Author Archives: Allie Burnett

Student on PC in Drill Hall Library

Changes to how you get financial support at Medway

From 15 January 2024, at Medway you will only be able to book virtual appointments with the University’s Income Office. If an in-person appointment is essential this will be arranged for you but you won’t be able to drop in the office.

How to book a virtual appointment:

  • Virtual appointments are available Monday – Friday, from 10:00-15:00. Complete the online form to book a virtual appointment.
  • You can also contact the Income Office by phone – 01227 824242. The opening hours are Monday – Friday, 10:00-16:00.

Get in touch with your Division’s Income Office by email:

If you have an account controller, you will receive a welcome email from your new account controller shortly.

Two students walking down steps in Canterbury Cathedral

A Student’s Guide to the Winter Break for International Postgrads

International postgrad student Caroline shares her experience of spending the winter break on campus

“As an international postgraduate student in the UK, spending the Christmas holidays away may seem lonely and daunting at first. However, it can be a unique and enriching experience. Canterbury, with its rich history and charming atmosphere, offers lots of activities to make your holiday season memorable. In this blog post, I will share my recommendations for what you may wish to consider doing during the Christmas holidays when you decide to take a break from your studies.”

Explore Canterbury’s historic sites

“There is a range of activities to enjoy in the City Centre, while the campus is quieter. One of my favourites is the iconic Canterbury Cathedral, which is free for University of Kent Students to visit. Just bring your KentOne ID and browse all the events they have to offer.”  

Join festive events and the Canterbury Christmas markets

“Canterbury comes alive with festive cheer during the Christmas season, with the ‘Christmas Light Switch-on’ and the arrival of the Christmas marketplace. Visit the Christmas lights in the city centre to experience the enchanting atmosphere and definitely don’t pass up the chance to explore the Christmas markets; you can indulge in seasonal treats, shop for unique gifts, and enjoy the vibrant ambience with friends or colleagues.”

Participate in University events

“Check online for uni-led special events or gatherings during the holidays. Both Kent Union’s ‘Give it a Go!’ scheme and the ResLife team will be hosting events throughout the Christmas break, so make sure to check out what events they have planned. Some schools will also be hosting Christmas parties, cultural celebrations, and activities for students staying on campus, so keep an eye on your emails. It’s an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow international students and create new holiday traditions.”

Embrace British Christmas Traditions

“Immerse yourself in British Christmas traditions by attending local events such as carol services, pantomimes, and festive concerts. If you haven’t had the chance to go into the city centre to try some of the local food or pubs, now will be the best time to experience the joy of a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.”

“Have a very Merry Christmas in Canterbury!”

Check out the winter break webpages for service opening times, advice and support.

 

students in Bangladesh

Go Abroad Story: Bangladesh

Kent MSc Development Economics students, Gladness and Rebecca, studied abroad in Bangladesh. Hear what they had to say about their time studying abroad…

Gladness said:

“I embarked on a journey to Bangladesh for my MSc Development Economics dissertation, I did not plan for it initially. However, the opportunity presented itself, and I grabbed it. I felt like I needed a change of scenery to concentrate on my dissertation without distractions for four weeks. Additionally, my love for travel, exploring new places, and meeting new people influenced my decision.

“I studied the Effectiveness of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Program, specifically the Coastal Climate Resilience Infrastructure Programme (CCRIP), on Food Security in Bangladesh. I received fantastic guidance, a lot of assistance, and plenty of attention during my research. The team at BRAC University was incredibly supportive, aiding me in tasks such as data collection and arranging transportation. Their help significantly improved the entire research process.

“During this experience, I gained valuable insights into Bangladesh’s geography, particularly in the coastal areas where my research was focused. Concepts like Regions, Districts, and Upazilas became familiar, with Upazila being a new term for me. Immersing myself in the culture, I appreciated the local food and clothing, savouring the unique herbs and spices in their meals. The religious influence in an Islam-dominated country like Bangladesh was a captivating experience, with the city resonating with prayers every few hours.

“The hands-on experience at BRAC University was instrumental in my academic growth. Guided by a supportive supervisor, I learned the intricacies of empirical studies, including sourcing and cleaning raw datasets. The collaborative efforts of the supervisor and co-workers were crucial in overcoming challenges in data cleaning and processing. As a result, my dissertation earned the highest mark, igniting a newfound passion for research and a desire to explore further opportunities.

