It’s 100 years since Parliament passed the Representation of the People Act 1918 which allowed the first women, and all men, to vote. The UK Parliament is celebrating this and other milestones in the UK’s democratic history and we want to be part of the festivities! Therefore it is time to arrange a tea party; EqualiTeas here at the University of Kent.

We want to invite you to debate and celebrate our equal right to vote. Just pop in for a cuppa and a chat with your colleagues across the campus!

Tuesday 26 June at Gulbenkian (15.00-17.00) Canterbury Campus

Thursday 28 June at Bistro No1 (15.00-17.00) Medway Campus

(Visit the Vote 100 pages to discover more).

If you have any questions please email: athenaswan@kent.ac.uk

24/7 opening will end at 23:00 on Friday 15 June. From Saturday 16 June, the library will be open 08:00 – 23:00 daily (closed Bank Holiday Monday 27 August).

Service desks:

• Monday – Friday 09.00 – 18.00
• Saturday 12.00 – 18.00
• Sunday closed

Some spaces are changing…

• The Chill Out Zone will close at 21.00 on Friday 15 June
• Pop-up study space in D Block will close at 23.00 on Friday 15 June
• A Block seminar rooms on the ground floor will be open as study space over the summer from Monday 25 June  – check the screen outside each room for availability
• A Block, Ground will be closed for work on the flooring between Saturday 16 and Sunday 24 June.

Studying across campus

Study Hubs are open throughout the summer apart from the Senate Study Hub which will close at 21.00 for the Summer vacation. Use our map to find your nearest Study Hub.

We are pleased to say Senate will be reopening later in the year as a dedicated Postgraduate Study Hub.

Don’t miss a beat

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram if you want to be the first to know about:

• changes to study spaces (including the new PG study hub!)
• Library and IT services
• available resources
• the return of the Chill Out Zone
• lib memes

Refugee Week takes place every year across the world in the week around World Refugee Day on the 20 June. In the UK, Refugee Week is a nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities.

On Wednesday 20 June we will be celebrating Refugee Week at Gulbenkian. In the morning there will be a free screening of Paddington for local primary schools in partnership with BFI London.  The screening is part of a project called ‘Film: a language without borders’ looking at how cinema might help support conversations with children around the issue of migration.

In the evening we are working in partnership with Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) and East Kent City of Sanctuary to put on an event for the local community. ‘Simple of Acts of Kindness’, based on the theme for this year’s celebrations, will involve poetry, theatre, music, screenings and talks on the theme of refuge and asylum.

Gulbenkian’s drama group for unaccompanied young refugees and asylum-seekers, ‘KRAN Fam’ will be performing, building on our partnership with KRAN for the last 2 years.

Members of SCREEN31, our group for budding young film-makers, will also be screening a short film charting the journey of two young Syrian refugees to the UK. The evening will culminate in food and music from across the globe and will launch KRAN’s 15th birthday celebrations.

All proceeds from the event will go to the charity to support their invaluable work with vulnerable young people. We hope that you can join us for a very special evening involving some incredibly brave individuals.

On the 26 June, the University of Kent Estates Department launches its new sustainability project: FutureProof.

FutureProof builds on the successes of Green Impact and Green15 and looks at how staff and students can help deliver a University of the future. By challenging each department to review their impacts against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), FutureProof aims to inspire individuals, departments and the whole University community to take action in ensuring that our estate, our curriculum and our students are ready for the future.

The SDGs are 17 goals that outline the vision for a sustainable world by 2030. The 17 goals and underlying targets were created and signed by 193 countries at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015. The goals seek to finish the job that was started by the Millennium Goals which ran from 2000 to 2015 and brought 850,000,000 people out of extreme poverty and yet saw carbon emissions increase by 9,850,000 kilotons.

In February the Vice-Chancellor signed the SDG Accord which commits the University to incorporate the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals into its operations and the teaching curriculum it delivers. FutureProof is the vehicle by which we seek to deliver this.

All departments across the University are eligible and encouraged to get involved with the project. To find out more please come and visit the Sustainability Team at the Estates Showcase in Darwin Conference Suite on the 26 June 10.00 – 15.00, or email sustainability@kent.ac.uk.

The University of Kent’s American Football team, The Falcons, have seen an incredible triumph throughout this past season. Not only did they soar to Division one southeast champions being undefeated in their regular season, they also were recognised as the Club of the Year at Kent Union’s Team Kent Ball this past spring.

As a new member of their team and a Kent Sport scholar, Rakim Trapp-Jackson helped raise the profile of the team this season and has been an asset to the scholarship scheme we offer through Kent Sport.

Rakim has quite a story, so we caught up with him to learn more about how he came to playing for the Falcons at the University of Kent.

Originating from Jacksonville, Florida in the US, Rakim discovered his passion for football in high school. He went on to receive his undergraduate degree in America, but kept his sport high on priority. He joined the military, which meant a temporary end to his sporting career, but life would lead him back to it when he decided to go for his Masters in Computer Science at the University of Kent.

“I was interested in going to school in the UK due to the recent great achievements and developments in Artificial Intelligence – I badly wanted to be a part of that wave. I conducted a lot of research on universities here in the UK, looking for opportunities to study within the field of Computer Science. After much research, University of Kent conversion course was what I needed to allow me to chase my dreams.”

With his placement at the University of Kent, Rakim applied for a sports scholarship in American Football which has helped him gain financial support while not only studying, but getting to play a sport he thought he may never get to play again.

“My biggest achievement is after hanging up my cleats for what I thought would be my last time playing when I was conducting my undergraduate and five years later getting opportunity to play the sport I love again. It’s truly a blessing. I love my sport.”

The scholarship programme has been a great asset to Rakim, not only by strengthening his already strong physique, but opened doors to other like-minded athletes helping him make bonds with students throughout the campus.

The Falcons greatly benefited from having Rakim on their time and they hope it won’t be the last time that he graces their presence.

“Hopefully, I can get another chance of playing for Kent, for one last go round during my industrial placement.”

The University of Kent offers sports scholars to those who compete at county level or higher. Find out more about our scholarship scheme to see eligibility requirements and deadline dates.

To stay up-to-date with Kent Sport news and events, like UniKentSports on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

From 10 July – 14 July, Medway will be hosting Castle Concerts 2018. Set in the beautiful grounds of Rochester Castle, this much-loved music extravaganza is one not to miss.

Featuring artists such as, The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Jools Holland and his Rhythum and Blues Orchestra, UB40, Ronan Keating and The Australian Pink Floyd.

For more information and a full list of artists, visit Castle Concerts web pages.