Author Archives: Angie Valinoti

Ho! Ho! Ho! Get in the festive spirit with our Christmas activities

Come one, come all! ‘Tis the season to be…active! Get those seasonal clothes and jolly ol’ cheer ready for our fun Christmas activities on Wednesday 4 December. Jump-start your festive spirit with our Christmas-themed fun-run and fitness classes. Santa outfits encouraged!

Santa Run

A free 3km charity fun run in support of Kent Team Uni Boob with a suggested donation of £2. Meet the Kent Sport team at 12:30pm for registration and the run will start at 1pm at The Plaza, finishing at The Pavilion. Christmas-themed costumes encouraged! We also promise to fill you up with hot chocolate and mince pies afterwards for ALL participants. This event is open to all and you do not need to be a Kent Sport member to participate.

Those who email sportsdevelopment@kent.ac.uk will receive a Santa hat prior to the run.

Christmas-themed fitness and dance classes

We also have Christmas-themed fitness and dance classes in the Sports Centre to give you that extra special feeling later in the day.

5.30pm Santa’s Freestyle Cycle

Don’t be left home alone! Come and join us for a super festive spin session hosted by Mrs Claus, Sarah and her Santa’s little helper, DJ Gee Cee on the turntables.

6.30pm Jingle Bell Zumba

Deck the halls, it’s time to rock around the Christmas tree with your favourite little elves Jeni and Emma.

7.30pm Silent Night Relaxation

After a long winters day its time to relax and stretch the night away… with your ‘twinkle twinkle little star’ Jeni.

Booking information for fitness classes:

Free for Premium Plus and Premium members. Normal class rates apply for Plus and Pay to Play members (£4.50 for students, £5.50 for staff).Not a member? Visit www.kent.ac.uk/sports/membership

Employability Points in exchange for research participation

Are you an international student looking to top up your Employability Points and receive free academic language and writing support?

You are warmly invited to take part in my research study which will explore student reactions to written academic assignment feedback in credit-bearing modules. My study aims to explore what students think about written assignment feedback from tutors and what you think about the quality of the marking.

Your participation in the study will involve you looking at and reading feedback for a written assignment and then answering a series of short questions via Survey Monkey (open, closed and multiple choice questions) about the tutor feedback you have read. Completing the tasks in the study will take you 45 minutes to an hour and you may be contacted after the study to discuss the tutor feedback in a little more detail (up to 30 minutes). Any of your data in the study will, of course, be anonymised. If you are interested in taking part, further details about participation will be sent to you before you commit.

If you would like to take part in the study, you will receive 5 Employability Points and if you would like academic writing support and some help with your coming written assignments, you are more than welcome to book in for a free 30 minute Individual Writing Tutorial at a convenient time with me after completing the study to talk one-to-one about your writing.

Please email Sophia Vänttinen-Newton if you would like to take part in the study and I will send you the short tasks or if you have any questions.

Thank you!

Do you work with students from different cultural/linguistic backgrounds?

The Learning and Teaching Network are running a workshop on ‘Working with International Students’ on Thursday 5 December, 14.15-15.30 in the UELT Seminar Room.

Presented by Charlene Earl, International Pathways Manager, CEWL and Barbara Sheehy, Student Learning Adviser, SLAS

This interactive workshop is for academic and professional staff who would like to explore ways in which to further enhance their intercultural competence and communication skills. A key element that will be introduced will be the considerations applied when making cultural assumptions.

To confirm your attendance please complete the online booking form.

Christmas Lunch on Campus

It’s nearly that time of the year. Christmas is coming! Gather your friends and colleagues together for a festive feast with all the trimmings. Here are a few suggestions of where you can enjoy Christmas lunch on campus.

Rutherford Dining Hall:

Christmas Lunch (2 – 13 December) – 2 courses for £8.00 (ex VAT)

Choose from traditional roast turkey or festive nut roast* with all the trimmings followed by Christmas pudding or chocolate orange torte*.

To book a table, please call the dining hall on 01227 823500 or email Julie Biggs. All pre-booked groups will receive complimentary eco crackers and mince pies.

Dolche Vita:

Christmas Lunch Special (2 – 13 December) – £8.50 (ex VAT).

A Christmas dinner with a twist, choose from roast chicken leg or festive nut roast* with all the trimmings. No booking required. Includes a complimentary Christmas cracker and either a mince pie, gingerbread man or candy cane.

And that’s not all! There are plenty more festive offers and promotions across campus to celebrate the season. Keep an eye out for festive drinks, cakes, and street food. Visit your nearest café, bar or restaurant to discover what’s on offer.

*Suitable for vegans

Thinking about an LLM? Drop in for pizza and an informal chat!

Students across all degree disciplines with an interest in studying a Master’s degree in law are invited to drop in to the Law School’s ‘Open House’ event on Thursday 5 December.

Law School staff and students will be welcoming visitors to the Eliot Extension foyer between 12pm and 2pm, offering students an informal opportunity to explore their options, to learn more about the Kent LLM and to enjoy a free slice of pizza! It also offers an opportunity to chat about funding options; the University has a generous postgraduate scholarship fund in excess of £12m available to taught and research students studying at Kent and we can talk to you about a range of scholarships, bursaries and loans.

Later that day, Kent Law School staff and students will also be attending the University’s Postgraduate Open Event from 5pm – 7pm in Darwin Conference Suite – a further opportunity to explore your postgraduate options in law!

