Category Archives: Student Guide

How to prepare for the South East Virtual Careers Fair 2022

The South East Virtual Careers Fair 2022 takes place on Wednesday 19 October, and here’s how you can prepare:

Register early
University of Kent students have early access to book appointments with exhibitors. Register now.
Create a profile
Exhibitors can search the attendee profiles for students that meet their recruitment criteria and reach out to invite you to chat.
Do your research.
View the company profiles and virtual booths and find out about their opportunities. Many staff representatives add their LinkedIn information. Take a look at who you will be meeting with; what field do they work in? Any projects that interest you?
Exhibitors will be giving live “pitch” presentations on zoom throughout the day.
Check out the list on the platform and decide on which ones you want to attend. Write down any questions you have during the session, then visit the virtual booth to find out more.
What will an employer want to know about you?
Have in mind a short overview about your background, studies and career goals. You’ll then have a clearer idea about what you want to say when meeting.
If there is the option, always turn your video on
It looks more professional and helps to build rapport when you can see who you are speaking with. If you do not have video capability or a poor connection, let the recruiter know.
Be engaged in the conversation and actively listen.
Smile and try to maintain good eye contact, looking into the camera when speaking.
Follow up.
If you had a good conversation, connect with the employer afterwards e.g., on LinkedIn.
Apply!
Make a note of deadlines and start your applications. Mention any valuable conversations in your application, highlighting what you learnt and why that’s encouraged you to apply!

Nexus – your campus help point

We have opened Nexus in Templeman Library (Canterbury) so you can go to one place on campus for all your student questions.

Nexus is open to help Monday to Friday, from 9.00 – 17.00. From November, we will extend the opening times to 9:00-19:00.

There is also social and study space for you to use so make sure you come along and say hi!

Where is Nexus?

You will find Nexus in Templeman Library. Go in the main entrance, through the turnstiles, and take the first right. See the map for directions (pdf).

If you can’t make the trip to campus, you can also get support online and find support services on the Student Guide.

Here to help

Nexus can help with any query and will signpost you in the right direction. In Nexus you will find the following support services:

Accommodation
Careers and Employability
Central Student Admin
College and Community Life (in Nexus every day to help)
E-learning
Finance
IT and Library support
Kent Union
Student Support and Wellbeing

Let us know what you think

We have introduced Nexus in response to student feedback that you want to go to one place to get help and advice.

This is a trial service that we want to develop in response to your feedback. So if you have any feedback or aren’t satisfied with our response, let the staff in Nexus know or use the Your Uni Your Say webpages. Or you can email your feedback.

Travel disruption in October

There are some disruptions to Southeastern train and Arriva bus services planned for October which may affect your travel to Canterbury and Medway campuses.

If you usually use those services to travel to campus, we recommend you find alternative modes of travel where possible on train/bus strike days and check our Campus Travel Updates webpage.

If you cannot find alternative travel and are expected on campus for teaching on a train/bus strike day, please follow your Division’s process for applying for an authorised absence or contact your Student Support Team.

To catch up on missed teaching, please check your Moodle module page for any resources made available or alternatively arrange to see your seminar/class leader during office/student consultation hours or speak to your academic adviser.

Teaching will continue as planned, and our campuses and services will remain open during the disruption. You will continue to be notified of any changes.

Get together on campus for World Mental Health Day 2022

To mark World Mental Health Day on Monday 10 October 2022, all members of the University of Kent community are invited to gather together and find out more about support available.

To recognise the importance of community and belonging in maintaining good mental health, we are hosting World Mental Health activities in both Canterbury and Medway for students and staff. Come on your own or bring your friends, flatmates, course mates, or colleagues and find out lots of ways you can boost your mental health and wellbeing at Kent.

For full details of what’s on at each location, please visit kent.ac.uk/wellbeing.

Canterbury wellbeing highlights

Staff and students on the Canterbury campus are invited to come and get a free hot drink and biscuit from the Templeman Library Terrace from 11.00-14.00 on Monday 10 October. Bring your own reusable cup if you can to help the health of the planet, and the first 180 people to come along can also take a free new Kent mug! Chat to the College and Community Life team student Residential Life Assistants about a variety of activities to connect with yourself and others, get creative with some colouring activities to do, and find out more about wellbeing initiatives coming up such as the Climate Cafe and Wellbeing Cafe.

Medway wellbeing highlights

Fancy winning some Amazon vouchers? The World Mental Health Day photo challenge is a free photography competition open to all Medway campus students and staff – share an image or moment that made you smile.

On campus on Monday? Come along to Pilkington building to meet with different support teams from the Universities at Medway as well as local mental health charities, who will be giving out some freebies and explaining what support is on offer. Drop into the Hub between 11.00-15.00 to get your nails done or have a free massage, or head to the Drill Hall Library for Pets as Therapy (cute dogs) and some books on wellbeing. See Medway World Mental Health Day events.