“Reflecting on this experience, I wholeheartedly recommend it to other students, especially those eager to explore new places. Being away from the familiar environment allowed me to focus solely on my dissertation, eliminating the distractions of daily routines. Despite occasional challenges like the monotony of daily rice consumption and language barriers, the hosting team’s unwavering commitment to our comfort and the friendly nature of the people in Dhaka made the experience enriching.”

Rebecca shared:

“Bangladesh was the perfect study abroad location for me and my research. My research project explored remittance and household expenditure behaviour, drawing a comparison between Bangladesh and Uganda. Bangladesh’s unique position as one of the top receivers of global remittances made it an ideal location to study how these financial transfers impact the daily lives of Bangladeshi families.

“The trip helped me understand the Bangladesh dataset better before starting the econometric analysis. Being on the ground provided me with a broader cultural understanding and helped interpret the data more accurately. I also gained valuable insights into the social, economic, and political context in Bangladesh.

“My time in Bangladesh provided me with a profound appreciation for the rich tapestry of Bangladeshi culture, the warm hospitality and resilience of its people.

“This experience honed my intercultural communication skills and deepened my understanding of global issues. I cannot stress enough the importance of such immersive experiences for personal and professional growth.

“I wholeheartedly recommend this opportunity to fellow students. It’s not solely about conducting research and acquiring knowledge; it’s also about broadening your horizons, fostering empathy, and forging lasting memories.

“To those considering this adventure, I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, seize the opportunity with an open heart and eagerness to learn, and you’ll return enriched in more ways than you can imagine.”

For Economics students interested in this amazing opportunity in Bangladesh please email A.Gschwandtner@kent.ac.uk

See Go Abroad opportunities and funding for the full range of international opportunities available to all Kent students.

Kent Law School's mooting team

Kent Law School Mooters reach Grand Final

During the previous academic year, students from Kent Law School (KLS) accomplished remarkable successes in mooting and mock trial competitions. Several teams advanced to the semi-finals in various national mooting competitions in 22/23, with the most significant accomplishment being the team’s advancement to the National Finals of the prestigious OUP/ICCA Moot. This competition, which has been running for decades, is highly competitive, with over 60 universities vying for a spot in the grand finals.

In a first for KLS, our team of mooters earned a place in the Grand Finals of the OUP/ICCA Moot, an outstanding accomplishment.

Darren Weir, Director of Lawyering Skills said, ‘For many years KLS has entered the competition and has reached the semi-final stage more than once, which is an amazing achievement.  But, to see our team get through to the Grand Final held at Middle Temple was fantastic.  A huge well done to Raph and Victoria for breaking records and getting us to the final’.

Raphael Hardy said:

‘It was a wonderful experience to moot against some of the best teams in the country on such a wide range of legal issues. The competition is tough, your submissions need to be on point and that is why the moot is regarded as one of the most prestigious in the country.  It is a good challenge for those looking to improve on the existing skills they have built up at Kent’.

Victoria Bradshaw said:

‘It was an incredible experience and one I will remember into my career at the Bar.  It is a chance to practise your advocacy skills against some of the best mooting teams in the UK. The renown competition tested our legal and oral argument skills like no other. Getting through each round was a testament to our commitment, hard-work and team work. We couldn’t have reached the finals without the help of our wonderful mentor Darren Weir, who is a valuable asset to Kent Law School. It was extremely challenging but very rewarding – an opportunity one should not pass!’

What is mooting?

Mooting is a popular activity among law students and legal professionals. It is essentially a simulated court proceeding where participants argue hypothetical legal cases. Moot courts give law students a chance to develop their argumentative and public speaking skills, as well as their knowledge of legal research and writing.

Mooting is just one of the lawyering skills offered at Kent Law School and is part of our outstanding co-curricular Lawyering Skills Programme. Owing to KLS’ growing reputation for practical lawyering skills, KLS has teamed up with Thomson Reuters Case Center to host the National Law Student Triathlon for the third successive year.

 

mince pies

Your Uni Your Say festive giveaway on 1 Dec

Come along to Nexus in Templeman Library on 1 Dec from 11:00- 14:00 for free festive treats including mince pies, fruit cake and Maltesers reindeers!

