Learning and Organisational Development will be running a two-day Project Management training course on 27 and 28 June.

Objectives and learning outcomes are as follows:

• understand the need for a consistent approach to project management within the University
• use the underlying principles contained within the University of Kent project management framework on all future projects
• work with a colleague post course to develop your personal action plan
• communicate the new project management approach to colleagues and partners within the University

If you would like to attend a session, please email the Learning and Organisational Development Team ldev@kent.ac.uk

A half-day workshop on ‘New Findings on Scientific Productivity’ is being organised by the School of Economics on Wednesday 27 June.

The workshop will take place in Darwin Conference Suite, Canterbury campus, starting with lunch at 12.00 and ending with a conference dinner at The Goods Shed, Canterbury.

The workshop will include presentations on:

• Impacts of academic conferences in scientific productivity
• Research funding and academics’ behaviour
• The role of gender on collaboration decisions
• The trends of ageing in science
• Incentives and academics’ productivity

For more information about the workshop, talks and presenting papers, click here.

Registration is open and free via this link.

Peter Nicholls, Dean of KentHealth, invites you to attend an all-staff briefing about the Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS).

The briefing is open to any member of staff who is interested in the development of KMMS and would like to find out more.

Two forums will taking place, one in Medway and one in Canterbury. The Medway forum will be on Monday 18 June, in R2-09, Rochester Building at 14.00. The Canterbury forum with be in Woolf Lecture Theatre on Tuesday 19 June, 12.30-14.00.

There will be an opportunity at the forum to ask questions about the Medical School, what the course will look like and how you can get involved.

Regrettably, today’s outdoor Billhook Nook concert has been cancelled  due to the muddy conditions and weather forecast. The concert will now take place in the Colyer-Fergusson Foyer at 13.10 on Wednesday 6 June.

The University has been a proud sponsor of Canterbury Pride for the last two years, and members of the LGBT+ Staff Network and student society have again joined forces to organise Kent’s representation in the parade on Saturday 9 June.

All colleagues and students are invited to join the group to fly the flag and show support for LGBTQIA people. To join the team please register online and bring your printed ticket to the event.  Guests, friends, partners, children etc are welcome. You will not be allowed entrance if you (and your guests) do not have your printed ticket.

The parade starts at 11.30 and you will need to be outside the Marlowe by 10.45 to register. Kent organisers will have a large banner (like the image above) so you should be able to spot them.

Contact the LGBT+ Staff Network  for more details. View the event on Facebook.

PS – don’t forget to check out the LGBT+ Staff Network’s exhibition on LGBTQIA role models and allies at the Templeman Gallery, which is on display until 6 July.

Message from Professor Karen Cox, Vice-Chancellor and President:

As part of my commitment to meet as many colleagues as possible and get their views on the University, I have spent the past few months visiting schools and professional service departments, having open conversations with staff.

In addition, I planned two Open Forums for anyone to ‘drop in’. The first of these took place at Canterbury campus in March and the second will be held at Pilkington Lecture Theatre, Medway, on Friday 6 July from 10.30-11.30. These forums are open to all University of Kent staff, to share with me their thoughts on the University: what works; what doesn’t, and how they would like to see things done differently. This will all help to shape the review of the University strategy and priorities over the next few years.

If you are able to attend the Medway Open Forum, please register your attendance here.

There is still time to register for this year’s Learning and Teaching Conference taking place on Wednesday 20 June, 9.00-16.00, Keynes Lecture Theatre 1 and Atrium Foyer, followed by a drinks reception.

This year’s theme is Promoting Powerful Student Learning Experiences In and Out of Class.  The theme interprets learning holistically, encompassing both curricular and co-curricular activities that support students’ growth while at university.  The morning sessions highlight partnerships between professional services staff and academics in enhancing students’ learning.  Those sessions will be relevant to a range of professional and frontline student services staff who support students’ learning.   The afternoon sessions feature examples of innovative teaching that blur the boundaries of the classroom.

The event is an opportunity for the University of Kent community to come together around the shared goal of supporting student learning.

The event is free and all staff are welcome to attend.

Please book your place by emailing cpdbookings@kent.ac.uk.

To view the draft programme please see https://www.kent.ac.uk/cshe/news-events.html?tab=learning-and-teaching-conference-2018

A final programme will be sent to those who have registered shortly before the event.

The Centre for English and World Languages will be moving to the former KBS building on Friday 8 June after a full refurbishment. The building will be renamed Chipperfield after Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield, Pro-Chancellor at Kent from 1999 to 2005.

CEWL will be occupying the north wing of the building (closest to Sibson) on all three floors, along with the atrium and reception area. This will provide the Centre with flexible meetings and events space, dedicated social and teaching space, and a welcoming environment for the 1,800 students they teach each year.

Kent Business School will continue to occupy the south wing on both floors.

For further information, please contact cewl@kent.ac.uk.

The Universities at Medway fourth annual festival of learning, teaching and assessment will take place on Thursday 13 September at the Medway campus.

We welcome contributions on any practices or pedagogical research you are undertaking with particular ref to inclusive practice. Inclusive practice is a strong theme that runs through all three universities and their partner colleges. Inclusive practice incorporates multiple aspects including curriculum design and delivery, assessment and feedback, technological innovation, education for sustainable development, staff-student partnerships, internationalisation, research-led teaching and graduate attributes.

Find our Call for Papers here.

To submit, please complete the conference proposal template
and upload it to the conference submissions page by midnight on Monday 2 July.