Author Archives: Miriam Sandiford

We are welcoming our new students with the Hello Kent campaign, building on the campaign from last year. We have also introduced a new Welcome back website for returning students. Another exciting addition is our new Hello Kent mobile app for new and returning students.

Welcome to new students (Hello Kent)

The Hello Kent website includes links to key enrolment information on the Getting Started webpages, maps, helpful student blogs/vlogs and a shared events calendar with Canterbury and Medway events organised by the University and Union.

Welcome to returning students (Welcome back)

We have created a specific Welcome back website which aims to provide key information such as re-registration and timetable release dates, helpful blogs, events and a reminder of all the support available.

Hello Kent app

Our new Hello Kent app has launched. The app is a great way for students to easily access our services, events and find out key information.

How to promote

Please see our dedicated webpage about the welcome campaigns and app for more details about how you can help us promote, including resources you can download such as branded plasma screens and images for social media.

If you have any questions or want to learn more, contact communications@kent.ac.uk.

Making the most of your final year

It won’t come as a surprise to anyone that final year is by far the most stressful and important year of your studies at Kent; a dissertation here, a 4000 word essay there, and pretty soon you can find yourself forced to cut back on the things you loved doing in your first few years. But do you have to? Spoilers, the answer is no.

The pressure to perform in your final year is no joke, but with some good time management you can 100% make time for the other activities you did in your earlier years. It might not be to the same extent as before but you’ll still have the opportunity to escape your studies and be a part of something, whether that be a Kent Union network, Student Rep, committee member, or if your timetable is looking especially lenient, all of the above.

You definitely don’t want to look back on your third year after you graduate wishing you’d made more of it; that you’d been a part of that sports team you’ve been looking at since first year, or joined that society committee you’re passionate about. Studies are important and your degree will set the tone for your future employment, but I would argue that the skills you learn as a rep or committee member or any other volunteering role at Kent will be just as important to a potential employer as a First Class degree.

-Ethan Basso, Undergraduate Sciences Faculty Rep

President of Ice Hockey Club paves way for student athletes

Former President of Kent’s ice hockey club, Charles Dabbs, has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to sports development at Kent with a win at the Kent Student Awards 2020.

Charles (23), who is now a Kent graduate in Politics and International Relations with Year in Continental Europe, helped to reorganise the structure of Kent Knights ice hockey club and worked with Greenwich & Kent Student’s Union (GKSU) to formally open a base at Kent’s Medway campus. This allowed Kent to make ice hockey as accessible as possible to many students and better reflected the club’s regional catchment.

For the first time, a dedicated B-team was formed in 2019/2020, with a series of friendly matches building their development throughout the season. Furthermore, due to the club’s continued growth, the A-team managed to make a return to the competitive BUIHA Southern Checking Division.

Born in Torfaen, Wales, Charles played ice hockey for Cardiff’s under 10’s team and undertook training camps in Finland. The appeal that Kent has an ice hockey team, was a key factor in his decision to study at the University.

Charles Dabbs said: ‘Winning the award felt brilliant. Receiving recognition for the many hours of hard work made it completely worthwhile. My tenure as President has granted me with an invaluable set of skills and experience that can partner my degree and enhance my employability. At the conclusion of my last tenure, I was able to use my experience to gain a summer internship with Rolls-Royce PLC. Now I have graduated, I am using the same experience to gain interviews for career positions. There is plenty to do, to see, and to experience as a student at Kent. It has been a huge factor in shaping and defining the person I am today.’

Learn more about ice hockey at Kent.

Volunteering opportunity for PGT students offering subsidised rent on campus!

The University of Kent is looking for highly motivated PGT students interested in assisting the Head of Colleges and Community Life to build a sense of community and belonging for students residing in on-campus accommodation on the Canterbury campus, or in accommodation run by nominated partners in Medway.

This opportunity is specifically designed for those with a strong familiarity with the University. This is to enable you to share your experiences with other students.

As well as contributing to the student experience, Residential Life Assistants will have the opportunity to develop skills which will enhance their own future personal and professional development, complementing the academic achievements of study at the University.

You will live in residence, and it is essential that you are a part of the community of College residents. A key part of the role is to build positive relationships across the resident communities in order to create a sense of belonging, and to provide support to the College Life Officers who provide a reassuring presence within accommodation and initial welfare support to students encountering difficulties.

Remuneration: These roles are voluntary, unpaid positions. Residential Life Assistants are required to live in University halls of residence and pay rental at 25% of the normal rental charges.

To see further details and to apply, please see the Residential Life Assistants vacancy.

