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Here’s a roundup of what’s on this week, including more LGBT+ History Month events, talks and workshops you can join and of course some pancakes for Pancake Day!
Industrial action update: All UCU strike days this week (and next week) have been postponed, meaning your lectures and classes for the next fortnight will go ahead as planned.
Tuesday is Pancake Day and you can find lots of pancake options from our catering outlets including the Gulbenkian Café, Mungo’s and Dolce Vita. Or if you feel like making your own, you can join the Keynes Residential Life Assistants for their Pancake Party in Dolce Vita.
Make your own pronoun badge at The Hub or join this online session about how to find LGBTQ+ inclusive employers when applying for jobs and placements.
Considering postgrad study? Book a place at our Postgraduate Open Event in Sibson on Wednesday evening to find out more about our PG courses and exclusive scholarships and funding for Kent grads.
If you need some better ways to manage stress, consider joining this practical online workshop for managing stress and anxiety. Find out how mindfulness practice can give us tools to build our resilience in the face of study, work and life challenge.
If you’ve been affected by the Turkey-Syria earthquake and would like a space to talk about how you are feeling, please come along to Locke Building 13:00-14:00 where Student Support and Wellbeing Advisers, College and Community Life Officers and Kent Union staff will be there to talk to you and offer support.
The Medway Talks open lecture series continues with ‘Mathematics, Memetics and Artificial Intelligence: An exploration through performance’ by Dr Neil Saunders from University of Greenwich.
You can binge watch the entire series of Heartstopper on Thursday at the Hub (or join for however long you want!) as part of LGBT+ History Month.
Build your confidence by attending this online session all about job applications. Learn about different application processes and how to effectively use job descriptions and person specifications to make successful applications.
Come and explore zines from the visiting Queer Zine Library – a mobile library celebrating LGBTQ+ self-publishing. Create your own zine or just browse and discuss zines.
Are you considering to stay on for a Master’s? Come along to our Postgraduate Open Event on 22 February at the Sibson building, Canterbury Campus.
Find out more about:
Speak to our friendly academic and support staff, as well as our own undergrad to postgrad students. See if postgraduate study may be an option for you.
Find out what’s on this week, including Valentine’s Day events, LGBT+ History Month activities and careers events.
Industrial action reminder: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are UCU strike days, so your teaching may be affected on these days. The College and Community Life Team are offering drop-in support sessions on these days in Locke Building between 9:00-17:00. How to prepare for a strike day.
On Monday there’s a Work-Study drop in at Keynes Atrium where you can chat to the Careers and Employability Team to learn how to find LGBTQ+ friendly employers and support for your future career.
Wondering about grad schemes? Join this online session about graduate schemes to find out more about what they involve, how to get one and alternative routes.
On Monday evening you can have a Valentine’s movie night in Eliot College, or you might want to try Valentine’s Burlesque at the Sports Centre, which is suitable for all levels.
Happy Valentine’s Day! If you’re looking for things to do, why not try the Love Nature Wellbeing Puzzle Trail at the Kent Community Oasis Garden, Valentine’s Karaoke at K-Bar or head to the Gulbenkian to watch a preview screening of Joyland. Plus it’s 2 for Tuesday for students so tickets are only £3 each for Joyland! Or at Medway you can try out some treat yourself activities at The Hub.
If you’ve been affected by the Turkey-Syria earthquake and would like a space to talk about how you are feeling, please come along to Locke Building 13:00-14:00 where Student Support and Wellbeing Advisers, College and Community Life Officers and Kent Union staff will be there to talk to you and offer support.
Find out how to make the most of our careers service. Our Careers and Employability Service have so many resources and services you might not even know about. Come along to this event in Keynes or join online.
If you want to get some fresh air and meet new people, try volunteering at the Kent Community Oasis Garden near Park Wood. Kent COG is a collection of students, staff and community members working to create a sustainability hub centred around growing food.
As part of LGBT+ History Month, join this virtual talk by Rebecca Milsom who works at the Social Mobility Foundation and is a Just Like Us Ambassador. Just like Us is the LGBTQ+ young people’s charity and as an ambassador Rebecca speaks about her experiences growing up LGBTQ+ to young people via school talks, articles and TV/radio opportunities.
