Category Archives: Student Guide

UKM Student’s top tips for exam success!

1 Plan
Make a good plan to help you structure your time. Don’t just timetable revision, but plan your time off too.

2 Tidy room, tidy mind
I’m sure you’ve heard this one before! But it really does work. If the space around you is clear your mind will be less distracted.

3 Breaks
Make sure you take regular breaks, even if it is just popping outside for 5 minutes and going back to it. I find that washing my hands and face with cool water is a great way to quickly refresh the body.

4 Start as early as you can
I know students are inclined to get up late and work late, but you’d be surprised how much you can get done before lunchtime if you get up a couple of hours early. Get yourself into a positive routine so you can get a good night’s sleep.

5 What kind of learner are you?
You may have done these tests in secondary school – but they really do work. Optimise your revision by doing the right kind of work style. Find out what kind of learner you are here.

6 Incentives
Reward yourself! It is a tricky time of year… so make sure to keep happy and motivated. Set out your rewards before you start revising to make it more satisfying.

7 Change location
A simple change of revision scenery is a way to switch it up. If it is a nice day take your revision cards along to The Strand, to Great Lines Park in Gillingham or to the Dockyard. Don’t just stay stuck in your room or the library.

8 Bitsize chunks
Break up your exam topics into blocks to make revision more manageable. Tick off the sections as you go through them (and don’t leave the ones you dislike the most until last!)

9 Test yourself
Ask friends to ask you questions, or sit down and do a mock paper. This will really help you understand what topics need more work. It isn’t until you are put on the spot that you know exactly what information you have absorbed.

10 Don’t Cram!
Need I say more…

The Historic Dockyard

Staff and student discount for The Historic Dockyard

Kent staff and students can access The Historic Dockyard’s attractions and galleries for free with a valid Kent ID card.

You can also get discounted access for up to five accompanying guests at the Group Admission price applicable at the time. Currently the discounted rates for guests are:

£15.50 Adults
£14.00 Concessions
£11.50 Children

Tickets are valid for one day only. Students/staff should obtain their guest tickets from The Historic Dockyard Admissions Desk during normal opening hours on the day of visit.

 

 

March’s Let’s Play Participant of the Month is Glory!

Glory joined Let’s Play recently but since then has been attending numerous sessions.

She has tried and grown to love ball sports such as Volleyball and Basketball, comes to weekly fitness classes such as Kettlebells and Dancefit and even gave Climbing a go!

Glory has attended over 40 sessions, therefore winning herself a Let’s Play hoody!

Glory has shared her views on Let’s Play with us:

‘Coming into university, I knew that I wanted to get back into sports after years of not being as active as I used to be. Somewhere along the line with fresher’s events and all, I got into the Lets Play programme. Let’s Play has helped to make my university experience a greater one as a whole and provides a platform on which I could make that change of getting active, fit, healthy and sporty again.’

If like Glory you want to be active and try a variety of different sport sessions head to our booking website.

Borrow more DVDs, for longer

You can now borrow most DVDs in the Templeman Library for 3 days, and borrow more at once.

The DVD collection is on Floor 2, Templeman West.

Longer borrowing time

We’ve extended the borrowing time from 24 hours to 3 days, thanks to feedback from students, staff and Kent Union. This makes it easier to borrow DVDs if you live off campus, and there’s less danger of getting a fine.

We’re working to update the stickers on our DVD cases, but most are already 3-day loans.

There are a few DVDs that you can’t borrow, but can only watch in the Library. These are films needed for School of Arts screenings.

Borrow more DVDs

We’ve also removed the limit on the number of DVDs you can borrow. You can borrow as many as you like, within your total allowance
Watch DVDs in the Library

You can watch DVDs in the Templeman Library at PCs, individual viewing stations and the group viewing room.

Watch films online, free

If you want to watch something that has been on TV in the last few years, you might find it on BoB.

BoB is an on-demand TV and radio service for education. You can watch recordings of most programmes that have been shown on major channels, request programmes to be recorded, and make playlists. It’s all free – just sign in with your KentOne account.

More free film, TV and audio resources

Sports Pavilion & Sports Hall Portable Appliance Testing (P.A.T.)

Monday 10th April – Thursday 13th April, 2017

The portable appliance testing for the Sports Pavilion & Sports Hall is scheduled to take place from Monday 10th April – Thursday 13th April 2017.

Please ensure all equipment is available for testing.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and we will endeavour to keep any disruption to a minimum. If there are any queries please call the Estates Helpdesk on Extn 3209

Eliot Dining Hall

Eliot Dining Hall – floor renovation Monday 10 April – Friday 21 April 2017

Renovation works are to be carried out on the Eliot dining hall floor and stairs.

The works are due to commence on Monday 10 April and are expected to be completed by Friday 21 April.

During the initial stages of the renovation sanding equipment will be used. This is likely to cause some level of noise disruption which will be restricted to between 8am and 8pm.

There will be no access to the dining hall whilst the works are being carried out.