Journalism student raises profile of Kent’s student television station in Medway

Ayomikun Adekaiyero, a Journalism student at Kent’s Centre for Journalism, successfully raised the profile of the University’s Medway student television station in the 2019/2020 academic year to secure bookings to cover major student events.

Ayomikun, the Head of KTV (Kent Television) Medway who becomes a third-year student in the 2020/2021 academic year, led KTV Medway to cover the campus’ Black History Month showcase, Medway Music Society’s annual Battle of the Bands and This Medway Girl Can.

The Journalism student had strived to inform more students on campus about KTV Medway and encouraged event organisers to call upon them to cover events, from video production and carrying out interviews to editing footage for future use. This commitment secured the bookings of popular student events on campus.

Ayomikun’s main role for the society in the 2019/2020 academic year was to organise production shoots and support the main society in Canterbury. In Medway, his focus has been to shoot, direct and edit event content. He has spent between 45 and 50 hours volunteering for KTV Medway so far.

Ayomikun said: ‘It is so rewarding to look back on a successful year for KTV Medway. I have developed both effective leadership and communication skills as a result of this role, and my additional role as a student rep. The Centre for Journalism has supported KTV Medway a lot. We have interviewed staff for some of our videos and used their equipment. Members of staff have been happy to give advice or provide opportunities for KTV Medway to promote ourselves to other students.’

August resits: Mindfulness workshops, 4 and 11 August

Are you taking August exams? Could you do with reducing your stress levels? Then booking onto an online Mindfulness workshop might be a good idea…

We are pleased to announce two online Mindfulness based stress reduction workshop for students sitting August exams – one on 4 August and one on 11 August, both from 12.00 – 13.00.

Places are limited, so please book your free place online using your Kent student login to access the booking site:

Book for Tuesday 4 August

Book for Tuesday 11 August

What is it?
In this free experiential workshop we aim to introduce you to the basics of mindfulness; a way of focusing on body and breath as an alternative to the usual panicked states we can find ourselves in both when revising, and when sitting an exam. The workshop facilitators, qualified counsellor Patmarie Coleman, and Wellbeing Adviser Richard Stack, will guide you to carry out the exercises individually and opportunities to share experiences with the other participants should you choose.

How do I join in?
The link to the hour-long Zoom meeting will be sent to you on the day of the workshop. You will have the option of using the video and audio functions to connect with the group or turn them off as you wish. You will also be able to rename yourself for the meeting using the Zoom function. The meeting hosts are staff members from Student Support and Wellbeing and will be facilitating the meeting from a private and confidential space.

If you have any queries, please email wellbeingevents@kent.ac.uk and we’ll be happy to help.

Diverse Dialogue: BAME Alumni Panel, 3 August

Join a panel of BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) Kent alumni sharing their experiences of university, job hunting and the workplace. Ask your questions!

The online webinar takes place Monday 3 August at 19.00.

Book your place online now.

Kent Student Awards virtual event, 20 July

On Monday 20 July, Vice-Chancellor Karen Cox and Kent Union 2019/20 President Sasha Langeveldt will be announcing the winners of the 2020 Kent Student Awards.

Join us online at 15.00 to find out who has won each of the 9 categories as well as the prestigious Student of the Year and Group of the Year awards! You can view the nominations on the Kent Student Awards site.

The event will be released at 15.00 on Monday 20 July on YouTube and Facebook and the video will also be shared to the Kent Union Facebook page. Join in the conversation by using the hashtag #KentStudentAwards.

Templeman Library reopens tomorrow

Templeman Library is reopening with a limited service on Wednesday 15 July. There will be a limit on the number of people allowed in the building and you will need to follow a one-way route to ensure social distancing.

The Library will be open Monday to Friday 9.00-17.00, via Main Entrance and Library Road Entrance only. Don’t forget your KentOne card to gain access.

Because of the restricted numbers allowed in the Templeman Library at this time, please consider whether your visit to the Library is essential. If you need a resource, please consider looking for an e-resource in the first instance using LibrarySearch Digital. We wish to give those people most in need access to the Library including postgraduates and those studying for August exams/assessments.

A limited ‘Click and Collect’ book borrowing service will be available for items not available in a digital format.

To use a study space (with or without a student PC), collect a ‘clean me’ sign from the Welcome Hall to place on the desk you’re using. This lets us know that the space needs cleaning and tells others not to use it before it’s been cleaned. You’ll be able to use a recently cleaned study space and PC.

Printers are available in all open study spaces. You will be asked to use a wipe to clean the touchpad before use.

See more information about reopening of Templeman Library for details on safety measures in place and which services are available. These services will be regularly reviewed and are subject to change.