In the evening, you can join this LGBTQ+ quiz night at Medway in the Deep End. Questions will be about pop culture and LGBTQ+ History.
Interested in working abroad as part of your degree, summer break or after graduation? Learn more at this information session including how to get the most out of GoingGlobal – a platform to find opportunities and detailed information about working abroad.
International Programmes is seeking to employ two ambassadors to help organise and provide a programme of social events and activities for Pre-sessional and short course students.
Do you have an interest in, and awareness of, intercultural issues? Do you have an understanding of what it’s like to be an international student in the UK? Do you enjoy working with an interesting and diverse group of people? Would you like to work during the summer holidays?
We’d love to hear from you!
We’re looking for two students to work on Band B contract (School Experience Placements; £13.81 per hour), reflective of the level of responsibility required.
The role will be from May to September 2023, with the potential to extend to December 2023.
It will involve occasional work between May and July, with most hours falling in August when we are at our busiest. Applicants need to be available to work flexible hours and this would be discussed at interview stage in greater detail.
Key duties would include:
We would also like our Student Ambassadors to plan and run weekly online enrichment sessions that will be open for all Pre-sessional students to attend, and potentially opened out to our short course students.
You will work closely with our Student Support and Experience Officers to promote and organise the social programme. You will be expected to use your own initiative to oversee day trips and organise and run online and in-person events as and when required.
Pre-sessional Student Ambassador Rosie says:
My time working as a student ambassador for the International Programmes was incredible, I was lucky enough to explore new places and revisit cities I had not been to for a while, all whilst meeting people from many different cultures. I highly recommend this job to anyone who loves exploring and meeting lots of amazing new people.
To apply, please send a CV and a statement of interest by email to Amy Moses at a.moses@kent.ac.uk by Midnight on Sunday 26 February.
If you have any queries, please email Amy Moses.
Subject to selection, interviews will take place on Tuesday 14 March 2023.
For an insight into our Pre-sessional courses and the impact you would have as an ambassador, check out our Pre-sessional Video Competition First Place Winner 2022 and our Second Place Winner videos.
On the evening of Tuesday 7 February, members of staff, students (including from our Medway campus) and people from the local community came together to celebrate the launch of LGBT History Month.
Surrounded by reminders of past activists and champions of LGBTQ+ rights from Kent’s history, from the establishment of the first Gay Liberation Group at Kent in 1973, right up to the Lambeth Walk on campus in 2022, attendees took the time to reflect on what LGBT activism has meant before and what it means today. We have clearly come a long way since the 1970’s, through Section 28 and the AIDS pandemic, but there is still so much work to do.
Local Drag Queen, Dame Jame, mingled and chatted with the attendees, but told stories about how she had been physically removed for a night club she had been booked for in the middle of Pride month just last year. Activist Connor Styche spoke to a room filled with people about the challenges he had faced during his transition from female to male, and the friends his parents had lost along the way. Students gave their testimonials about how hard it is to be the only one in a seminar room who gives their pronouns, or the burden of having to be a spokesperson for the community, as well as the importance of safe, inclusive spaces on campus.
LGBT History Month is not just for members of the LGBT community; all are welcome at the numerous events and activities that we have taking place across Canterbury, Medway and online. Come and watch Joyland at the Gulbenkian, take part in a Give It A Go activity, listen to some inspiration speakers like Kent Graduate Rebecca Milsom or Dreamland author Rosa Rankin-Gee, staff members can develop their knowledge and understanding at the Trans Allyship or Supporting Communities Experience Collective Trauma in your Workplace webinars. There are Zine Making workshops and quizzes to have fun in; there is something for everyone and most are free with no booking needed.
Written by Becky Lamyman, Student Services, 08.02.23
We are deeply saddened to hear about the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria on Monday 6 February. Our thoughts remain with all our students, staff, alumni and those of you with family and friends affected by this disaster.
We have been in contact with our students and staff from Turkey and Syria and have taken immediate steps to support these individuals. The UK Government advice for anyone concerned about relatives or friends should call the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) on 020 7008 5000.
