Author Archives: Miriam Sandiford

Thinking of studying a Master’s or PhD in 2022? PG Open Event, 17 November

Step up, stand out and specialise, discover our career-focused postgraduate programmes at Kent. We’ll be holding our Open Event on Wednesday 17 November 2021. The event offers both face-to-face and virtual options, providing an opportunity to meet our staff and current students, across our UK and European campuses.

Join a community that’s already shaping tomorrow’s world and discover where it could take you.

Book Now

Attend virtually from wherever you are – from 12.00-14.00 UK Time.

Book the virtual event

Attend in person at our Canterbury Campus – from 17.00- 19.00 UK Time.

Book the on-campus event

Here’s 5 reasons to attend our Open Event:

Find out more about postgraduate study at Kent and our range of Master’s, PhD and Research programmes.
Discover our multimillion-pound scholarship fund, research partnerships and other funding opportunities.
Learn more about our career focused programmes, particularly our January start courses in Business, Law, Politics, Architecture and Healthcare.
Meet and chat to our incredible academic and support staff as well as our current students.
Virtually view our campuses in Kent, Canterbury and Medway, and our postgraduate centres in Europe, Brussels and Paris. Or we welcome you to visit our Canterbury campus in person.

Book a place at our open event

Sharpen your focus and step up in your career this 2022. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Student Prize for Sustainability (up to £500 to support your idea!)

Do you have a great idea for a project or initiative that could help us achieve our sustainability goals? Maybe you have a plan for how to save energy in halls through an engaging social media campaign or to reduce food waste by teaching students to cook using leftover food.

Students (individuals or groups) could receive up to £500 by suggesting ways we can overcome our sustainability challenges and will be supported by University staff to implement their proposal on our campuses.

Come along to our co-create your campus event in the Gulbenkian Cafe on Thursday 28 October from 12.00-14.00 and talk to staff and students about the sustainability challenges we face and find out more about how to enter.

The prize

The prize fund of £500* will be awarded to the winning proposals to support the implementation of the projects as well as reward the individuals or groups. There may by up to 5 prize winners depending on the number and feasibility of the proposals. Where multiple proposals are selected, the proportional distribution of the prize fund will be at the discretion of the award panel.

* A minimum of 50% of the fund will be ring-fenced as cash prizes with up to 50% remaining for the implementation of the winning proposals.

Find out more about the 2021 University of Kent Student Prize for Sustainability and upcoming Climate Action Week (25-29 October).

Making a difference to student experience – meet Manfred the KMMS Librarian

On Wednesday 15 September the inaugural KMMS Prize-Giving event took place. For the first time, KMMS celebrated the academic success of many of its students and the hard work and excellence of its staff.

Many of the generous benefactors who donated prizes joined the event in the Lecture Theatre of KMMS’s new Pears building at the University of Kent. Prizes were awarded in three different categories: student prizes, achievement awards and five awards given by MedSoc, the medical student society.

The MedSoc prize for “Making a Difference to Student Experience” went to the KMMS Librarian Manfred Gschwandtner.

The Vice-President of MedSoc introduced the prize:

“The first prize is for making a difference to student experience. This prize was awarded to the member of staff that students feel made the biggest positive difference to their experience at KMMS this year.

There were 8 nominees for this year, but one, in particular, shone through. This person was always on hand to problem solve and does so with willingness and passion. He does a lot of work behind the scenes and in the teaching sessions he has delivered, his passion shines through. Not only this, but he also secured revision resource ‘Osmosis’ for students which they say has made a huge difference to their learning.”

Manfred explains:

“This prize is a collaborative achievement for my library colleagues at University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University and the Drill Hall Library, Medway campus who have worked tirelessly to provide excellent support to KMMS students. It comes after an intensive two-year set up period for the KMMS library and the first year of providing library services across different campuses.

We made sure that our first year students had access to the library resources they needed for their studies including textbooks, journals and innovative new learning resources such as RX Bricks, Osmosis and Complete Anatomy, an up-to-date anatomy app as part of our ‘digital first’ strategy which aimed to provide all core resources in a digital format. Joined up reading lists and a dedicated KMMS LibrarySearch catalogue were developed that allow students to search for library resources easily across the two universities’ libraries.

KMMS academics helped students to develop the necessary skills to best utilise the library resources by embedding information and digital literacy teaching in the curriculum. There has also been extensive support from the institutions’ front line services, ensuring a streamlined student experience including the introduction of a courier service between universities so students can return their books at either library”.

