Canterbury ​​​​​​​

• The Big Lunch Picnic in the tents outside the Registry and Gulbenkian (Canterbury campus) on Friday 5 May, from 12:30-14:30 
  Get together with your colleagues and bring your lunch to this Coronation picnic where we will be handing out free cake to celebrate. At the event you will also be able to buy our £4 packed-lunch deal.
• Lawn games being provided by Kent Sport during the Big Lunch Picnic. Bring out your competitive spirit while enjoying some lawn games!
• Coronation cupcake and hot drink for £3, from 2-5 May
  ​​​​Throughout the week you can get a Coronation cupcake and hot drink for just £3 from Gulbenkian Café, Dolche Vita and Sibson Café.
• Coronation packed-lunch offer for just £4, from 2-5 May
  You can also buy a packed lunch including a sandwich, drink and crisps for just £4 throughout the week from BagIt in Rutherford College, Gulbenkian Café, Dolche Vita and Sibson Café.
• British themed £3 meal in Rutherford Dining Hall from 2-5 May, 12:00 – 14:00
  The £3 meal deal menu in Rutherford Dining Hall (Canterbury) will feature a British themed dish for the week. 

Medway

• The Big Lunch Picnic on the Rochester Lawn (Medway campus) on Wednesday 3 May, from 13:00 – 14:00
  Get together with your colleagues and bring your lunch to our Coronation picnic where we will be giving out free cupcakes. There will also be the chance to win a large Coronation cake.
• Coronation deal at Medway on Wednesday 3 May
  The food truck on the Medway campus, Rich Aroma 21, will be offering a medium hot drink and a sausage roll or samosa for £5. ​​​​​​​

We hope to see you at the celebrations!

We are deeply saddened to hear about the fighting in Sudan. Our thoughts are with all our students, staff, alumni, and anyone who is affected by this conflict.

We are in the process of contacting our students and staff from Sudan and are taking immediate steps to support these individuals. The UK Government advice for anyone concerned about relatives or friends should call the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) on 020 7008 5000.

Support for students:  

• 24/7 support from Spectrum Life. If you or a friend need emergency support, Spectrum Life can offer online, text and telephone support from qualified counsellors and mental health professionals. Call 0800 0318227 and press option 1, or Text/WhatsApp ‘Hi’ to: +44(0)7418 360780
• Free 24/7 support from peers and trained professionals with Togetherall.
• If you’re feeling distressed and would like to talk to Student Support and Wellbeing staff, if you’re based in Canterbury, please call 01227 823158 or email KentSSW@kent.ac.uk; and if you’re based in Medway, please call 01634 888474, or email MedwaySSW@kent.ac.uk.
• Our Student Services team have written a blog which gives some practical advice on how to look after your wellbeing and where to go for support if you need it.

Support for staff:  

• Our Employee Assistance Programme offers free support and counselling to staff.
• Our Mental Health Support for staff hosts a wide range of support for when you’re struggling, such as helpful resources and advice and information on how to get in touch with our Mental Health Allies.

Besides revising the course content itself, some of the pressure of exams can come from uncertainty of what’s allowed and what’s expected on the day. Here’s some useful info to take the unknown out of the practical side of exams at Kent.

For many, this summer’s exams will be the first you’ve sat in person at the Kent. Even if you have sat exams here before, there’ll be a few changes this time around.

Revising
Who better to ask for revision tips than the students here at Kent? So we wandered around campus to ask some of you! Here are some of those tips:

• Don’t leave it until the last minute
• Talk to lecturers/professors if you’ve got any questions or are struggling with a topic
• Make use of flash cards
• Use highlighters/colours in your notes
• Sit past papers and read the marking schemes to see how the exams have been assessed in the past
• Be confident in yourself – you’ve got this!

Check out the video on Instagram.

Some practical exams info
Whether or not you’ve sat in-person exams at Kent before, here’s some information that might come in handy:

• Leave plenty of time to get to your exam, and check the location of it on your KentVision account. If you arrive late, you will be allowed in, but won’t be granted extra time.
• If you don’t know where an exam venue is on campus, you can have a look at the exam venues map of both the Canterbury and Medway campuses.
• Make sure to bring your Kent ID card with you. When you arrive at the exam location, look out for the seating plan which will be stuck up on the wall. To find where you’ll be sitting, look for your exam number on the seating plan. If you’re not sure of your exam number, it’ll be the six digit red number on your Kent ID card.
• If you’ve got an Inclusive Learning Plan involving exam arrangements, go to the location listed on your Kent Vision, and an invigilator will be there to meet you. Please also note, any permitted extra time will not show on the main exam timetable, but will be given on the day.
• It’s best to only bring the essentials with you, but if you do have a bag with you, it won’t be able to come into the exam hall. Have a look for lockers in advance of the exam for if you need to keep your belongings in there.
• You can bring your phone and other small electronic devices, but these must be turned off and left underneath your desk.
• You’ll be able to bring water into the exam in a clear plastic bottle (without labels on).
• Bring your stationery in a clear plastic pencil case or food bag.
• If you need the toilet during your exam, put your hand up to inform an invigilator. As long as it’s not in the first or last half an hour of the exam, you’ll be able to go, but you won’t be given extra time for this.

