Category Archives: Student Guide

Extra buses- Exams and Easter

As exam time is approaching the Transport Team, Estates department, are working with Stagecoach to provide extra Uni2 buses on Sundays between 2 April and 4 June 2017.

This means there will be a 24/7 bus service for this period to help you travel to and from the library. See timetable online or on posters at Keynes and Darwin bus stops.

During term-time we provide a 24 hour bus service 6 days a week, serviced by the Uni1, Uni2, 4 and Triangle buses.

The Uni1 and Uni2 buses will also continue to the usual timetable over Easter (8 April to 7 May) despite being outside of term-time. See usual timetable.

Step Up to Social Work initiative with KCC and Medway announced

We are pleased to announce Step up to Social Work, our new partnership initiative with Kent County Council and Medway Council.

Social work is a challenging but rewarding career through which you can make a real difference for children and families. You will need to build relationships with families facing difficult times, show a lot of patience and be a good listener. You’ll also need good observational skills, analytical thinking and sound judgement to make the right decisions and protect children. Social work regularly tests resilience, stamina and resolve – all of which you will need to succeed. But social work can be life changing for those you support and help.

Through our successful Step Up to Social Work training programme you’ll get intensive, hands-on experience of working in a real-life social work role. On completion, you will obtain a Diploma in Social Work, allowing you to register and practice as a social worker. We can train you in 14 months, with all your course fees paid, and you’ll also receive a bursary for the duration of the course.

We are looking for strong graduates who have experience of working with children, young people and families and who can demonstrate their maturity and emotional resilience.

Do you have what it takes?

You are eligible if you can demonstrate you already have:

  • A minimum 2:1 level 6 degree qualification.
  • Or, an honours degree plus a higher degree (level 7 or above).

Plus

  • Grade C or above GSCE in English/ English Language and Maths (or recognised equivalent).
  • Experience of working with children, young people and families.

For more information visit the Step Up to Social Work information for applicants: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/step-up-to-social-work-information-for-applicants

Online applications open 28 March and close 5 May 2017.

Jobshop Recruitment Fair

Know any students who are currently seeking part-time, temporary, seasonal or even graduate jobs? Jobshop’s Annual Recruitment Fair is finally here and will be taking place on Tuesday 14 March from 12.00-15.00 in Darwin Conference Suite.

For more details on the event please head to Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/371938499842688/

This is the perfect opportunity for students to find a job that fits around their studies or secures them a paid job for the rapidly upcoming summer holidays. We have 30 external companies attending who are actively seeking student staff making this our biggest recruitment fair yet!

Some of the job opportunities being promoted at the fair include:

– Event staffing (Festivals, Weddings etc.)
– Care in the community
– Customer service
– Summer school work
– Activity leader roles
– And much, much more ++

If you know any students desperate to find paid work, this is an opportunity not to be missed and we encourage all students to bring an up-to-date CV to share with the employers!

Worldfest 2017

Banish those winter blues by joining the Worldfest fun from 13-18 March.

The festival, organised by staff and students, celebrates diversity and  multiculturalism at the University. Highlights include:

  • International food fayre outside Essentials in Canterbury from 13-17 March
  • Outdoor film screening of Bollywood blockbuster ‘ Rab De Bana Jodi’ on Tuesday 14 March
  • Paint-throwing fun for Holi on Wednesday 15 March
  • Student societies perform at the International Student Showcase on Thursday 16 March

View the full programme for Canterbury and Medway.

Writing fiction employability event

The School of European Culture and Languages is hosting a ‘Writing Fiction and Getting Published’ event on Thursday 9 March 2017 from 17.00-18.00 in the Gulbenkian cinema.

A panel of staff, students and alumni who have recently published novels will talk about their books, the process of writing and how they got published. There will then be an opportunity for a Q&A session.

Dr Anna Katharina Schaffner, Reader in Comparative Literature and Medical Humanities in the Department of Comparative Literature will talk about her debut novel, The Truth about Julia (Allen & Unwin, 2016).

Lesley Gray, a PhD Student in the Department of Comparative Literature, who also works in publishing will discuss her novel The King’s Jockey (Solis Press, 2013).

