbeing Box, which you can decorate and take home to fill with things you love and that lift you up when you’re feeling down. You can also brighten someone else’s day by writing on our Upliftment Wall!

PLUS we want to see you all in purple to raise awareness for Mental Health and we’ll be collecting donations for Student Minds!

Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year, but 10 October is a great day to show your support for better mental health and start looking after your own wellbeing.

 Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1946322675622709

support

Support at Kent

Now the Welcome Week madness is over, it’s probably a good time to start exploring Kent and the support services on offer. Watch our support, health and wellbeing video.

You can also read our short pdf guide to support at Kent.

Support with your studies

Studying for a degree is very different to studying at school. You have a lot more control over your learning and greater independence.

You will also be asked to do things you’ve never had to do before (eg referencing in a certain way, dissertations, vivas…) this is where the Student Learning and Advisory Service (SLAS for short) steps in.

SLAS can help you with everything from perfecting your essay writing to learning how to reference properly. You can learn in your own time using our online guides or attend one of SLAS’ many workshops.

Don’t forget your school is also there to help you with your studies and offer a range of study support.

Have you registered with Student Support and Wellbeing?

If you have a disability you should contact Student Support. They can provide not only academic support but can help with funding applications.

If you’re going through a difficult time or just don’t feel happy – staff in our Wellbeing Team are always available to listen.

Advice Centre

From money worries to getting on with your housemates, Kent Union’s Advice Centre is available to help. All advice is free to Kent students – so make the most of it!

Medical advice

Kent has its own NHS general practice on campus. There’s also an independent pharmacy next door, so you don’t have to go far when you’re feeling under the weather.

If you need any medical advice, treatment of a minor illness/injury or contraceptive advice, you can visit the ‘drop-in’ nursing service in Keynes College.

Master’s Office

When you arrived at Kent you automatically joined a college. Your Master’s Office is there to give advice and can be used as a first port of call for any questions you may have.

Chaplaincy

University Chaplains run a wide range of religious and social events (including a very festive carol service in the Cathedral). They are also a good contact for advice and support.

International students

As well as all the other support services available to students, international students can visit International Team in the Registry Building. They can help with any international related queries and run a series of cultural events.

bloggers

Bloggers/Vloggers wanted

The University’s digital communications team run the ‘Kent Students’ blog for the benefit of prospective students.

The idea is that current Kent students write about aspects of student, extra-curricular or academic life to really give prospective students an insight into life here at the University. The blog is a fantastic way to hone your writings skills, write about your experiences of being a student at Kent and offer invaluable insights for the benefit of others thinking of studying here.

If you are interested in becoming a student blogger, please submit an example of your writing. This should take the form of a 250 word example blog post on an aspect of Kent life you think would be interesting to a prospective student, perhaps an event you attended on campus, what you particularly like about your degree, a club or society event or trip you made with friends, but the choice is yours.

Please note you must be a student at the University beginning the 2017/18 academic year, undergraduate and postgraduates are all welcome.

  • The blog will be linked to from every course page on the Kent website – giving it large exposure.
  • Bloggers will earn ‘Employability Points’ for blogging.
  • The commitment would be a minimum of two blog posts per month, though more are encouraged!
  • An ideal way to improve your writing skills and boost your CV.
Mungo's Massive Halloween House of Horrors 2017 Screen

Mungo’s Massive Halloween House of Horrors 2017

Following on from the hugely successful Fresher’s Week school disco, Mungo’s Massive will yet again be returning to Eliot dining hall for a Halloween Horror Night on Saturday 28 October.

Come dressed as your favourite ghoulish character for this lively yet morbidly themed event, and dance the night away to all manner of contemporary chart hits and old-school club classics.

Saturday 28 October, Eliot College Dining Hall, 20.00 until 02.00, plus free entry all night!

Prepare for a lot of mass dancefloor zombie action.

Find out more at https://goo.gl/VX8dCW

UNI

Expect Respect at Kent

Here at Kent, we want to make sure everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Therefore, we have taken a few proactive steps to ensure you are well informed and know about the support available, including:

U.N.I (you and I) Protect

See something? Say something. Do something! You can make a difference.

U.N.I Protect equips you with the skills to challenge attitudes and behaviours that tolerate, condone and normalise inappropriate behaviour that can lead to harassment and sexual violence.

The next set of workshops begin in Week 3. For further information and to sign up for the course, please visit the Study Plus website.

E-learning module

Please take the time to complete our short e-learning module, Expect Respect @ Kent, that clearly explains our Dignity at Study Policy and sexual respect at Kent.

Student Charter

The Student Charter outlines not only what you can expect from the University and Students’ Union, but what you agree to while studying at Kent. The Charter includes everything from when to expect your timetables to responding to feedback and ensuring all students have the best time at university. Make sure you read the Student Charter.

Staying safe

The University provides a night-time Walking Taxi Service on the Canterbury campus and you can download our SafeZone app which enables you to easily contact the University, security and first aid when needed. View all our safety services and advice.

Student support

There’s so much support available at Kent, from help adjusting to studying at Kent to support with a disability and mental health advice. Read our student support webpages so you are aware of what’s available and know where to go if you need any of our services.

Please take the time to read about all our support services and if you have any questions or feedback please email respect@kent.ac.uk.