It’s worth heading over to the Exams webpages to find out more, and there’s lots of support for your wellbeing available too.

Written by Charlie, Student Services, 12/04/2023.

We’re happy to share that a new food vendor will be serving our Medway campus.

Yeti’s Kitchen will serve authentic Nigerian food from 12:00 – 17:00, every Monday.

They will be based down the steps of the Medway Building, by the Cow-Elephant.

Check out their menu.

From Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education & Student Experience

This week (Wednesday 22 March) marked the last day of the latest period of strike action at UK universities.

I know this has had a real impact on many of you, and so I want to apologise again for the continued disruption to your studies. I fully appreciate that this national action is over issues affecting staff at Kent, but this is not your dispute – your patience throughout has been greatly appreciated.

On our Industrial Action website, you will find:

• How to claim back any direct costs 
• Support available to you  
• Mitigation we have put in place 

At the moment, no further strike days are planned, but the University and College Union (UCU) are in the process of balloting their members on further strikes and action short of a strike (ASOS) so, unfortunately, further disruption is possible.

There have been some positive signals from the national negotiations aimed at resolving the issues and these talks are continuing – we will update you as soon as we know more.

If you have any questions regarding industrial action, you can email IndustrialAction@kent.ac.uk 

When we challenged artist Richard Layzell for his take on the University and the people who work here, his response was SHIFT! A festival that asks big questions, uncovers amazing stories and, by inventing the ‘Flecture’, questions the very essence of our lecture system.

All the events below are free for you to attend and everyone is welcome.

• OPEN DOORS, Fri 24 Mar, 13:00-14:00, in Colyer-Fergusson Hall

A brand new unique opportunity for you to discover new sounds and take over very special concert venue, with open doors. Bring along your phone with music to share, or just come along to listen to what’s playing, and discover new music together. Come on your own to meet others, or bring your friends. No booking needed, join in at any time during the hour.

Free and no need to book.

• Ecology, Art and the Law: Nature Talks Back, Fri 24 Mar at 18:00 in Moot Hall, Widoger Building

Can mountains, rivers and creatures have a voice and be legally protected? What is Ecocide? Can a plant from the campus become the plaintiff in a court of law? Join the discussion with academics and artists in Kent’s atmospheric Moot Court (Widoger Building).

Free but booking required.

• Guided tour of Birth Rites Collection, Tue 28 Mar at 17:30, on campus

This unique, travelling collection of artwork is currently resident at University of Kent, and you can book on to a tour of the collection with Curator Helen Knowles.

Free but booking required.

• Whose Land? on Wed 29 Mar at 14:00

This event exploring the land that the university sits on, its history, and wider issues of land ownership and stewardship. Are some of the fields and hedges still visible from when this was farmland? Are the rooks in Brotherhood Wood and the stinging nettles around Beverley Farmhouse in contact with their ancestors? Is this our land as temporary or semi-permanent residents?  Can we feel personally connected to it and responsible for it?

Free and no need to book.

• Don’t Walk Alone on Thu 30 Mar at 18:00 in Templeman Seminar Room 2

In this Flecture*, Emma Leach will talk about her experience of leading two nightwalks to secret locations in the woods on the University’s campus, one in autumn and one in spring. These nightwalks were created for people identifying as female or non-binary, and were an opportunity to explore collectively the feelings of fear, liberation, calm and transgression that come with being in the landscape after dark.

Free but booking required.

And there is more SHIFT to come in May! Details to follow.

Get your 5-a-side team registered for the SoccerZone Cup tournament taking place on Thursday 30 March 2023.

It’s just £10 to register a team, existing SoccerZone teams can enter for free. The tournament is open to all staff, students and alumni.

Register before 26 March 2023, to secure your team’s place!

League competition

Event date and time: Thursday 30 March, 17:00 – 20:00

Location: The Pavilion 3G

Entry fee: £10 per new team

Visit the SoccerZone webpage for more information and to sign up your team!

Young people are increasingly the major victims of fraud. Victims don’t only lose their money – they can lose their family savings, their businesses, their trust in other people, their mental health and plenty more.

One of the most important enablers of fraud are money mules – this is where you let someone else use your bank account to send money into.

Around six in ten money mules are under the age of 30 and most are recruited between the ages of 17 and 24. Many criminals target their recruitment of money mules at universities or colleges – either online, in person or via friends and family.