Caption: Manfred Gschwandtner is presented his award by Mimoza Osmani, Vice-President and Mary McDonald, President, MedSoc.

World Mental Health Day – resources and support

For this year’s World Mental Health Day, we’re spotlighting our ever-growing bank of resources to help all our university community improve their mental health, and know how to get support when and how they need it. Follow @UniKentSSW on socials for advice on wellbeing and information on 1:1 support as well as workshops and events to help you stay well and connected.

Mental health support at Kent

Did you know we have a large and diverse team of mental health experts ready to help students in Canterbury and Medway, and online?

Our team of mental health experts includes mental health advisers, counsellors and mentors, who can help you with issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, adjusting to university life and relationship difficulties. As well as providing short term focused interventions and supporting you to develop coping strategies, our specialist practitioners can liaise with your academic School to develop an Inclusive Learning Plan which may include exam adjustments, use of enabling equipment or provision of class resources.

We have a free and confidential counselling service where you can talk about whatever is troubling you or causing you emotional distress, even if it’s nothing to do with university.

Check out the Mental Health Guide

Commitment to mental health and wellbeing

We have joined the University Mental Health Charter which was created by Student Minds to support universities across the UK in making mental health a university-wide priority.

We want you to be part of creating this cultural change, where we #StopTheStigma around mental health difficulties, and co-create our services and responses to mental health needs with student participation.

If you’re interested in collaborating on shaping university strategies around mental health, please email WellbeingEvents@kent.ac.uk and we will contact you about being part of a student group.

Support around the clock:
Mental health partner organisations

Spectrum Life

Spectrum Life is available on weekdays from 8.00-20.00, weekends and bank holidays. They can work with you in getting initial support and help during your crisis and the University Student Support and Wellbeing teams will contact you on the next working day.

Togetherall

Kent students can access free, 24/7 online support for issues around mental health and wellbeing via Togetherall. They also have some great online workshops on topics such as assertiveness training, managing post traumatic stress disorder and managing OCD.

Black mental health

October is also Black History Month and at Kent, while celebrating Black Excellence for #BHM2021, we’re also working to support the mental health of Black and racially minoritised students. We have a therapeutic group for black female students beginning later this month, led by one of our qualified and experienced counsellors. Check out this blogpost with advice on racism and protecting your mental health #BHMKent2021

Have you tried Mindfulness?

There is a very active Mindfulness community at Kent, offering several free drop-in meditation classes each Wednesday, both online and in person, so you can join in wherever you are. They are led by a qualified mindfulness instructor and student volunteers. It’s a great place to nourish a sense of meaningful connection both to yourself and with other students.

Wellbeing events

As well support for individuals with mental health conditions, we offer frequent online and in person workshops and events for all students to enhance and maintain their wellbeing, such as Managing Stress, Finding Friends and Coping with Loneliness at University and Understanding Your Bereavement. Have a look at our Events Calendar for information on what’s coming up.

Student Support and Wellbeing produce monthly newsletters with what’s on, as well as useful resources, sent directly into your inbox – sign up to receive these by emailing WellbeingEvents@kent.ac.uk.

Where else might I find support?

Want more information for specific issues such as anxiety, addiction, bereavement, obsessive compulsive disorder and others? Check out the extensive Self-help resource list, compiled by our mental health experts.

Follow Student Support and Wellbeing on Facebook, twitter and Instagram.

Important student wellbeing study

From Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience

As we enter the second week of the new academic year, I would like to invite you to take part in the Student Experiences Insights Study run by the UK Government’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The study aims to understand the experiences and wellbeing of first year university students and whether these have been shaped by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The results will be used by Public Health England, the Department for Health and Social Care, the Department for Education and non-government scientific bodies to inform and develop policy.

To take part in the survey

Go to https://studies.ons.gov.uk/s/ONSNUS11/on your computer, smartphone or tablet

Complete the survey

Click ‘Finish survey’.

The study will take approximately 10 minutes. The deadline for taking part is 11 October 2021.

Even though the study is entirely voluntary, I would urge you to take part in order to help us learn more about your needs both as a University and nationally.

Findings of the Student Experiences Insights Study are likely to be released later this year. The University will not have access to the information you provide in this survey. The ONS will keep your information confidential and will process the data in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics and all relevant data protection legislation.

To read more about the study and how and why you were invited to participate, please visit Student Experiences Insights Study. For more information about ONS’ Privacy Policy, please go to their data protection page. If you have any further questions or concerns, please email ONS at student.insights.feedback@ons.gov.uk.