We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and would like to thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

On behalf of Karen Keen – Housekeeping Manager. If you have any queries, please call ext. 4477

 

SMFA Fine Art student wins Medway Watersports Trust mural design competition

After submitting two entries to the Mural Design Competition organised by the Medway Watersports Trust (The Strand) SMFA 3rd year Fine Art student Sharmaine Kwan was delighted that both of her designs were selected to be painted on the car park wall. To see the two time-lapse videos of the work, go to http://sharmainekwan.wixsite.com/kwan/design

Geoff Waters, Trustee Operations, Medway Watersports Trust commented: ‘Sharmaine Kwan has designed and painted two high quality murals for the development of Medway Watersports Centre at the Strand Leisure Park in Gillingham, establishing from the outset a high standard for future artists to aspire. It is with much pride that I write to emphasize the impact Sharmaine’s contribution has had on the improved environment for the centre and its adjacent carpark, was officially celebrated and formally opened by the Sport and Cultural Minister Tracey Crouch MP on Saturday 1 April.’

More info: http://www.medwaywatersports.co.uk

Celebrating students supporting other students

On 29 March, students from 15 schools involved in the Academic Peer Mentoring (APM) scheme attended an awards ceremony hosted by the Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS). Mentors and colleagues from participating Schools joined in the celebration of students’ engagement and achievements.

The awards were presented to the mentors by Dr Bob Newport, Emeritus Professor of Materials Physics, who was one of the pioneers and a great advocate of the APM scheme in SPS. Mentors from Architecture, KBS and SSPSSR Medway made presentations and showcased the impact this additional support has had on student achievement. The APM scheme has become an important intervention in the University’s Student Success project.

The APM experience shows that mentors benefit greatly from the scheme as they deepen their understanding of the course content as well as enhance their employability skills. 91% of previous Kent peer mentors, who are in touch with the alumni office, are now in graduate jobs, compared to 80.4% for Kent graduates in general.

‘The University’s peer mentoring scheme is a fantastic way for students to develop valuable employability skills such as communication, planning and leadership’ (Amy Wiggins Medway Careers Adviser)

95% of mentors would recommend the APM scheme to others.
‘It is really a rewarding opportunity’
‘Among the most full academic experiences’
‘One of my students wanted to drop out but she didn’t and said it was down to the academic peer sessions. She wouldn’t have a degree if we’d let her drop out’
‘A great experience for mentors and mentees’

If you would like to be involved in the APM scheme, please check your School’s website and/or contact your School as Schools will be shortly recruiting Mentors.

To find out more about mentoring at Kent please visit https://www.kent.ac.uk/learning/school-support/apm.html or email slasapm@kent.ac.uk

transgender flag

International Transgender Day of Visibility: Friday 31 March 2017

Friday 31 March was International Transgender Day of Visibility – dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide.

What is ‘transgender’?

Transgender (or Trans*) is an umbrella term used to include all gender-variant people. It can mean someone feels like the opposite gender to which they were born, or that they classify themselves as non-binary, neither male nor female, or even a mix of the two.

How does Kent support transgender people?

The LGBT+ Staff Network is proud to work with and support members of Kent’s diverse and inclusive community, and to foster cultural and policy change to advocate for LGBT+ people and their supporters.

The University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) team work with Kent Union and other external agencies, and with colleagues and students across the University, to ensure that all staff, students and visitors are treated with dignity and respect. The team have created an e-module on Trans Awareness, are conducting a review on potential sites for gender-neutral toilets, and are working with Stonewall to provide resources and guidelines for being or supporting a trans* person in the workplace.

There is a free, confidential peer-support group run in partnership with TG Pals for all trans*, intersex and non-binary gender people at the University of Kent. The group is run by non-binary people for non-binary people. Further details, including meeting dates are here: www.kent.ac.uk/studentservices/equality.

Upcoming activities

Monday 15 May 12.30 GLT3, ‘An Introduction to Trans Awareness’, Lee Gale from Gendered Intelligence

A 90-minute session to set the wider context for trans* identities – how sex, gender and sexual orientation interact. The workshop will:

  • Explore key terms and uses of language
  • Offer basic grounding in the legislation around the rights and responsibilities around trans identities; the Equalities Act 2010, Gender Recognition Act 2004
  • Begin to explore how an organisation can ensure it is being trans-inclusive
  • Provide links to a wide range of resources

Wednesday 17 May, International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT):

Pronoun Challenge

The LGBT+ Staff Network challenges you to use non-gendered pronouns for the day! Help us raise awareness of the Trans* community by using non-gendered pronouns with colleagues for the day – if you slip up it’s 10p in the ‘swear jar’ – proceeds go to charity (TBD).

LGBT+ on the plaza…

The LGBT+ Staff Network and Student Society (Kent Union) will also be hosting a stall on Jarman Plaza 12.00 – 14.00 to promote LGBT/straight alliance and to give information and advice about sources of support and upcoming activities. Come along and see us!

LGBT+ Staff Network social

Join colleagues for an informal drink after work from 17.15 in the Gulbenkian. All are welcome, including guests/partners.

Find out more

Details of resources and support available related to Transgender people or awareness can be found here: www.kent.ac.uk/hr-equalityanddiversity/protected-characteristics/transgender.

Students can also find out more information on the Student Services webpages: www.kent.ac.uk/studentservices/equality.

About the LGBT+ Staff Network

The Network is open to all members of staff regardless of grade, function, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. We support HR in their work to make Kent an inclusive and safe environment to work in and we work closely with the Kent Union student LGBT+ Society to ensure that LGBT+ issues are represented and promoted. Check out the LGBT+ Staff Network blog to keep up to date with events and activities.