Ways you can help
Several staff members at Kent work with Syrian academics through the Cara Syria Programme. Following the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria last week, over 150 Cara Syria Programme participants and their families living in the worst-affected areas have been left homeless, several have lost family members and a number of colleagues are still unaccounted for.
The Cara Emergency Earthquake Appeal is raising hardship funds to help those who have been affected reach safer areas and more permanent shelters. Cara has been able to commit an initial sum for immediate distribution, with a view to providing at least 3 months support to Syrian colleagues and their families, many of whom include young children. The more we can raise, the greater assistance we can provide and for longer periods where needs persist.
Another way to support those affected is through the Disasters Emergency Commitee, with immediate priorities focussing on search and rescue, medical treatment for the injured, shelter for those who have lost their homes, heating in safe spaces, blankets, warm clothes, and ensuring people have food and clean water.
Support for students:
Support for staff:
RE:ACTION 24/7 is a 6-week FREE virtual programme, consisting of live and on-demand online sessions.
Not only can this programme boost your confidence, sense of belonging and career aspirations, it can earn you valuable employability points too!
LGBT+ History Month continues with the launch event on Tuesday evening. Plus we have events to boost your wellbeing and to get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day next week. See our roundup of events:
Head to the Hub on Monday lunchtime for Pets as Therapy, where you can boost your mood with some furry friends.
Find referencing tricky? Join this online bite size session all about referencing from the Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS).
Have questions about industrial action? Professor Richard Reese, DVC Education and Student Experience will be hosting an industrial action webchat on Tuesday afternoon. Ask any questions you might have or just listen in.
Tuesday evening sees the launch event for LGBT+ History Month in Marlowe, with a performance from local Drag legend Dame Jame and a talk by trans activist Connor Styche and his own personal experience of coming out as transgender and his experiences and battles throughout school and the workplace.
Plus, you can take a look around the LGBTQ+ Love Letters exhibition in Marlowe, which opens on Tuesday and showcases love letters throughout history.
Love to sing? Consider joining the University Community Choir. There are no auditions and you don’t need to be able to read music. This is an informal and social singing group that meets weekly.
Try out meditation at this in-person session in Cornwallis East. Includes a guided meditation by our mindfulness instructor Loraine, and opportunities for discussion. These weekly sessions are run jointly by Student Support and Wellbeing and the Mindfulness Society.
Thursday is a UCU strike day, so your teaching may be affected today. The College and Community Life Team will be offering drop-in support sessions for any students affected by the industrial action. You can head to Locke Building between 9:00-17:00 to chat to one of the Residential Life Assistants or College Life Officers. Find out how to prepare for a strike day.
Get in the mood for Valentine’s Day next week with Valentine’s crafts at the Hub, Queer Valentine’s card making at the Venue, and a Valentine’s movie night in Woolf College!
Friday is a UCU strike day, so your teaching may be affected today. The College and Community Life Team will be offering drop-in support sessions for any students affected by the industrial action. You can head to Locke Building between 9:00-17:00 to chat to one of the Residential Life Assistants or College Life Officers. See how to prepare for a strike day.
Our chocolate truffle making workshop run by the Darwin chefs Rob and Ben, is two hours of interactive fun, where you will learn new culinary skills. You will learn how to mix, pipe, shape, coat and sprinkle some magic on your own handmade truffles.
Kent Union’s UV sports night is back in the Sports Centre! Choose between a roller disco or UV sports such as badminton and table tennis. Face paint, wrist bands, head bands and bracelets available on the night.
See more student opportunities.
Pagoda are delighted to be working with the University of Kent to offer our fully supported blended internship opportunities, for summer 2023!
Students taking part will have the option of completing an 8-week internship with a host company based in Spain, Portugal or Vietnam choosing across a variety of sectors. Your programme will be split into half working remotely and the other in-country, where you’re provided accommodation, on-site support and an amazing internship experience!
Programme dates are from 26 June to 23 August 2023.
See Pagoda’s website to learn more and find out about eligibility criteria. Programme fees and accommodation costs are covered and additional travel grants available for eligible students.
You can get in touch with our Go Abroad Team by emailing goabroad@kent.ac.uk
Join our online information session
We’re holding an online information session on Wednesday 8 February 12:00-14:00 where you can ask any questions.