Congratulations to Professor Gordon Lynch for being appointed as the Director of the Graduate and Researcher College.

Gordon is Michael Ramsey Professor of Modern Theology at Kent and has substantial experience both in developing doctoral training and in research leadership, including serving as the sub-panel chair for Theology and Religious Studies for REF2021. His research has crossed a number of disciplines within the humanities and social sciences and he has undertaken a range of public engagement and impact work with think-tanks, educational organisations, museums and national abuse inquiries.

On his appointment, Gordon has commented, ‘This is an important time for the University as we seek to provide the best possible educational and research environment for our postgraduate students and academic staff in the context of wider national changes. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to take on this role and look forward to working with colleagues as we take this forward.’

When: Thursday 16– Saturday 18 June 2022
Where: At the British Academy Summer Showcase, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH
Tickets are free but registration is needed
Link and programme:https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/british-academy-summer-showcase-2022/programme-exhibits/

Dr David Garbin, Senior Lecturer in SSPSSR, will contribute to the prestigious Summer Research Showcase Festival organised by the British Academy in central London on 16-18 June. He is curating an exhibition on urban sustainability and the informal economies and ecologies of waste tyres in mega-city Lagos (Nigeria).

The tyre is a truly global commodity, a symbol of historic dependency on motor vehicles. But in a mega-city like Lagos, the problem of waste tyres is particularly acute: end-of-life tyres (ELTs) are discarded on the streets, in waterways, stockpiled or burned. Non-biodegradable, stockpiled ELTs can pose significant fire hazards and become a breeding ground for malarial mosquitos.

Used tyres are not only the by-products of deficient, pot-holed and overburdened road infrastructures, they are at the heart of a thriving – mostly informal – roadside economy of small garages, vulcanizers as well as an ‘upcycling’ sector (dominated by female workers), through which tyres are repurposed in many ways.

The project explores the complex relationships between waste, sustainability, creativity and wellbeing in the use and re-use of tyres across economic, infrastructural and social domains of the mega-city, using Lagos as a case study.

The exhibition draws upon data collected as part of the ‘Pneuma-city’ project (2019-2022) which Dr David Garbin leads as Principal Investigator, working in collaboration with award-winning visual artist Andrew Esiebo. The exhibition will showcase photography, video as well as innovative tyre-based installations and material culture of tyre repurposing. The project is supported by a £300k award from the Global Challenges Research Funds as part of the wider ‘Cities and Infrastructure of Well-Being’ Programme.

The project is a collaboration between the Universities of Kent, York, Toronto, and Lagos and is truly multidisciplinary as it combines Urban Anthropology, Sustainability Science, Material Engineering, Urban Planning and Sociology of Work.

A reminder to colleagues in grade 10 and above as well as academic colleagues in the Division of Arts & Humanities, that the University is currently offering a short-life Voluntary Severance Scheme. The scheme is open for applications until 5pm on Monday June 13 and full details have been sent to eligible staff.

As we continue on our path to financial sustainability we must continue to explore opportunities for potential savings when they are available. With some available funds available this financial year we have the opportunity now to do that and so can offer this scheme for colleagues who may be considering leaving the University.  If you any questions about the scheme, please contact the central Employee Relations Team at VSscheme@kent.ac.uk or, alternatively, via your own HR Manager.

For those for whom the severance scheme is not suitable, the University also has a number of existing options available to staff across the organisation who are looking to move on at a time that is right for both them and their division/directorate. These include efficiency retirement, flexible/phased retirement, ill health retirement as well as our existing voluntary redundancy package. If you would like an informal, confidential conversation about any of these schemes please contact your local HR Manager.

When: Monday 20th June 2022

Where: Darwin Conference Suite, Canterbury campus

Rethinking assessment and feedback designs for learning enhancement

As teachers, we are designers.  How we design assessments and opportunities for feedback enactment are critical aspects of teaching practice.  Assessment design offers a key point of leverage for enhancing education, because many students strategically focus on it. While students may skim assigned readings or skip lectures, they must complete assessments to progress.  Higher education assessment also structures many hours of students’ independent effort and influences classroom preparatory activities educators design. Thus, improving assessment can have a big impact on student learning.

