KentVision will be unavailable on Tuesday 29 April between 8:30 and 11:30.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused while this essential work is carried out.

Should you have any concerns or queries please contact helpdesk@kent.ac.uk.

From June 2025, some University communications sent by email, such as student updates and announcements, will use a new address format: @lists.kent.ac.uk. 

You don’t need to do anything—emails will still arrive as usual, and the display name (e.g., “University of Kent”) will stay the same. The transition starts in April, with the full change happening in June. 

This update helps:
Improve email security
Reduce spam and phishing risks
Make sure important emails reach your inbox reliably 

This won’t affect your personal @kent.ac.uk email.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please do submit a ticket (recommended) or email helpdesk@kent.ac.uk and we will get back to you.  

From the summer we will be making some changes to our catering offer on the Canterbury campus through a new partnership with Chartwells Universities, a catering firm who work with lots of other universities and colleges.  

We wanted to work with someone who could bring investment and modernise our outlets, helping us broaden menu choices and give you more great options to eat on campus. We’ve been working to give you more healthy and affordable options which will continue through the partnership, with Chartwells Universities also bringing links with high street brands.   

The contract will start on 1 June 2025. Refurbishment of outlets and menu changes will take place over the coming months, with Chartwells Universities engaging with students and staff throughout. This doesn’t affect outlets run by Kent Students’ Union, which include Woody’s, the Library Cafe and the Venue.  

All current catering staff – who have been committed to delivering the highest quality service – will become Chartwells Universities employees with protected salaries and conditions, meaning we will continue to see familiar faces around campus.   

Melissa Browne, Interim Director of Commercial Services and Estates explains: ‘We’re excited to announce this partnership with Chartwells Universities, which will further support our commitment to providing quality, healthy and affordable food on our campus. The partnership will bring much needed investment to our catering service, which will help us to deliver a fantastic catering experience on campus.’  

Rachel Carter, Managing Director of Chartwells Universities, said: ‘We are very excited about the opportunity to work collaboratively with the University of Kent to enhance the experience of students on campus. This is a symbiotic relationship, with shared values and beliefs around providing affordable, quality, nutritious food for students through the Right to Food initiative. Creating a compellingly positive student experience has never been more important. Under this partnership, we are committed to delivering great value to the University of Kent, its students and staff while embracing innovation and driving forward a dynamic food and drink offer that brings people together.’  

Last week student volunteers from across the University were presented with certificates on completion of their training as East Kent Mind Ambassadors. East Kent Mind, who run the  Kent Community Oasis Garden (KentCOG) in partnership with the University, have developed the Ambassador scheme as part of a newly launched East Kent Mind Society, which will run with a strong affiliation between the society and its parent charity to give support. To become an ambassador an individual completes a training package and takes on an element of social action volunteering for the charity.

Simon Dolby, Development Lead at East Kent Mind told us: ‘So far 30 students from the University of Kent have completed their ambassador training and are now planning social action to support the work of East Kent Mind, but we are keen for more potential ambassadors to come forward.’ 

Students who were a mixture of KentCOG Ambassadors, student volunteers and ResLife Ambassadors received their completion certificates from Professor Iain Wilkinson and were inducted to take part in EK Mind Social Action Projects. These include creating supporting East Kent Mind’s Wear It Blue campaign during Mental Health Awareness Week in May, encouraging positive conversations around mental health wider community, a fundraising fun run, as well as volunteering in the wider community for example, at Mind’s Revival Cafe in Whitstable. 

Earning their East Kent Mind Wellbeing Ambassador status with the charity, were third year students Katie Whitewood and Rosie Hawkins, Co-Presidents of the new society who helped create the initiative along with Simon Dolby.

Katie explained her motivation for getting involved: ‘Mind is all about connections and helping others feel seen and supported. I want to help strengthen our links with East Kent mind and really make sure that students are aware of our support off-campus.’ She added: ‘We are looking to expand our outreach, particularly to students at Canterbury Christ Church University, where bridging connections between universities is an important step in supporting mental health universally.’

