Category Archives: Student Guide

Events roundup: 4-10 December

Find out what’s on this week as we get closer to the end of the Autumn term.

Staying on campus over the winter break? Let us know.

Monday 4 December: Support session, badge and lanyard making and therapy dog (Medway)

Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW) are running a support session for students affected by the recent terrorist attacks in Israel and ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This is a drop-in session taking place from 13:00-14:00 on Monday, upstairs in Locke Building near the Coop, staffed by a mental health adviser and counsellor from SSW. All students are welcome.

Make a decorative badge or a lanyard for Disability History Month at the Venue. This is an artistic outlet to say who you are and wear around whenever you want.

Over lunchtime at Medway, you can meet the Pets as Therapy dog Bailey and friends! Chill out and have some cute cuddles.

Wednesday 6 December: Using AI in your studies and festive events

Do you want to know how you can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your studies? This workshop will explore fears, misconceptions and opportunities offered by AI.

And if you want to get in the festive mood, why not head to The Hub for the Winter Wonder Wednesday with a crafts corner, stalls, live music and festive treats!

Or if you’re at Canterbury campus, there’s a special festive Pause for Paws in Nexus with therapy dog Coco. You can also wrap up a book for a stranger or pick a surprise one for yourself.

Thursday 7 December: Self defence class and Cookies and Conversation

On Thursday lunchtime there’s a free self defence class for all students who identify as women and non-binary. The hour-long class is taken by an expert at Kent Sport, who will teach you practical skills to equip yourself and make you feel prepared for any situation.

The library invites you to join their Cookies and Conversation event. Help shape your university experience by giving you feedback about library services while enjoying free cookies and hot drinks.

Friday 8 December: Winter Global Hangout

Come along to the Winter Global Hangout in Colyer-Fergusson Foyer for an afternoon filled with festive cheer, where you can enjoy seasonal free food and drink while getting to know other students. Take part in bauble making, craft tree decorations, write Christmas cards and more. This cosy gathering is a perfect opportunity to meet new friends over the holiday period.

Saturday 9 December: ResLife festive events

Your ResLife Ambassadors are running a range of events on Saturday. You can join a paint and sip in Keynes where you’ll enjoy an afternoon of watercolours and mocktails, a free screening of the Muppets Christmas Carol in the Gulbenkian, and a Christmas quiz following the film. Why not join? Book your place on the Home at Halls app.

See more student events.

Events roundup: 27 November – 3 December

Find out what’s on this week, with Disability History Month events, Kent Union’s Cultural Celebrations Week and much more.

Monday 27 November: Support session and Disability History Month events

Our Accessibility at Kent: Empower Showcase is aimed at disabled students, to help you find out about all the services at Kent and Kent Union and how we can help you to learn, work and grow.

At lunchtime on Monday at the Hub, you can join us for an engaging and informative British Sign Language Basics Workshop. This workshop is your gateway to the fascinating world of British Sign Language (BSL). Whether you’re a complete beginner or simply curious about sign language, this event is for you.

Tuesday 28 November: Staying safe and Right to Food event with free meal

Meet our Specialist Advisers, part of Student Support and Wellbeing, at Medway campus. They are expert professionals who help students who have experienced or witnessed sexual assault, harassment, bullying, hate crimes and discrimination. Come along to find out more about Report + Support, our online anonymous reporting service and grab some freebies to help you stay safe.

At Canterbury, you can chat to Kent Police at their drop-in clinic in Locke Building. Talk to them about crime prevention, safety or any general enquiries you might have.

Our students are central to the success of the Right to Food initiative – a commitment to help ensure that everyone has the right to healthy, affordable and sustainable food. Come along to find out more about this exciting project and how you can get involved, then join us for a free meal and drink in the Gulbenkian afterwards.

Wednesday 29 November: Staying safe, mind maps and Coco the therapy dog

Kent Police are holding a drop-in clinic at the Drill Hall Library on Wednesday morning. Drop by and ask them any questions you have around safety and crime prevention. In Canterbury at the Sports Centre you can take part in a free self-defence class, helping to keep yourself safer in the modern world.