Likewise, feedback can be one of the most powerful ways of enhancing students’ learning if students are prepared to seek out or use all available sources of feedback to improve their subsequent work.  Teachers can and do design opportunities into their curricula for students to receive, interpret, and act on feedback.  Those opportunities can act as a bridge between the assessments students are completing and the teaching environment. Students harnessing the power of diverse potential feedback sources that exist within the learning environment is one area that is developing within feedback research and practice. The challenge for teachers is how we help our students to attend to a wider range of sources of feedback information.

The programme for the conference is now available here.  Presentations are grouped into the categories of ‘Authentic Assessment’ and ‘Formative Feedback’.  The conference will be opened by Professor Richard Reece, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience, and other highlights include a keynote speech from Dr Edd Pitt and Professor Kathleen M. Quinlan of the Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE), workshop-style activity sessions, poster presentations, and the award of this year’s University Teaching Prizes and Diversity Mark Award.

To book a place at the conference, please sign up via Eventbrite by 13 June 2022.

From Professor Jeremy Carrette, Dean for Europe

The University of Kent has a long-term legacy in Europe with its European Centres in Brussels and Paris, its foundational piloting of the Erasmus scheme and its historical positioning as the ‘UK’s European university’, as well as its long-standing partnerships and dual-award programmes with key Universities across Europe.

As the new Kent in Europe strategy shows, our commitment to Europe remains vital to our regional and international relationships. The recent decision to locate the European Centres into the Divisional structures – the Brussels School of International Studies into HSS/LSSJ and Paris School of Arts and Cultures into A&H – shows the commitment to a sustainable delivery of postgraduate programmes for the future and also offers new opportunities for wider University engagements.

While the European legacy will always remain a valued part of the tradition of a University connected across the English Channel and situated in the European gateway county of Kent, the new global context of higher education and the importance of reaching a wider world requires a new integrated vision for the University of Kent. There is a need for a greater inclusive global perspective and a recognition that Europe is part of the wider strategy of global outreach. This inclusivity is part of welcoming students from diverse cultures and continents and embracing a wider understanding of global outreach and education.

As the European Centre become integrated in Divisions and the Dean for Europe role evolves in the coming years into supporting a new Global Outreach Project within the Global Engagement team and their development of a new Global Engagement Strategy, a new focus is emerging for the University identity. There will be new developments that link regional, European and global outlooks in one vision for the University of Kent.

In the next few weeks, we will see a new brand emerge that opens a new direction and those familiar European university powerpoint presentations and tag lines will evolve to show our new place for Kent in its new global context.

While Europe becomes part of the new global strategy and while the future will continue our commitment to the European Centres, the 3i Network (with Lille, Ghent and LU Leuven) and our key partnerships in Europe, these engagements will stand alongside a newly emerging Global Outreach Project. The new global outreach will support new income generation with projects in Asia, Africa and the Americas and our long-standing commitment in Europe will become part of our global university vision.

Together we are making a new future for Kent – embracing new opportunities to make a better world.

The bOing! Family Festival is back Sat 27 & Sun 28 August 2022 and we are looking for people who are interested in either paid or volunteer opportunities over the weekend. 

If you would like to get involved, take a look and the opportunities available and get in touch with hfp@kent.ac.uk to sign up!

Architects of Air Steward (Luminarium) – Fri 26, Sat 27 & Sun 28 August 2022

‘Arboria II’ is an immersive and interactive sculpture, dedicated to the theme of ‘trees’ and designed to evoke wonder at the beauty of light and colour.

Inside the inflated structure, you will encounter three tree-like structures where cones and spheres combine to create a brightly luminous tree trunk and branches that reach over their head. A transformative and sensory experience for any age.

A luminarium provides a very accessible way of bringing a visual arts experience to a broad public. Visitors are encouraged to take it slowly when they explore the luminarium. People will walk round following their maps through the maze observing the effect of different coloured light on the appearance of their skin and clothing. They can sit down in the ‘pods’ and lie back to immerse themselves in the ambience of the colour and music. Visitors often have questions and like to discuss their experience with the stewards.