Rosie told us why she feels this initiative is so important saying: ‘Mental health should always be top of our priority list. It is a given that Uni adds to mental health stresses, with deadlines, presentations and exams – it’s not easy. But one of our driving motivations is to create a safe space so you fell you have a shoulder to lean on, whether you need advice, guidance or a chat.’ 

There is also invaluable experience to be gained too. Wellbeing Officer, Reiss is thinking about this path for his ongoing career: ‘I hope to be able to take my training forward, as I go through a masters’ and hopefully a PHD.’

The full list of East Kent Mind Wellbeing Ambassadors are as follows:  

• Katie Whitewood 
• Gellian May Legaspi 
• Reiss Cordrey 
• Alisa Chin 
• Neive Wright (external to Uni)  
• Daisy Gower 
• Tabi Oyewumi 
• Mashaal Chughtai 
• Eren Newham 
• Balpreet Kaur 
• Ikeoluma Modebelu  
• Franco Brichetti 
• Neemisha Das 
• Dacian Stan 
• Nehi Eigbefoh 
• Preston-Paris Ingold  
• Zarine Zafar 
• Emily Catlin 
• Hayley Blackburn  
• Ria Groz 
• Rosie Hawkins
• Parvathy Rajeev
• Kerriva Kent-Ramotar
• Chloe Birkett
• Lauren Mansfield
• Himadri Himadri
• Melissa Da Silva

If you are interested in the East Kent Mind Society email ( society@eastkentmind.org.uk ) Rosie’s. If you would like to apply to become an East Kent Mind Ambassador contact the East Kent Mind Society ( ambassador@eastkentmind.org.uk ).

An exciting new fusion cocktail brand took top honours at the Business Start-Up Journey pitching finals in a close fought competition bringing together students from across the university. 

The winners

Kent Business School student, Danika Hossain, and her business partner, Arshia Bhatnagar, were crowned winners after a slick presentation of their start-up business, Bhangra Blends, a ready to drink cocktail combining traditional recipes with Indian flavours. 

Danika said afterwards: “Winning the competition was an incredible experience for us, and we’re truly grateful for the opportunity. We had a fantastic time participating.” 

Danika and Arshia win £1000 to support making their start-up dream a reality. 

The runners up

Runners up in the competition were Kent Business School students Toyin Sanyaolu with Wonder Lab an immersive STEM teaching programme and Akash Ramakrishna Iytha with Stitchcraft, a customised tailoring business aimed at the Indian wedding market. 

The both win £500 to support their business journey. 

The finalists

In total, eight Kent students entered the dragons’ den in to impress judges including the founder of international fashion brand Dune London, Daniel Rubin. 

They were selected following the inspiring 15-week Business Start-Up Journey programme. 

The other worthy finalists were 

• Jane Davidson (History) with Positive Procrastination – time management tools. 

• Felicity James (LSSJ) with Dive Right In – an inclusive swim school. 

• Aamir Khokhar (KBS) with Khocars tours – inclusive sports car road trips 

• Rhoslyn Singh (Engineering) – Rhoslyn’s Art – direct to consumer hand-painted artwork 

• Likith Reddy Ramidi (KBS) – Gigamesh – hybrid digital marketing agency 

The finalists competed in the pitching finals in Sibson on Wednesday 19 March.  

The judges

The judges were: 

• Emay Enemokwu, KBS graduate and founder of JEHUCAL streetwear brand  

• Nadia Simpson, KBS graduate and founder of Your Amora and NuEleFa beauty brands  

• Daniel Rubin, KBS graduate (second 500), Kent Hon Doc and founder Dune London  

• Alex Ford, Computer Science graduate, serial entrepreneur and founder Claro Wealth  

• Laura Bounds MBE owner of award-winning brands Kent Crisps, Kentish Oils, Kentish Condiments and A Little Bit Food Co  

• Debbie Zaman, Angel investor and mentor for the Innovation RCA incubator at the Royal College of Art. Supporter of woman in business and (Exited) Founder of With, PR agency. 