Take your mind mapping to the next level with this assistive software skills workshop. Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) will show you the wonderful world of mind maps, and how they can help you plan your assignments.

Looking for an easy way to de-stress? ‘Pause for paws’ and head to Nexus in Templeman Library for some cuddles with Coco the therapy dog.

Thursday 30 November: Christmas decoration making and Cultural Food Festival

Get in the festive mood by making some Christmas decorations in the Venue. Kent Union will provide the decorations so all you need to do is come along and start decorating, enjoying the Christmas tunes while you get creative.

On Thursday evening, come along to the Cultural Food Festival in Rutherford Hall. It’s a celebration of different cultures here at Kent and our student groups will be cooking dishes that you can buy! One meal token is £3 and 3 meal tokens are £7.

Friday 1 December: Your Uni Your Say festive giveaway and Neuro-Insurgence Open Mic Night

Come along to Nexus in Templeman Library for free festive treats including mince pies, fruit cake and Malteser reindeers! All you have to do is write a Christmas wish for what you’d like to see at the uni next year and pop it in the jar. Your wishes (or feedback) will then be shared with Mica – the Head of Student Experience at Kent.

In collaboration with the Stand-Up Society and the Accessibility Students Network, Kent Union is hosting the Neuro-Insurgence Open Mic Night. It’s a one-of-a-kind event at Woody’s that promises a night of laughter, connection, and solidarity amongst neurodivergent students and their allies. This event will include a variety of spoken word poetry, comedy and music acts in 5-10 minute slots, plus some free snacks and drinks.

Saturday 2 December: Trips to Rochester Christmas Market and London Museums

Explore Rochester’s Christmas Market and find some unique gifts for friends and family or try a range of delicious food. Meet outside the Hub, Medway.

Join your Res Life Ambassadors for a trip to London to visit The Natural History Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum. These museums all have free entry and are close to each other so you can visit one or all three if you wish. Meet outside the Venue. You will need to pay for your train ticket to London.

See more student events.

Opportunities

You’re invited to take part in one of the largest studies on student mental health. Complete the Cibyl student mental health survey for the chance to win £100 voucher or smart watch.
Are you planning to stay on campus over the winter break? Let us know! And find out how you can meet others who will also be staying on or near campus.

See more student opportunities.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Every year on the 25th of November, the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. But why this specific date? The answer lies in a tragic event that sparked an international movement. On 25th November 1960, the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic, were brutally murdered on orders of the country’s ruler, Rafael Trujillo. Since 1981, women’s rights activists have used this date to raise awareness of gender-based violence and campaign for its end. This day serves as a stark reminder of the violence many women and individuals who identify as women still face, even in the year 2023.

Let’s look at statistics

49 countries currently have no laws protecting women from domestic violence. 37 countries worldwide still exempt rape perpetrators from prosecution if they are married to or eventually marry the victim. And only two-thirds of countries have outlawed domestic violence. These figures paint a grim picture of the global state of affairs when it comes to violence against women.

Expect Respect at Kent

Every individual, irrespective of their gender, deserves to feel safe on campus. In light of this, here at the University of Kent we have a clear and strong message: we do not accept any forms of violence or abuse. But this commitment isn’t just a hollow promise. We believe that everyone has the power to do something about unacceptable behaviour.

Even if you’re not directly involved, if you witness any lack of respect, bullying, or abuse, you have a choice. You can call out the behaviour and report it. We believe that everyone’s voice matters and everyone can contribute to building a safer community.

If you see abusive behaviour, call it out

If you wish to report any incidents, the ‘REPORT + SUPPORT’ is our confidential online reporting tool. You can report and get advice about sexual misconduct and abuse, domestic abuse and stalking, physical and verbal abuse, spiking, harassment or bullying, discrimination or hate incidents. You can choose to report anonymously or get support from an adviser. If you wish to submit a report, provide details for our team to follow up on, or simply learn more, visit the Report and Support webpage. It’s a step towards taking control, getting support, and building a safer community.