Best wishes

Richard

Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience

New Report and Support tool for students

We are pleased to announce a new online reporting tool for reporting student incidents of sexual misconduct and assault, harassment (non-sexual), assault, bullying, discrimination and hate incidents. This replaces the previous inform Kent (inK) system and helps Kent students to get the support they need promptly.

The Report and Support online tool allows both anonymous and named reports. If you choose to provide identifiable information, we will be able to contact you to offer support or discuss ways that you can (if you wish to) report the incident formally. By deciding to report anonymously, you will be providing information that will help us to make our university the safest environment it can be. Anonymous information will be reviewed at regular intervals throughout the year, to ensure that we are monitoring incidents reported and putting new strategies in place where needed.

Take a look at Report and Support online for about how to report, and well as several support articles relating to these incidents. It may be worth familiarising yourself with the tool in case you or a friend needs to use it to make a report in future, and you can also find information on positive safety campaigns and ways in which you can get involved in promoting a culture of respect at Kent.

Have your voice heard. Visit Report and Support now.

New Report and Support online tool for students

The Report and Support online tool allows both anonymous and named reports. If a student chooses to provide identifiable information, we will be able to offer support or discuss ways that they can (if they wish) report the incident formally. Reporting anonymously will provide information that will help us to make our university the safest environment it can be. Anonymous information will be reviewed at regular intervals throughout the year, to ensure that we are monitoring incidents reported and putting new strategies in place where needed.

Take a look at Report and Support online for about how to report, and well as several support articles relating to these incidents. It may be worth familiarising yourself with the tool in case you need to advise a student to make a report in future. You can also find information on positive safety campaigns and ways in which you can get involved in promoting a culture of respect at Kent.

Visit Report and Support now.

#GrabAJab on campus this week from the vaccination bus

A walk-in vaccination bus is coming to our Canterbury and Medway campuses! Find the vaccination bus at the Gulbenkian or The Deep End during the first week of term.

You don’t need an appointment, just pop along and #GrabAJab. The vaccine offered is Pfizer and this can be your first or second jab. Your second jab needs to be 8 weeks after your first.

Canterbury campus #GrabAJab

*Due to unforeseen circumstances the vaccination bus is unable to come to Canterbury campus on Monday as planned. We will update when the bus is able to come to Canterbury hopefully later this week*
Tuesday 28 September 10.00-19.00 outside the Gulbenkian
Thursday 30 September 10.00-19.00 outside the Gulbenkian
Friday 1 October 10.00-19.00 outside the Gulbenkian

Medway campus #GrabAJab

Monday 27 September 10.00-19.00 – bus outside The Deep End
Wednesday 29 September 10.00-15.00 – inside the Deep End

Should you get vaccinated?

Getting vaccinated is an important part of protecting ourselves, our friends, family and community from Covid-19. Current programmes have already shown that it prevents hospitalisation and saves lives. We recommend you get vaccinated against Covid-19.

More information about the UK Covid-19 vaccination programme is available online. You can also check out the NHS student vaccination FAQs.

Covid-19 regular testing: where to get tested on campus

Students and staff who are not showing Covid-19 symptoms (ie are asymptomatic) should get tested twice a week. It’s easy to get tested on campus; our sites offer walk-in testing so you don’t need to book an appointment. Or you can pick up a self-test kit from the test centres to complete at home.

Canterbury test centre

The Canterbury Asymptomatic Test Site (ATS) has moved from Sibson and is now located in The Old Bank, a building next to Security, formerly home to a branch of Santander Bank. The opening hours are 09.00 to 14.30 Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Medway test centre

The Medway Asymptomatic Test Site (ATS) is located in the Old Sports Hall (next to the Student Hub) on the Medway Campus.

Opening times are:

Monday to Thursday: 08.30 to 16.00.
Sunday: 12.00 to 19.00.

Find the Old Sports Hall on Google maps

If you have Covid-19 symptoms

Don’t forget, if you do have symptoms of Covid-19 however mild, self isolate immediately, book a PCR test and let the right people know. Follow either our student procedure or our guide for members of staff.

Virtual Student Services Welcome Fair

The Virtual Student Services Welcome Fair takes place on Tuesday 21 September between 10.00 to 12.30.

This is a great opportunity for you to find out all about the fantastic services available to you at the Canterbury and Medway campuses and how you can make the most of them. Save the date and join the event on Tuesday 21 September.

Find out who’ll be at the Virtual Student Services Welcome Fair.