Around 95 staff across the University celebrated their learning and development achievements at an awards ceremony on Thursday 26 February.

The award-winners were congratulated on their hard work over the last year by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow.

She said: ‘In our 50^th year, we can be proud of how successful the University is – and that’s because of you and your efforts. In a recent THE (Times Higher Education) survey of good places to work, Kent was in the top five in four out of five categories and that’s very reassuring.’

She said that the University had also done well in NSS (National Student Survey) – which measures what students think of us – and the Research Excellence Framework (REF), a national assessment of research quality. ‘When you combine how well we do in terms of students and research, Kent comes 6^th in the country. That’s great because they’re the two drivers of the University’s success – and that’s thanks to you all.’

Awards this year included a Learning and Development Special 50^th Anniversary Award (“sustained contribution to Learning & Development”), presented to Helena Torres, School Administration Manager, School of English, for ‘going above and beyond on her own development and that of others’. Helena completed an MBA last year and, as part of that, elected to design and co-lead a new DMS (Developing Management Skills) programme at Kent.

Other awards at the Learning and Development ceremony were presented across categories including:

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD), including a presentation to Carole Barron for her Leadership Foundation Fellowship
• Staff volunteering – including Wendy Miller, Estates Department, who has volunteered over 300 hours for the Scouts
• University leadership programmes
• AUA (Association of University Administrators) awards, including presentations to Chloé Gallien and Linda Lough for their AUA Fellowships
• AURORA leadership training for women
• EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity) Valuing Everyone Pilot Programme
• Kent Hospitality Consistent Excellence in Customer Service award, presented to Geoff Wilcox, Mungo’s
• Health & Safety awards, including a presentation to Ray Allard for becoming a Fellow Member of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM)
• Erasmus staff placements
• IT achievements and IS Learners of the Year – Danika Jarrett, Maria Centrone and Matthew Bull.

The awards, in the Darwin Conference Suite on Canterbury campus, were followed by a buffet lunch, sponsored by Kent Hospitality.

Further details, including a full list of award-winners and photographs, are available on the HR webpages.

Billy Ng, Vice-Chair of the Kent Law Campaign Student Group, took to the sky on Saturday 29 November 2014 to participate in a charity skydive to raise money for the Kent Law Campaign.

Not content with just one challenge, Billy is now taking on the grueling task of training for the Vitality Reading Half Marathon.

On Sunday 22 March Billy will join thousands of runners and take to the streets of Reading all in aid of the Kent Law Campaign.

We would like to thank Billy for his enthusiasm and commitment and wish him luck during training as well as on the day.

If you would like to show your support please sponsor Billy online.

All money raised will go towards building a new home for the Kent Law Clinic and will be matched pound for pound by the University of Kent.

If you would like to raise money for the Kent Law Campaign by taking part in a sponsored event, please contact Felicity Clifford to find out the support available to you.

Find out more and donate at Billy’s JustGiving page.

Reserve a place on a tour of the ‘Anne Frank: A History for Today’ exhibition!

Tours are running from 9-11 March in Eliot Hall.

The exhibition, from the Anne Frank Trust, tells the story of Anne’s short life through images and text and sets it against the backdrop of the rise of the Nazi party, WWII and the consequences of the Holocaust.

It raises questions about prejudice and discrimination, and how the lessons learnt from the Holocaust are still very relevant today.

Image credits
Title: Anne Frank Diary at Anne Frank Museum in Berlin
Author: Heather Cowper
Licence: CC BY 2.0
Link: https://flic.kr/p/6exjSD
Source: Flickr

On the evening of 30 January around 60 students, staff and local people gathered in Eliot Chapel to celebrate the completion of its refurbishment as part of the University’s 50th Anniversary celebrations.

During the celebration, the Reverend Dr Stephen Laird, Father Peter Geldard, and Pastor Aaron Berko said some prayers and words of dedication and thanks, while Stephen Burke, Master of Eliot College, spoke of the refurbishment project and those involved.

The project to refurbish the Chapel was led by a team comprising the Reverend Dr Stephen Laird for the Chaplaincy, Rosanna Callow for Commercial Services, Matt Brealey from Estates, and Meredith Johnson and Stephen Burke for Eliot Master’s Office.

The Chapel was repainted, its brick floor repointed and partly carpeted, new signage designed and erected, artwork sourced and displayed, and new chairs purchased and installed. Finding a fitting altar and lectern provided a challenge, until Nigel Smith and Peter Dray from Estates came to the rescue. Using fine quality American Oak Peter and Nigel crafted a beautiful new altar and lectern, that will not just see out the next 50 years, but the 100 years after that!

The Chapel has been restored to its previous glory, and now provides a bright, peaceful and comfortable haven for quiet contemplation and prayer, for our students, visitors and staff.

Come along on Saturday 21 March, 9.30 – 18.00, for a Symposium on Feminist Action at Kent in Grimmond LT1.

Join us in celebrating feminist research, scholarship and activism over the last five decades.

Open to all.

For more information, visit the Radical Woman project webpage.