Upcoming support events

To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we have organised the following events:

At Kent Sport on 7 Dec at midday there is a f ree self-defence class available for all students who identify as women, and non binary people.
There are also giveaways taking place on 28 November and 6 December in Medway. At the giveaways you can get free torches, gadgets to prevent drink spiking, condoms and more. There will also be specialist wellbeing advisers to talk through questions or concerns, or find out more about reporting issues.

Learn more

Want to learn more about the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women? You can navigate to the dedicated United Nations page to find out more about the scale of the problem and the initiatives that aim to pave the way towards a world free of gender-based violence.

Complete student mental health survey and win £100 gift card

Cibyl would like to invite you to take part in one of the largest studies on student mental health. We want to navigate the conversation and address how universities and employers can support you as you study and when you enter work. Take part in our 10-minute survey to have a chance of winning:

a £100 Just Eat, Deliveroo or Uber Eats gift card (given away every week – 8 to give away!)
an Apple or Samsung Smart Watch – you decide! (one given away when the survey closes!)

Take the survey now!

Mental health can be a sensitive topic for many, but please remember your answers will always be treated confidentially, anonymously and will never be analysed individually. Most questions are not compulsory, and you can stop at any time.

Events roundup: 20-26 November

This week there’s lots on including events for Disability History Month, sustainability and opportunities to spend time with others in nature.

Monday 20 November: Support session, British Sign Language and advanced essay writing

Fancy learning some British Sign Language? Come along to free BSL lesson in Pilkington, Medway, over lunchtime on Monday.

Improve your essay technique at this advanced essay writing workshop at Canterbury campus.

Tuesday 21 November: Bali summer school, bookmaking workshop and advanced essay writing (Medway)

Udayana University in Bali is running three exciting Summer Schools in 2024: Sustainability and Ecotourism, Intercultural Communication, and Coral Reef Restoration. Find out more at the online information session about spending your summer in Bali.

Come along to our drop-in book making workshop to explore the creative, therapeutic and educational potential of a unique collection of artist books and learn to translate your emotional reality by making one for yourself.

Improve your essay technique at this advanced essay writing workshop at Medway campus.

Wednesday 22 November: Therapy dog, University Community Choir and sustainability workshop

Take a break with Coco the therapy dog, a certified Pets as Therapy dog with Pause for Paws in Nexus, Templeman Library. Coco is very friendly, calm and loves to be fussed over.

Try something new and feel more connected by joining the University Community Choir. They meet every Wednesday during term-time at the Canterbury campus.

Want to learn more about sustainability advocacy, and what Kent is doing in response to the sustainability emergency? Find out more about Sustainability at Kent, why it’s important, and how to develop your skills at our sustainability workshop in Jennison Lecture Theatre.

Thursday 23 November: CV and cover letter help and gleaning info session

Find out the essentials for CVs and cover letters, including trends, hints and tips. This event is taking place in Keynes and will also be livestreamed.

Are you interested in how we can prevent food waste by collecting growers’ surpluses and redistributing them to charities and food banks? Come along to the Gleaning info session at Woody’s.

Saturday 25 November: Outdoor activities

Your Residential Life Assistants (RLAs) are running multiple outdoor activities on Saturday. Choose between a nature walk in Blean Woods, meeting Ponies or a women’s social walk around Canterbury campus. Book your place on the Home at Halls App.

Sunday 26 November: Christmas arts and crafts

As we get closer to December, why not join the ResLife Ambassadors for an afternoon of Christmas themed arts and crafts in Keynes to get into the Christmas spirit.

See more student events.

Global Entrepreneurship Week: Celebrating our student entrepreneurs

What drives entrepreneurs and their ambitions, and the realities of starting a business were under the spotlight in ASPIRE as part of events marking Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2023 (13-17 November).

Students and graduate entrepreneurs came together to mark the worldwide event which had the theme ‘Entrepreneurs Thrive Here’ and promoting Inclusive Entrepreneurship, encapsulated by the GEW UK 2023 strapline: ‘Access All.’