The stewards staffing a luminarium have a varied role to play. There is the purely practical aspect of running the structure – opening doors, taking tickets, helping with the cleaning etc. More importantly there is the relationship with the public – this is where you can make the biggest contribution in helping visitors to have the optimum experience of the luminarium.

You will need to be available for all of the following times: 4pm – 7pm Friday 25^th, 9am – 5pm Saturday 26^th & Sunday 27^th August 2022. (Friday is a training session for the weekend)

Rate of Pay: NMW + holiday uplift

For more information email: hfp@kent.ac.uk

Architects of Air Crew – Friday 26 and bank holiday Monday 29 August 2022

The creative vision underlying the Architects of Air luminaria comes from a desire to create monumental works whose purpose is to generate a sense of wonder through the particular phenomenon of luminous colour. The inspirations are the pure forms of geometry and nature and spiritual architecture from around the world.

We need help to set up this amazing structure! We’re looking for people who fit the following critera:

• Heavy lifting, manual handling, outdoor work
• Punctual, committed and multi-skilled
• Good common sense, practical, a sense of humour and willing to work hard is essential

You will need to be available for all of the following times: 8am – 2pm Friday 25 & Monday 28 August 2022.

Rate of Pay: NMW + holiday uplift

For more information email: hfp@kent.ac.uk

Boing Volunteer – 27 & 28 August 2022

You will be:

• Attending volunteer briefing and training sessions
• Handing out maps, balloons, brochures or publicity material
• Welcoming any audience who approach you at performances/screenings/workshops and directing them to their reserved seats
• Liaising with venue management and staff
• Handing out publicity material
• Participating/assisting with workshops
• Assisting with dissemination and collation of customer evaluation forms

Any help is appreciated throughout the weekend between 09:00-17:00, whether that’s for the whole weekend, one day or even part of a day. Lunch will be provided on both days.

For more information email: hfp@kent.ac.uk

This year, Her Majesty The Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee – along with others across the country and around the world, we will be joining the celebrations of Her Majesty’s remarkable 70 years of service to the nation. 

Our royal connections

Her Majesty has visited the University twice in our long history – once to our Canterbury campus in 1987 to meet students and formally open new computing facilities in the Cornwallis Octagon and again in 2002 to mark the opening of our Medway campus, shared with Greenwich and Christ Church universities.

We’ve dug into our archives to find this photo of the Queen visiting in the late 1980s as we opened new computer labs – you can also find a photo of her visit on the wall of the Cornwallis Octagon!

The University itself was granted its Royal Charter on 4 January 1965, which is what gives us the power to award degrees. The Charter outlines is signed by Queen Elizabeth II and outlines both our objectives as a University – for the advancement of knowledge, the diffusion and extension of arts, sciences and learning, and the provision of liberal, professional and technological education.

Events and Celebrations

Activities will be taking place across Kent and Medway to mark the Platinum Jubilee weekend, alongside nationwide celebrations. Jubilee beacons will be lit across the UK ahead of a Platinum Party at the Palace on Saturday 4 June and The Big Jubilee Lunch at communities around the country on Sunday 5.

To kickstart the extended bank holiday weekend, we have rounded up the events and celebrations taking place throughout Kent for those that want to head down and join in with special Jubilee moments across the county

• Lighting of Jubilee Beacons will take place at venues across the county as the sun sets on Thursday 2 June – including Canterbury, Whitstable, Chatham, Margate and Dover
• Platinum Jubilee events will be taking place in a number of locations, with fun for all the family at special activity at Mote Park, Hever Castle and Leeds Castle
• Rochester Castle will host Medway’s Platinum Jubilee Picnic Site, with a live-stream of the events taking place in the capital across the weekend. The Platinum Jubilee Medway River Pageant will also make its way to a riverside street party in Chatham on the Saturday
• Lectures and musical tributes will also take place at Canterbury Cathedral – find out more about Jubilee Celebrations in Kent

We hope you have a lovely bank holiday and get to celebrate this remarkable achievement!

At at a time when a professional footballer coming out as gay is still seen by some as controversial, it is more important than ever for colleagues, students, and the wider community to be able to see examples of the lived experience of LGBT+ Pride.