Student Support and Wellbeing – professional support for all students at Kent

Could you use professional help for your mental health? Did you know that Kent has a professional support service of over 100 specialist staff providing support in person and online? We’re here to support you with mental health, disabilities, and neurodiversity such as specific learning difficulties or autism, through 1:1 support as well as peer support groups and events.

There will be Student Support and Wellbeing staff at both Canterbury and Medway events where you can get advice on how to find support. You can also check out our Mental Health webpages and a short video of top mental health tips from our mental health team.

Look out for #UniKentWellbeing on the socials for more information year-round on what’s happening across the University for you.

24/7 support

Feel like you really need to talk to someone but the Student Support offices are closed? Check out the Emergency Support page with details on online, text, and telephone support available round the clock.

Written by Joshua Stevens and Natalia Crisanti, Student Services, updated 03.10.22

World Mental Health Day: Medway events and photo competition

Monday 10 October is World Mental Health Day! It’s an opportunity to reflect upon your mental health and find new ways to support your wellbeing. Find out what’s planned at our Medway campus:

Pets as Therapy, 10 October

Miss your pets at home? Love dogs? The Pets as Therapy dogs will be in the Drill Hall Library between 12.00-14.00. Take a break from studying and go and have a cuddle!

Wellbeing Fair, 10 October

Come along to Pilkington building 11.00-15.00 to meet with different support teams from the Universities at Medway as well as local mental health charities. Pick up some freebies and find out what support is on offer.

Free massages and nails, 10 October

Need to de-stress? Drop into the Hub between 11.00-15.00 to get your nails done or have a free massage.

Create a wellbeing collage, 11 October

Join Medway Chaplain Lynne and other students to create a wellbeing collage on Tuesday 11 October 10.00-14.00 in the Drill Hall Library.

Wellbeing book display

You can also check out the wellbeing book display in the Drill Hall Library. Have a browse and see if there are some books which might help you find some calm.

Wellbeing photo competition – what makes you smile?

To celebrate the World Mental Health Day, this photo challenge is an opportunity for you to share an image or moment that made you smile. Enter this free photography competition to win great prizes including Amazon vouchers. Open to all Medway campus students and staff.

Book an appointment with a Careers Adviser

You can access help through online or face-to-face appointments using our booking system, where you will find 15-minute Quick Advice appointments, 45-minute Careers Guidance appointments, or even practice interview slots for when you have a job interview lined up.

If you aren’t sure what you want to do after Kent, a Careers Guidance appointment will help you in making decisions and future plans. If you just have a quick question, or would like a CV or application reviewed, a Quick Advice appointment is best.

Online resources

There’s also have a practice interview system that will help you improve your video interview performance.

If you find yourself being invited for an assessment centre, you might want to check out the practice tests which give feedback on how you are performing. If you’re looking to gain some experience, but want to work remotely, check out the guide to developing skills at home.

Events roundup: 3-9 October

All week: Black History month events

October is Black History Month and the theme this year is ‘Time for Change: Actions not words’. Get inspired at our Black Pioneers exhibitions at both Canterbury and Medway campuses. See the exhibition in the Drill Hall Library Café at Medway (throughout the month) and in Keynes Atrium at our Canterbury campus (from 10 October). As well as these exhibitions, there are also online and in-person events throughout the month.

Monday: Part-time job help and Chorus choir practice

Would you like a part-time job but not sure where to start? Join this online session about finding a part-time job.

An un-auditioned choir of around 100 singers, the Chorus, meets weekly on Monday evenings, and prepares for three concerts in the year with the Symphony Orchestra, both on campus and in Canterbury Cathedral.

This Imperialism Past and Present event at Gulbenkian Arts Centre is free for students. Book your ticket online.

Tuesday: Free LinkedIn headshots (Medway) and independent learning

Get a professional LinkedIn Headshot at our Medway campus. Photographer Matt Cook will be taking free headshot photos 10.00-16.00 so don’t miss out.

Our Student Learning Advisory Service have a wide range of online bitesize sessions. On Tuesday, you can join the session about Independent learning, reflective & critical thinking.

Wednesday: Mindfulness and inspirational speaker

If you’d like a moment of calm, consider joining the in-person mindfulness session on Wednesday 17.00-18.00. Or there is an earlier online mindfulness session 13.00-14.00.

Hear from inspirational speaker Kami Asamani on Wednesday 15.00-17.00 in Marlowe Lecture Theatre. Kami studied BA Politics and International Relations and LLM International Law with International Relations. She works for the British Council, as Head of Business Management for Arts Sub Saharan Africa. Hear her inspiring story and ask any questions. The event will also be livestreamed.

Get involved in the Inter College Football League and play for your College football team. Find out where and when your trial takes place.