On Wednesday 15 November, ASPIRE-supported students and graduate business owners took part in a dynamic panel discussion sharing their experiences.

The panel included Kent Business School graduates, Toufan Bracke and Rens Van Steenes, founders of Pomme de Frere, a street food business offering authentic Belgian frites.

They were joined by Munya Mwaijumba, a Journalism student and founder of the online beauty platform – Glimmer – which is connecting independent hairdressers with customers – and Ike Dhave, a KBS student and founder of the streetwear brand – Playhard.

ASPIRE Project Officer, Artur Slowinski, hosted the event, guiding entrepreneurs to share their stories and insights with the audience of fellow students. They delved into topics such as developing sustainable business ideas and turning them into reality.

Toufan emphasised the importance of entrepreneurial mindset, sharing how their venture was born out solving a gap in the market for evening food in St Andrews. He said: “There is nothing more rewarding than the feeling when we charged our first customer one pound”.

Munya advised aspiring entrepreneurs to start working on a business venture as early as possible, adding: “there is always something to do when you’re an entrepreneur, start as early as possible as you don’t have much on”.

Ike highlighted the importance of strong social media presence, explaining: “We launched our business without even having a physical product, thanks to the successful social media campaign”.

Following the panel discussion, ASPIRE hosted the weekly Business Start-Up Journey workshop. The ASPIRE’s programme is designed to grow and develop entrepreneurial skills. The journey ends with an exciting pitching competition on 20 March 2024. Discover more about the Business Start-Up journey.

Right to Food Uni: how to get involved

Everyone has the right to healthy, affordable and sustainable food. It should be a universal right irrespective of who you are and what your circumstances are.

The University of Kent has committed to being a Right to Food University – the first in the world. It is a commitment to bring everything the University does – its research, teaching, our students and staff, catering and everything else we do – to support the Right to Food and to make a real difference, on our campus, in our communities, across our region, the UK and internationally.

How to get involved:
Students are central to this work and we would like to invite all students who might be interested in the Right to Food to come along to the following:

Gleaning event on Thursday 23 November at 17:00 in Woodys
Get hands on with Kent’s Right to Food initiative by joining the Kent Gleaning collective. As well as reducing food waste and helping distribute fresh produce to those in need, you’ll get some fresh air, meet new people and earn employability points through volunteering. Come along to this event to hear more about gleaning in general and how you can become a volunteer with the Kent Gleaning Collective!
Right to food info event on Tuesday 28 November in Templeman (TS1) at 16:00
Hear about the initiative, find out how you can get involved and a free meal and drink in the Gulbenkian afterwards. To book your place email s.bloor@kent.ac.uk

Learn more about the Right to Food initiative.

Introducing Disability History Month 2023

Disability History Month (16 November – 16 December 2023) is an annual event that aims to promote acceptance of disabilities (physical, mental, visible and hidden) and champion change to ensure that all people have fair and equitable access to opportunities and services.

At Kent, we use the month as an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the services we have available, ask students to tell us what is missing, and encourage open and honest conversation to raise awareness and challenge assumptions.

The national theme for 2023 is Children and Young People, with a focus on the experience of disablement amongst children, young carers and young people in the past, now and what is needed for the future. For many of our students, this will be a recent experience and something that may have been positive, or negative.

Barriers caused by society

For a long time, society operated under the assumption that the barriers experienced by people with disabilities were caused by the limitations that their bodies and minds placed upon them (the Medical Model of Disability) and the only way to overcome these was to treat the person rather than consider how to remove the barrier.

The fact that society itself may pose a barrier for people with disabilities was not a concept that was widely considered until the Social Model of Disability was created. This model, first expressed by Kent Academic Mike Oliver, says that disability does not come from the physical or mental limitations imposed by a person’s body or mind, but rather by the limitations and barriers inflicted by society around it. These barriers could be physical (lack of drop curbs or ramps), institutional (jobs that do not adapt to the needs of people with disabilities), structural (lack of pathways for diagnosis at a young age), societal (attitudes towards mental health), or political (lack of investment in social care or individual welfare). All of these factors contribute to a society that puts barriers in place for people with disabilities. The model also supports the concept that if you remove barriers for people with disabilities, many other people also benefit (for example if you put a ramp in, a wheel chair user can easily access a building, but so can someone pushing a buggy, using a walking stick, or with a twisted ankle).