The Kent LLM attracts excellent law graduates from around the world and is also open to non-law graduates who wish to develop an advanced understanding of law in their field.

Students have the opportunity to develop specialisms in a host of subject areas including: Criminal Justice; Environmental Law; European Law; Intellectual Property Law; International Commercial Law; International Criminal Justice; International Environmental Law; International Law with International Relations; International Law; Law and the Humanities; Medical Law and Ethics; and Human Rights Law. The innovative nature of the programme means that students have the option to leave their choice of specialism open until after they arrive, with their specialisms being determined by the modules that they select.

Details of modules are available on our website and an insight into the student experience can be gained by reading the Mastering Law blog.

E-Learning Forum on the Digital Classroom

Colleagues are invited to attend the E-Learning Forum (ELF) titled ‘Digital Classroom’ on Tuesday 3 December 10am-11.30am in Templeman Seminar Room 6.

Over the past two years the success of the digital classrooms (TS5 & TS6) has led to improvements in a number of seminar rooms across the University. Room upgrades include group tables, repeater screens, wireless connection and, in some cases, touch screen monitors. These teaching spaces can give the Academics greater flexibility in teaching approaches and, when used correctly, enhance the Student learning experience.

During the academic year 2018/19, UELT collected user feedback from Academics and Students on their experiences in these spaces. In this session, Phil Anthony will present the findings on how these rooms are currently being used by Academics and Students across the University. He will then give an example of how group work can be conducted in these rooms using multiple technologies. Finally, Academics currently using the rooms will share their experiences.

To confirm your attendance please complete the online booking form.

Disability History Month

Disability History Month runs throughout November and December.

Themed around Leadership, Resistance and Culture, DHM 2019 features a variety of events and activities that all staff and students can get involved with.

Key highlights include:

The Mike Oliver Exhibition in Canterbury (Keynes Teaching Foyer) and Medway (Drill Hall Library)

The Mike Oliver Exhibition Launch, Tuesday 26 November, 6-8pm, Keynes Teaching Foyer

Talk by Dr Damien Milton: The Influence of the Social Model of Disability on the Neurodiversity Movement, 5 December, 12-1, Grimond LT3

Talk by Dr. Howard Leicester, MBE: researcher in the field of health informatics and campaigner for accessible information. He has made a significant contribution to the NHS Accessible Information Standard. 13 December, 6-8pm, Grimond LT3.

Student Employability Sessions

‘Accessible Employment, A Useful Guide for Students’, 27 November, 1-2pm and 2-3pm, Cornwallis Octagon LT3

Change 100 Career Session (Medway), 5 December, 10-11am, Gillingham 4-03

Change 100 Career Session (Canterbury), 5 December, 1-2pm, ELT2

Staff Training Sessions

‘Improving Accessibility, What Can I Do?’, 26 November, 1-2pm, Keynes S15; 3 December, 1-2pm, Keynes S17; 10 December, 1-2pm, Keynes S17

‘ We All Have Mental Health’, 11th December 1.30-2.30pm, Keynes S16

‘Reasonable Adjustments’, 13th December, 10.00-11.00am, Keynes S16

All bookable through Staff Connect.

For the full programme, please see www.kentunion.co.uk/DHM

Global Thanksgiving Hangout Special!

International Partnerships is delighted to invite Kent students to come and relax at the Thanksgiving themed Global Hangout. Hosted by this year’s new Global Officers and supported by the Worldfest Bitesize Fund.

The Global Hangout will take place on Wednesday 27th November, 1-3pm. This event is free but ticketed as there are limited spaces. Students are invited to book through Eventbrite.

Staff and students are also encouraged to bring donations for Canterbury Food Bank who will also be present at the event.

Any questions, please get in contact at internationalevents@kent.ac.uk.

Cathedral Carol Tickets for Students

Free tickets for students will be given out on Monday 25 Nov at 12.45pm at the Grimond Foyer; and Tuesday 26 Nov at 5.45pm at the Aphra Foyer (far end of Grimond Building). Max 2 or 3 tickets per student with ID. Distributions will continue for 45 mins after the advertised times, or until stocks have run out.

The University Carol Service in Canterbury Cathedral, featuring the University Chamber Choir and the Gospel Choir of New Life Church, is on Monday 2 December at 8pm. See the website for full details.

Opportunities exist for students to be helpers and greeters as this large scale event, which is fun and rewarding. Training provided, and a guaranteed seat. Please email Stephen Laird for more details.

Why Stand-up Matters: Comedy and its Politics

In the first of this year’s ArtBites talks Sophie Quirk, Senior Lecturer in Drama and Theatre in the School of Arts, explores whether stand-up comedy has an impact on society; how it shapes attitudes and voices dissent. Drawing upon exclusive interviews with comedians, it also addresses some of the political challenges facing practitioners today, including the industry’s weaknesses in diversity and representation, its debates around freedom of speech and political correctness, and accusations of elitism and political bias.

Sophie is the author of Why Stand-up Matters: How Comedians Manipulate and Influence (2015) and The Politics of British Stand-up Comedy: The New Alternative (2018).

ArtBites talks showcase academic research and book publications by lecturers in the School of Arts.

The talk will take place: 13:00 – 13:20 Thursday 21 November next to the DVD Collection in Block B, Ground Floor, Templeman Library.