By using money mules, criminals try to ensure that the consequences hit the mule instead of them.

Money mules usually get recruited because they get a cut of the stolen money. This means they are involved in money laundering. This is a serious criminal offence, with a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

How can I protect myself?

• Be suspicious of job adverts that offer the chance to earn quick and easy money. Stick to reputable job sites and remember that if something looks too good to be true, then it probably is.
• Don’t sign up for any opportunity without undertaking some proper research. E.g., Google any prospective employer, do they have an online presence? Are the contact details legitimate? Is it based overseas? Don’t engage with any online posts offering large sums of money.
• Don’t accept message requests from people you don’t know, and if you receive a message with a link to click from a friend, speak to them in person before you respond.
• Don’t share bank and personal details with anyone that you don’t know or trust – even among friends or family. If someone asks to ‘borrow’ your bank account, say no.
• Always remember that if you aren’t sure about the source of the money, it could have come from criminal activity, and you could unwittingly be laundering money and end up with a criminal conviction.

What should I do?

If you or someone you know has been approached, break off all contact, don’t receive or move any money, and ask for advice from someone you trust. Criminals operate in silence – by talking about it, you are protecting others.

Report it by calling local Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Contact the HMRC Fraud Hotline quoting ref: IFMM23. You do not have to give your name or contact details unless you want to.

Contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers 100% anonymously online or by calling 0800 555 111. Please quote ref: IFMM23.

If you see it online, click the button to report it to the social media companies to get it taken down.

If you think someone you know is already involved, go to the NCA website for advice.

If criminals have already got your personal information report it to Action Fraud National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre on 0300 123 2040.

Additional information

• We Fight Fraud “Crooks on Campus”
• BBC iPlayer Scam Stories: The money drop
• National Crime Agency 

Photo by Daria Nepriakhina 🇺🇦 on Unsplash

Here’s a round-up of what you can get involved in this week at Kent, including fun fundraising events as part of Kent Giving Week and getting ready for the job market with regional employers sharing their top tips as part of Working in Kent and Medway Week.

Show your support for Team Kent at Varsity this week!

Monday: Exam support and free dance class

As we get closer to exams season, take time to read our exam webpages which include loads of support and events to help you get ready, such as a session on how to prepare for online exams.

On Monday you can also try Kent Union’s Booiaka dance class which is a cardio workout to music – as much dancing fun as a night out with friends!

Tuesday: Jobs Fair, revision workshop and Cooking Show

Kent Union’s Jobs Fair is happening from 11:00-14:00 in Eliot Hall. This is a great opportunity if you are looking for part-time, temporary or seasonal work.

Not sure where to start with your exams revision? Go along to SLAS’s free revision workshop on Tuesday.

Grab one of 100 free tickets to see Kent Giving Week’s ‘In The Kitchen Cooking Show’! Local chefs will share how you can recreate their signature dishes on a budget and you can then eat what they cook for lunch!

Wednesday: Graduation message board, Diamond Orchard planting and Relaxation Sessions (Medway)

Are you graduating this July? Head over to Nexus on Wednesday between 10:00-14:00 to write a message to your friends and/or family and we will share them at your graduation ceremony.

Help us plant the 300 trees for our Diamond Orchard celebrating the University’s 60th anniversary!

At The Hub, you can choose between a 15 minute back massage or a gel manicure on Wednesday to help you relax.

Thursday: Spring Careers Fair, 5k Your Way and Windrush Talk

Talk to leading graduate employers to find job and placement opportunities at our Spring Careers Fair in Eliot Dining Room between 10:00 and 15:00 on Thursday.

From midday on Thursday, walk, dance, scoot or run ‘5k Your Way’ at our Canterbury and Medway campuses for free with a student ticket. Register now on the Kent Giving Week website.

In honour of the 75^th anniversary of the Windrush Landing, join a talk by Dr Mark Ledwidge about the historical and cultural significance of the Windrush Landing.

Friday: Find a graduate job (Medway) and free yoga

Working in Kent and Medway Week concludes on Friday with an advice session at Medway on how to find a graduate job.

Unwind and stretch at this free yoga session in the Sports Centre (Canterbury) on Friday afternoon.

Reminders!

• Industrial action this week. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are UCU strike days, so your teaching may be affected on these days. The College and Community Life Team are offering drop-in support sessions on these days in Locke Building between 9:00-17:00. How to prepare for a strike day.
• Online Module Registration is open. If you’re returning to Kent as an undergraduate student for the 2023/24 academic year, you need to choose your modules by 26 March. If you haven’t already, complete Online Module Registration now.
• Apply for student finance. Full-time undergraduate 2023 to 2024 Student Finance applications are now open.
• Final year student? Your invitation to your graduation ceremony was emailed to you last week. Make sure to check your emails for more info including key deadlines.