Another model is the Psychosocial Model which, like the Social Model, believes that society imposes restrictions on people but also acknowledges that some conditions do benefit from medical interventions and by adopting both approaches you offer people with disabilities the best opportunities to succeed. In short, making society more accessible for people with disabilities ensures that it is more accessible to all.

What’s on at Kent

At Kent, Disability History Month is organised by both the University of Kent and Kent Union. Events are open for staff and students and the vast majority are free. See the full list of events.

Key events include the virtual exhibition of Disability History at Kent, where you can see the evolution of support for people with disabilities from the earliest days of the University right up to present day.

There is a bookmaking workshop being run by Stella Bolaki, British Sign Language lessons, the Accessibility at Kent: Empowering Students to Learn, Work and Grow workshop, run by Student Support and Wellbeing, Careers and Employability Services and Kent Union and is your one stop shop to finding out everything at Kent that can support you, and the Neuro-Insurgence Open Mic Night, plus more.

Please check individual event listings for accessibility information. If you have any queries about the accessibility of any of our events for Disability History Month please email StudentEDI@kent.ac.uk.

Resources

We have a large number of resources at Kent to support students with disabilities, and can signpost to external resources.
Kent Union run the Student Accessibility Network to represent students with differing accessibility needs
The University has the Disability Staff Network, open to any staff member with a disability
The University has the Inclusion Passport Scheme for staff with disabilities (or any other access needs).
The Kent Union Disability History Month webpages feature a Curiosity Hub, designed to display dozens of films, books, podcasts, celebrities and more – all handpicked by staff and students at Kent, with each recommendation relating to Disability History month and pride. There are even hand-out resources as well as links to the various schemes that are available to support Disabled students at Kent.

We are committed to ensuring that all students and staff are supported at Kent, and are able to study and work to their fullest potential. We also take discrimination, harassment and bullying extremely seriously. If you feel that you have been subjected to any form of bullying or discrimination due to a disability, mental or physical, visible or invisible, please do report it via the Report and Support tool. This will trigger an investigation and support for you, although you can do report anonymously if you prefer.

Look out for more blog posts and information over the course of the month, and we hope you enjoy Disability History Month.

If you have any comments or feedback about this month’s activity, or any other History Month or equality, diversity or inclusion related activity, please do email EqualityandDiversity@kent.ac.uk.

Watch the latest iCSS cybersecurity video for online safety

The University of Kent’s Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS) is ramping up their efforts to keep everyone in the know about the growing risk of cyber security in our highly digitized world with their latest animated video above, “Why does cyber security matter for everyone?”

This is the second animated video in the series, following “How to be cyber superhero”, which was released earlier this year for Safer Internet Day.

The new video was produced by iCSS Director Professor Shujun Li and Science Animated (SciAni), a company dedicated to scientific communication with the public. A team of iCSS researchers also contributed to the project.

As the UK Government recognized Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education with a Gold award, iCSS is committed to promoting cyber security and online safety for all students and staff at the University of Kent. They recently launched a Moodle e-learning space called “Cyber Security: Training, Awareness and Engagement for All Students” and the Kent & Medway Cyber Security Student Society (KMCS3), both aimed at educating students from all subjects about cyber security. More initiatives are in the works, so keep an eye out on iCSS’s website and social media accounts for updates.

Not long left to enter! 10 chances to win £1,000

Register with the Santander Scholarships programme by 20 November for chance to win £1,000!

10 Kent students will win £1,000 for simply registering online with Santander’s Scholarship programme. Through the programme you can:

Apply for scholarships and grants
Gain work experience
Learn the skills graduate employers want