Brand images

Information for new postgraduate students

The Graduate School aims to ensure that your academic and social interests are appropriately provided for within the University wherever you are based.

Professor Paul Allain (Dean of the Graduate School) and his team, work in partnership with academic schools, faculties, central service departments and the Students’ Union to enhance the quality of the postgraduate student experience across all campuses and European centres to create a vibrant postgraduate community.

The Graduate School also supports a wide range of activities enabling postgraduates to promote their research interests and studies as well as opportunities to meet and socialise.

In addition to the initiatives highlighted below please keep an eye on the Graduate School’s events calendar for further information.

The Graduate School is located on the third floor of the Cornwallis East building on the Canterbury campus, with offices for its staff and a postgraduate training room. There is also an adjacent networking space which postgraduates can used for socialising and study.

Postgraduate inductions

University-level postgraduate inductions are taking place on the following dates:

Wednesday 19 September – Canterbury Taught Master’s students
13.00 – 14.30  Social Sciences (Woolf College Lecture Theatre)
14.45 – 16.15  Humanities and Sciences (Woolf College Lecture Theatre)

Thursday 20 September – Medway postgraduate students
10.30 – 12.00 Taught Master’s students (Rochester Building R2-09)
11.15 – 12.00 Taught Master’s and Postgraduate Researchers
(Rochester Building R2-09)
12.30 – 15.45 Postgraduate Researchers (Rochester Building R2-09)

Friday 21 September – Canterbury Postgraduate Researchers
9.30 – 10.45    Social Sciences (Cornwallis South East, COLT 2)
10.30 – 11.45  Sciences (Cornwallis South East Lecture, COLT 3)
11.30 – 12.45  Humanities (Cornwallis South East Lecture, COLT 2)

The GradPost newsletter

The quarterly postgraduate newsletter (The GradPost) is supported and coordinated by the Graduate School. Postgraduate students can join the GradPost editorial team and/or contribute articles for publication in the newsletter. Further information about the GradPost can be found online. Please email GradPost if you would like to become involved with the newsletter.

Postgraduate Community Experience Awards

Postgraduate students have the opportunity to bid for funding up to £1,500 via the Postgraduate Community Experience Awards to coordinate their own events and projects aimed at enhancing the postgraduate experience at Kent. Proposals for funding are required to have an interdisciplinary and/or external focus.

Projects funded previously have included a cross-disciplinary Latin American Society and Research Network, an interdisciplinary conference on Social Movement, and a short story reading group.

Postgraduate students will be notified when the awards are open for applications during the course of the academic year.

Postgraduate Festival

The annual Postgraduate Festival in the summer term provides our students with the opportunity to present their work to a wider audience, network with their peers from across the University and attend academic talks. If you would like to be involved in the planning of the 2019 Festival please contact Felicity Clifford, Postgraduate Experience Officer

Global Skills Award

The Global Skills Award programme for postgraduate taught Master’s students which comprises of a range of lectures on global issues and a series of workshops, has been specifically designed to improve your employability in a competitive job market. The programme is free and those who successfully complete the programme will receive an award certificate.

Researcher Development Programme

The Researcher Development Programme for postgraduate researchers is coordinated by the Graduate School.

The programme provides a range of workshops and online training opportunities designed to enhance your skills as a researcher and prepare you for a variety of careers.

The coverage of the programme has been developed in line with Vitae’s Researcher Development Framework and it reflects the UK Research Councils’ aims to develop exceptionally skilled researchers for the 21st century.

PhD students will be notified in September about booking a place on one of our ‘Kick-start your PhD’ Workshops.

 

Postgraduate Handbooks

All new postgraduate students will receive a copy of the 2018-19 Postgraduate Handbook at the induction. You can also download a copy online or pick one up from the Graduate School.

The handbooks contain useful information about postgraduate study and research at Kent, details of academic and regulatory processes as well as local information for students who are new to Kent.

We look forward to welcoming you to Kent – come and meet the Graduate School staff in Cornwallis East or contact us via:

IS-Publishing

Hello Library and IT at Medway!

If you’re starting at our Medway campus in September, you might be wondering where to study, how to get online, and how to find the books you need for your course.

Here’s an overview of the library and IT services you can use.

Drill Hall Library

The Drill Hall Library is your main library at Medway. It has the books and you need, plus study spaces, PCs and laptops, printers, photocopiers and scanners, and support for your subject.

  • Read this useful guide to the Drill Library. It tells you the basics, like when it’s open and how many books you can borrow.
  • Visit the Library for your induction session, which has been pre-arranged by your School or department, to learn your way around.
  • Look out for games, competitions and fun prizes in Welcome Week.

IT services for you

Here are some of the IT services you can use as a Kent student:

Research students

Need a space to work? You can use the Postgraduate Researchers’ Room in the Drill Hall Library. This newly designed and furbished room is available for postgraduates from all three Medway universities, providing an excellent space to study, network, practice presentations and meet those with similar research interests.

Not a Medway student?

If you’re at Canterbury and you need a book that’s only in the Drill Hall Library, you can request it to be delivered to the Templeman Library through LibrarySearch.

You can also visit our Medway campus and use the Drill Hall Library. To borrow books, you’ll just need your KentOne card.

A shuttle bus runs in term time between Medway and Canterbury campuses.

Want to know more?

Visit our Hello Library and IT! website for more tips and guides.