This year, Canterbury Pride takes place on Saturday 11 June and the University LGBT+ Staff Network will be organising a group to march through the city to show that Kent is an inclusive and welcoming place for all LGBT+ people.

The marching group and attendance at Canterbury Pride are not only open to Network Members, but to all members of our community, whether you identify as LGBT+ yourself or are an ally. Book the date in your diary and watch this space for more information about how to join the parade nearer the time.

We are also asking staff and students to take part in a campaign about what your rainbow lanyard means to you. If you’d like to get involved, please email communications@kent.ac.uk.

From Simone Davies | Director of Marketing, Outreach, Recruitment & Admissions

Since joining Kent back in September 2019 I have had lots of discussions and conversations about our brand. Every one of us can point to something that makes Kent special – articulating that in a way that resonates with all our audiences from staff and students to partners and stakeholders isn’t quite so easy.  

What now seems like a long time ago – pre-pandemic we ran a number of workshops with staff and students which led to three key themes being identified: Connection, Collaboration and Community. The way these three themes come together to be more than the sum of their parts gives us a starting point to create a new brand identity for the university. They underpin everything we do and are very much linked to our key strategic priorities: Education and Student Success, Research and Innovation and Engagement, Impact and Civic Mission. 

We are on a journey and I’m excited that we’ll be able to share with you where we’re heading. The University of Kent brand is evolving and the work we’re doing now is about moving us on from the identity that was created over a decade ago to something that is reflective of who we now are and our ambitions for the future.  

This is very much about the way we present ourselves both internally and to the outside world, it’s about how we differentiate ourselves and stand out in what is an increasingly competitive landscape. It’s about people knowing who Kent is and what we stand for – it’s about communicating what makes us special. 

We have two groups of staff and students supporting and inputting into this work which includes staff across both central and Divisional teams plus undergraduate and postgraduate students. And we need to know what you think – there will be a face-to-face roadshow taking place on 16 and 17 June and this will be supported by a digital roadshow until 20 June. Plus we will be speaking to partners and stakeholders to make sure that what we’re saying is aligned to what they think about us. 

Who we are and how we portray that can be emotive but hopefully as we develop this narrative and visual identity it will resonate with what we’ve heard you say and will amplify our truth. 

I’m really looking forward to sharing where we’re up to next month and seeing what people think as this really important work gets closer to launch. 

The E-Learning Team are pleased to announce that the next event in our series of ‘Digitally Enhanced Education webinars’ will take place on Wednesday the 8^th of June from 14:00 – 16:30 (GMT), with the theme ‘Digitally Enhanced Assessment and Feedback’

Agenda:

• 14:00 – 14:05 – Dr Phil Anthony (University of Kent): Introduction
• 14:05 – 14:35 – Professor Kathleen M. Quinlan & Dr Edd Pitt (University of Kent): Digitally Enhanced Assessment and Feedback: promising practices from the literature 2016-2022
• 14:35 – 14:50 – Siân Shaw (Anglia Ruskin University): Using HoloLens for authentic learning
• 14:50 – 15:05 – Dr Andy Clegg (University of Portsmouth): Assessment and Feedback: Reflections and simple guiding principles for law
• 15:05 – 15:15 – Break
• 15:15 – 15:30 – Professor Margaret Bearman (Deakin University): Designing the digital into higher education assessment
• 15:30 – 15:45 – Sarah Knight (Jisc): Redesigning assessment practices for a digital age
• 15:45 – 16:00 – Assistant Professor Alexandra Mihai (Maastricht University): ePortfolios: combining authentic assessment and a space for independent learning
• 16:00 – 16:15 – Professor Yong Zhao (University of Kansas): Learning without borders
• 16:15 – 16:30 – Professor John Hattie (University of Melbourne): The power of Feedback

Colleagues are very welcome to join this community and so feel free to circulate. Please ask anyone wishing to join to complete the Digitally Enhanced Education registration form if they haven’t already. We add them to the mailing list linked to the series.

If you would like to present at a future event, please submit a short synopsis and Phil Anthony will be in touch.