Dr Christian Moretti, Alumni from the Department of Comparative Literature, will discuss his two novels published in Italian, L’Attesa delle Isole [The Wait of the Islands], (Edizioni Croce, 2016) and Che Morte non vi Separi [Till Death Don’t Do Us Part] (Europa Edizioni, 2015).

The event will be followed by a wine reception in the Colyer Ferguson foyer and a chance to meet the authors.

All are welcome.

Student please book for this event online.

Staff and alumni should email secl@kent.ac.uk to book.

Help your sports club win money!

Enjoy taking selfies? Want to win big money for your club or society? Then we have just the event for you.

On the evening of Friday 17 March, Kent Sport are hosting their inaugural team treasure hunt, but with a twist. You will be sent to several locations around Kent Sport facilities to take a selfie involving as many people as you can. The club or society with the most people in each selfie will win £200 to go towards equipment, kit, expenses or other club needs.

All you have to do is email sportsdevelopment@kent.ac.uk to register your team;

Meet at the Pavilion Café Bar at 17.00, Friday 17 March, with your £5 entry fee;

Receive your selfie locations;

Follow UniKentSports on social media, share your selfies to Instagram hashtag your club, #kentsport and tag UniKentSports

Good luck, and may the best selfie taker win..!

To keep up to date with Kent Sport, find UniKentSports on social media and visit www.kent.ac.uk/sports.

Student voter registration

Make sure you ARE REGISTERED to Vote!
Last term an Individual Registration form was delivered to you, inviting you to register to vote from your Canterbury address if you are eligible to do so.  If you have not responded, you will have received a reminder letter over the weekend of 4-5 March.

REMINDER – You must respond, even if you do not wish to register to vote in Canterbury.

Registering is quick and easy to do online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

If you do not know your National Insurance number or do not have one, please select ‘I can’t provide a National Insurance number’ and enter ‘student’ for the reason. 

You may, if you wish, decide to only register at your home address.  If you do not want to register in respect of your Canterbury address, it will assist us (and prevent us contacting you further) if you would please send an email to the above address, or write to inform us that you do not wish to register in the Canterbury district giving your name and term time student address.

Voting is a great way to have your say. Your vote could make a difference!

The next planned election is the Kent County Council election which will take place on Thursday 4 May 2017.  Students living away from home are entitled to register to vote at both their home and university address.  Please note that in certain elections you can vote from both addresses, but at others you would need to choose which address to vote from.

Please do not hesitate to contact Electoral Services if you have any questions or need assistance with your registration.

Kent Amateur Football League Winners 2016/17

On Saturday 25 February AFC Spartans lined up against New Life football team in the knowledge that a single point would crown them champions of the Kent Amateur Football League (KAFL) 2016/17.

A goal each from Luke Port, Ryan Cambray and Ed Gritten saw Spartans secure a 3-0 victory and be crowned KAFL league winners.

Spartans take the title with 33 points with 11 wins and only two loses, three points ahead of Adebola FC, who are the current cup champions.

Spartans and the rest of the KAFL teams will now progress into the group stages of the cup competition which starts Saturday 4 March.

If you are interested in playing competitive, enjoyable, regular football on-campus then join a KAFL team today. The cup transfer window is currently open and will close Friday, 17.00. For more details email sportsdevelopment@kent.ac.uk or join the KAFL Facebook page

Digital Rep: a new online tool for feedback

This year, Kent Union has introduced Digital Rep, an online tool that enables you to send your elected student rep feedback at any point throughout the year.

What is Digital Rep?
Digital Rep is used to collect the student voice on the issues that matter most to you about your academic experiences here at Kent, with your comments going straight to your elected reps to use when working with schools on your behalf. Digital Rep asks you what works well, what doesn’t work well and what could be improved, so that we can celebrate the best parts of your experiences and find ways to continually make it better.

Through this tool, your reps are able to make change in the short term as opposed to the long term, and we have seen several successes already across schools that are receiving lots of feedback.

How can I give feedback?
You can click here to anonymously send your rep some feedback that they can use to represent your voice about your academic experiences.  Not sure who your elected student rep is? Have a look at the Student Rep Directory to find out more.