All you have to do is write a Christmas wish for what you’d like to see at Kent next year and pop it in the jar. Your wishes (or feedback) will then be shared with Mica – the Head of Student Experience at Kent.  Your feedback is important to us so we know what we are doing well and how we can improve. To see all the changes the Uni and Kent Union have made in 2023 in response to student feedback, visit the Your Uni Your Say webpages.

Learn more about the event.

Group of students wearing festive costumes

Cookies and Conversation on 7 Dec

Join us in the Library Café on 7 Dec, 15:00-17:00, for an opportunity to influence the services that matter to you, with particular focus on Library and IT services and how you search for information, resources, and books.
Your insights will help us create even better and more responsive services tailored to your needs. 

Plus, enjoy some free yummy cookies and hot drinks as we enter into this holiday season together! We also have a few £10 Amazon Vouchers to give away!

Find out more on the events calendar.

See you there!

Find out more about how the University is listening to students. Have your say, make your voice heard and help us shape our services!

Student presenting

Global Entrepreneurship Week: Celebrating our student entrepreneurs

What drives entrepreneurs and their ambitions, and the realities of starting a business were under the spotlight in ASPIRE as part of events marking Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2023 (13-17 November).

Students and graduate entrepreneurs came together to mark the worldwide event which had the theme ‘Entrepreneurs Thrive Here’ and promoting Inclusive Entrepreneurship, encapsulated by the GEW UK 2023 strapline: ‘Access All.’

On Wednesday 15 November, ASPIRE-supported students and graduate business owners took part in a dynamic panel discussion sharing their experiences.

The panel included Kent Business School graduates, Toufan Bracke and Rens Van Steenes, founders of Pomme de Frere, a street food business offering authentic Belgian frites.

They were joined by Munya Mwaijumba, a Journalism student and founder of the online beauty platform – Glimmer – which is connecting independent hairdressers with customers – and Ike Dhave, a KBS student and founder of the streetwear brand – Playhard.

ASPIRE Project Officer, Artur Slowinski, hosted the event, guiding entrepreneurs to share their stories and insights with the audience of fellow students. They delved into topics such as developing sustainable business ideas and turning them into reality.

Toufan emphasised the importance of entrepreneurial mindset, sharing how their venture was born out solving a gap in the market for evening food in St Andrews. He said: “There is nothing more rewarding than the feeling when we charged our first customer one pound”.

Munya advised aspiring entrepreneurs to start working on a business venture as early as possible, adding: “there is always something to do when you’re an entrepreneur, start as early as possible as you don’t have much on”.

Ike highlighted the importance of strong social media presence, explaining: “We launched our business without even having a physical product, thanks to the successful social media campaign”.

Following the panel discussion, ASPIRE hosted the weekly Business Start-Up Journey workshop. The ASPIRE’s programme is designed to grow and develop entrepreneurial skills. The journey ends with an exciting pitching competition on 20 March 2024. Discover more about the Business Start-Up journey.

Group of students by car on farm field with food they have gleaned

Right to Food Uni: how to get involved

Everyone has the right to healthy, affordable and sustainable food. It should be a universal right irrespective of who you are and what your circumstances are.

The University of Kent has committed to being a Right to Food University – the first in the world. It is a commitment to bring everything the University does – its research, teaching, our students and staff, catering and everything else we do – to support the Right to Food and to make a real difference, on our campus, in our communities, across our region, the UK and internationally.

How to get involved:
Students are central to this work and we would like to invite all students who might be interested in the Right to Food to come along to the following:

  • Gleaning event on Thursday 23 November at 17:00 in Woodys
    Get hands on with  Kent’s Right to Food initiative by joining the Kent Gleaning collective. As well as reducing food waste and helping distribute fresh produce to those in need, you’ll get some fresh air, meet new people and earn employability points through volunteering. Come along to this event to hear more about gleaning in general and how you can become a volunteer with the Kent Gleaning Collective!
  • Right to food info event on Tuesday 28 November in Templeman (TS1) at 16:00
    Hear about the initiative, find out how you can get involved and a free meal and drink in the Gulbenkian afterwards. To book your place email s.bloor@kent.ac.uk

Learn more about the Right to Food initiative.

Santander Scholarships

Not long left to enter! 10 chances to win £1,000

Register with the Santander Scholarships programme by 20 November for chance to win £1,000!

10 Kent students will win £1,000 for simply registering online with Santander’s Scholarship programme. Through the programme you can:

  • Apply for scholarships and grants
  • Gain work experience
  • Learn the skills graduate employers want

Register now!