The finalists worked with mentors to help them prepare for the pitching finals. Mentors include owner of Garage Coffee, Luke Underdown, owner of Macknade Fine Food Hall, Stefano Cuomo and Dan Crooks, MD of iFruits. 

ASPIRE pop-up market

Alongside the pitching finals, the ASPIRE pop-up market saw students from across campus showcase and sell their wares with start-ups including fashion, jewellery, crochet, food and drink and a virtual reality world.  

Learn more about the Business Start-Up Journey.

Find out what’s on this week as we reach the end of the Spring term!

Monday 31 March: Finding a job as an international student and working abroad

Are you an international student based at the Medway campus? Join this in-person session to help you to find a job as an international student.

Interested in working abroad as part of your degree, summer break or after graduation? Learn more at this information session which includes an introduction to GoingGlobal – a platform available for Kent students to find opportunities and detailed information about working abroad.

Tuesday 1 April: Pets as therapy (Medway), editing and proofreading webinar and Research Café

Spend some time with a cute therapy dog at The Hub in Medway over Tuesday lunchtime. Take the time to relax and connect.

Are you missing out on a higher grade because you haven’t taken the time to edit and proofread your work? The Skills for Academic Success team are running a webinar to help you learn how to edit and proofread effectively.

Postgraduate researchers are invited to come along to the Research Café, which is an opportunity to share, learn and connect with other PGR students. The Café will provide the opportunity for two or three researchers to present their research in a friendly and supportive environment.

Wednesday 2 April: Plant pot painting (Medway), planting seeds, Easter Extravaganza

At Medway you can join a Crafternoon at The Hub where you can paint plant pots – perfect for adding a personal touch to your greenery.

Come down to Kent Community Oasis Garden and help get the garden growing by joining our monthly seed sow activity. Plant this month’s vegetable and flower seeds in seed trays and compost to grow in the polytunnels on site. No experience necessary.

ResLife are hosting an Easter Extravaganza for all students who live on campus. As well as enjoying fun activities with chances to win Amazon vouchers, you can also enjoy some free food! There’s a choice of nachos or a hot dog and churros or ice cream. Plus look out for Kent Bunny who will be handing out Easter Eggs.

Thursday 3 April: Exam support and Drag Bingo

If you have non-essay-based exams, join this webinar to learn about how to answer multiple choice questions (MCQs) and short answer questions (SCQs).

Join Delilah Tickles and Anita Wee for a hilarious, glitzy night of Drag Queen Bingo at Mungo’s on Thursday evening. Expect hilarious commentary, four rounds of bingo, sing-alongs, and a chance to win weird and wonderful prizes.

Friday 4 April: Gardening at Kent Community Oasis Garden and volunteering

On Wednesdays and Fridays between 10:00-14:00, you can join an open volunteering session at Kent Community Oasis Garden. It’s a collection of students, staff and community members working to create a sustainability hub centred around growing food. Everyone is welcome.

Interested in volunteering? Join this online session to find out how volunteering can give you valuable skills and experience and how you might get started with volunteering.

Opportunities and reminders

• It’s time for continuing undergraduate students from England to apply for student finance. Apply now to make sure your funding is in place for September 2025.
• Online Module Registration for your 2025/26 modules is open until Friday 4 April.
• Over the next couple of months, some University communications sent by email, such as student updates and announcements, will use a new address format: @lists.kent.ac.uk to help improve security.
• Parkys’ Preloved, the new charity shop on campus, is now open and supporting the Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapy.
• Complete the Kent Sport Student Activity Survey by Friday 4 April to give your feedback and be entered into a prize draw to win £250 Kent One card credit.
• Are you a postgraduate student? Fill in your postgraduate survey by 9 May for the chance to win £250! Check your student emails for your personalised survey link from Jisc.