The University will be celebrating its positive engagement across the South East, from student volunteering to economic impact, with a major poster campaign at bus stops and billboards across Canterbury and Medway from 9 to 22 October.

Some of the areas of success and impact the posters promote include volunteering by students, such as that by Sarah-Louise Brock, who regularly gives her time to work for blood delivery service charity Service by Emergency Response Volunteers (SERV).

Another poster highlights the fact £250m is spent off-campus by University of Kent students, supporting some 2,500 jobs in the region, while a third notes since 2010 a staggering 140 businesses have been formed in the South East by students from the University, boosting the local economy and providing new employment opportunities.

A fourth highlights the fact that 23 tonnes of clothes, books and other items were donated to the British Heart Foundation by students.

Finally, as well as the economic and charitable benefits students bring, the posters also celebrate the social and cultural impact international students bring to both Canterbury and Medway campuses and the wider Kent area.

bOing! International Family Festival is fast becoming a must-do event of the summer for families, and we’ve got the stats to prove it.

The festival in facts and figures:

• Over 6,000 tickets sold, the festival saw an increase of sales by 20% on 2016
• Over 11,500 people interacted with the festival
• Over 100 performances and events
• Over 3,000 people entered the Pentalum Luminarium
• 246 workshop participants
• Over 200 staff and volunteers helped to make the festival happen
• 1,037 ice-creams eaten

Following a brilliant weekend of celebration and creativity, Liz Moran, Director of Gulbenkian said: “bOing! 2017 has been even more successful than we could ever have hoped for engaging nearly 11,500 people! More families than ever before attended performances at the festival. Thank you to all our wonderful international and local artists, staff, volunteers and audiences who made bOing! 2017 so special. Planning is already underway for bOing! 2018.”

Created by Gulbenkian, bOing! took place on Saturday 26 August and Sunday 27 August on the Canterbury campus. The festival showcased work by leading UK and international companies, artists and performers creating work that appeals to all ages. Families were drawn to the festival from across the South East, as well as a few international visitors.

Find out more about the festival.

On 10 and 11 October Gulbenkian is inviting you and your team out for a crazy evening of entertainment.

Described as ‘The Office meets cage fighting’, this Gervais-inspired comedy with incredible physicality sees two colleagues face off across a small room.

Bring your office along for a night out and get 25% off when you book four or more tickets.

Find out more and book online

The Development Office is looking for volunteers to assist with a variety of duties during November’s graduation ceremonies.

The ceremony dates and times are below:

Canterbury: Friday 24 November

• 09.45 – 11.15
• 12.30 – 14.00
• 15.15 – 16.45
• 19.30 – 21.00

Rochester: Wednesday 22 November

• 14.30

This is a special day for all of our students and staff so any help you can offer at either of the ceremonies would be appreciated, as we aim to make the day a memorable experience for our students and their families. We would not be able to achieve the success of Congregations without your help.

Any helpers who volunteer at more than two ceremonies consecutively in one day will be provided with refreshments.

We offer full training for your roles and members of our team will be there on the day to support you.

We have a variety of roles and if you would like to help or need further information please email congregations@kent.ac.uk with the dates and times that you are able to assist.

If you have never volunteered at Congregations, then this year, is your year!

From bacterial magnets to anti-cancer treatment – exploiting novel materials found in nature.

Join Dr. Sarah S. Staniland, Reader in Bionanoscience at The University of Sheffield for this year’s Wain Medal Lecture on Wednesday 18 October, 17.00, Woolf Lecture Theatre.

Nature has evolved many fascinating, intricate and remarkable processes – some of which are quite obscure and whose physiological function is not fully appreciated. Dr Staniland will be exploring one such process, found in a group of bacteria that are magnetic – the magnetotactic bacteria. The lecture will uncover how we can use this knowledge and understanding of biological magnet formation to make our own nano-magnets or magnetic nanoparticles. One exciting application of this research is the development of artificial magnetic nanoparticles for use in diagnostics and cancer treatment.

The lecture is free and open to all.

A review to simplify the processes for the approval of taught programmes and modules, is now complete. Changes will be implemented across the University in a year-long pilot in 2017/18, introducing a number of significant improvements into the approval process.

A Staff Guide has been developed and everyone involved in programme and module approval will be briefed in person and receive full training and support. Further details of the changes can be found online.

This is part of a wider review of administrative processes at the University, conducted as part of the Simplifying Kent (SK) Programme, based upon the results from the Kent Service Delivery Diagnostic (KSDD) Review. The SK Programme aims to streamline procedures in specific areas, to reduce the administrative burden on Schools, improving efficiency and freeing up more time for academic staff to engage in core University business.

A programme of activities, exercise and family fun will take place on Sunday 22 October at Medway Park, 11am-3pm.

The Medway Moves for Molly event aims to fund raise for The Molly McLaren Foundation which was set up in memory of the former School of Sport and Exercise Science student who died tragically on 29 June.

All proceeds from the Foundation go to charities which support those affected by eating disorders.

Spin classes, zumba, pilates, facepainting and bungee runs will be among the day’s activities.

The entry fee for the event is £5 (free for children under 5) and includes access to one fitness class.