Thursday: careers support

Our Careers and Employability Service offers lots of sessions to help you on your career journey. On Thursday you can join a session on how to answer interview questions and how to network. Both these events are taking place in Keynes and will also be livestreamed.

Friday: Mature, Part-Time and Commuting Network coffee social

There’s a Mature, Part-Time and Commuting Network coffee social happening at Woody’s on Friday. Meet other students in a similar position to you.

Opportunities

Become a Student Ambassador (some deadlines this week)
Get involved in the Black Student Voices project
Apply to be a Global Officer (deadline – 10 October)
Book an appointment with a Careers Advisor

Check out the student events calendar to see all the events.

Black History Month: Time for Change; Actions, Not Words 

October can only mean one thing… we’re celebrating Black History Month at Kent. This year, the national theme is ‘Time for Change: Action, Not Words’ and this has never felt more pertinent. At Kent, we are committed to ensuring that all our students and staff, including our Black students and staff, have the best experience possible whilst they are with us.  

Celebrating Black History

Black History Month is an opportunity for us as an organisation to celebrate and recognise the myriad of ways in which Black people have contributed to the arts, science, culture, history and technology of Britain and the wider world. It allows us to shine a spotlight on those achievements, and also provides a platform for staff and students to discuss and reflect on their own experiences. Our activities here are organised by a team of people that include the BAME Staff and Student Networks and representatives.  

Get involved – Black History Month events

Events to look out for include art exhibitions, a book club, online theatre screenings, an open mic night, a coffee morning, 10,000 Black Interns project, Inspirational Speaker Ezechi Britton MBE, film screenings, staff webinars, a Black Owned Business Market and lots of online resources for you to enjoy and to deepen your own learning. 

Check out Kent Union’s Black History Month website for all events and resources.

Continuing the celebrations #Black365

We don’t just limit this celebration to one month a year. That is why we have #Black365; a series of events and activities that take place throughout the year that continue the legacy of Black History Month.

Challenging racism also takes a university-wide approach and we know there is always more we can put in place to both be better and do better. We recently launched our Antiracism Strategy which outlined our commitment to taking action against all forms of racism at the University, and beyond.

We also launched our work on the Race Equality Charter, the national framework which universities use to identify and self-reflect on institutional and cultural barriers that stand in the way of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students to help us grow and improve as an institution. 

We really hope you explore and enjoy all the different events and activities that have been organised by staff and students for staff and students. We are always seeking to improve though, so if you have any ideas for the future, or feedback, please do get in contact with us on StudentEDI@kent.ac.uk 

Happy Black History Month 22! 

#BHMKent22 

Become a Student Ambassador

Be inspirational, be a Student Ambassador.

Are you interested in sharing your experience and knowledge of university life with the wider community? Then why not help others and gain valuable experience by becoming a Student Ambassador!

The University of Kent’s Student Ambassador Scheme employs enthusiastic undergraduate and postgraduate students to represent the University at on-campus events, in local schools and colleges, in the community and online.

Students can apply to be an ambassador for:

The Central Ambassador Scheme
The Academic Divisional Ambassador Scheme
BOTH the Central Scheme and their Academic Division.

Medway students are particularly encouraged to apply.

Check out the Student Ambassador vacancy webpage for more information about how to apply.

Some deadlines are coming up very soon so if you’re interested, check it out today.

Attendance Monitoring on Moodle

Self-registered attendance is now coming to Kent for all timetabled learning activities using our virtual learning environment in Moodle.

When can I use the system?

The attendance functionality within Moodle is rolling out across the University – you will need to begin using it from Monday 26 September.

What does the system do?

You will be able to log attendance using Moodle at the start of timetabled activities (credit bearing modules only).

At the start of each timetabled event, the lecturer or session leader will open Moodle to display a password code to students within the first few minutes.

You will have 20 minutes from the scheduled start time of the event to mark yourself present, using the password code displayed, by clicking on the attendance activity on your Moodle module, entering the password code and then marking yourself present.

Recording attendance will help us see where students might be struggling and offer support. It will also help us make sure everyone is meeting their attendance requirements – for example if your attendance is required for a professional accreditation or your student visa.

How do I learn to use the system?

Please follow the link below to watch our training video.

Video: Register your attendance with Moodle

How do I access the system?

You can access Moodle via the Student Guide and the University of Kent Student App.

You can find further information on accessing Moodle on our E-Learning webpage. You can use a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer to access the system. Every student has access to the system, but you don’t have to use it for attendance monitoring until it rolls out in your area.
On a laptop/ PC: Navigate to the attendance system in your web browser and add a bookmark as you normally would.
On a smartphone / tablet: On both Android and iOS devices you can add a shortcut icon on your home screen that will go directly to the attendance system, so you can access it quickly and easily. This will appear just like the icons you use to open apps.