The placements aim to give undergraduates from underrepresented groups a first-hand opportunity to undertake a research project supported by researchers and receive information on graduate study.
Successful undergraduates will gain benefits in terms of confidence, skills and experience that will enhance their career opportunities and any future postgraduate applications.
Research experience placement students will be made an employee of the placement host organisation and receive a salary for the duration of the placement.
Placements will take place during Summer 2022 for a maximum duration of 8 weeks.
This month, we’re celebrating Sustainability Superstar Isabella who has been working with the Sustainability Team on a wide range of projects this year. Hear from Bella about the Climate Café project, the Hedgehog Friendly campus initiative, the Kent Community Oasis Garden and much more:
“My name is Isabella Sabin-Dawson, and I’m currently in the 3rd year of my Environmental Social Science undergraduate degree. I am interested in ‘eco-anxiety’, a new concept that describes the fears that people experience in response to dangerous changes in the climate system, and also how spending time in nature can have a positive impact on our wellbeing. I can often be found at the beach walking with my dog, practising mindfulness, or crocheting amigurumi characters in a cosy corner.”
What are you doing to improve Sustainability at Kent?
“This year, for my year in professional practice, I have taken on the role of ‘Sustainability Projects Officer’ at Kent as I was lucky enough to get a work placement here with the Sustainability Team. Throughout this academic year I have planned events during Climate Action Week, helped the University achieve gold Hedgehog Friendly Campus status, written and filmed educational videos for the Sustainability website, and developed a new sustainability training module for staff to undertake in the new academic year.
In my second year at Kent, I began working with the School of Anthropology and Conservation Sustainability Working Group (SWG). I am now the SWG Wellbeing Subgroup Lead and we were recently awarded a runner-up position in the Sustainability Student Prize for our Climate Café project. A Climate Café is a space where our fears (and other thoughts and feelings) about the climate crisis can be safely expressed without judgement or advice. Expressing these thoughts and feelings can help to relieve eco-anxiety and help us to feel less alone in the changing world that we live in. There is always cake too, which is a bonus! We will be running Climate Cafés at the Kent Community Oasis Garden (KentCOG), so keep an eye on their Instagram if you are interested in coming along.
I have been volunteering this year with KentCOG, spending time with other students, staff and members of the public to grow fruit, vegetables, herbs and much more! Volunteering at the garden is very rewarding as you can see your hard work turn into something beautiful, and it has also been a great opportunity for me to make new friends and learn from others that have much more gardening experience than I do!”
What advice would you give to other students?
“If someone asked me for advice, I would say get involved! There are so many groups and societies that are working on loads of exciting projects. I’ve built dams in Blean Woods and planted trees on campus with UKC Conservation; made banners, attended climate marches and discussed climate politics with ECS society; and built campfires and experienced mindful walking with Community College Life.
Other environmental groups you could try out are BeetBox, EcoGeog, VegSoc, the Kent Union Sustainability Network, and the SAC SWG. I was hesitant to join in when I first started University, but getting involved with groups like this means you make friends with people that have similar passions and help you make a difference within your community.”
What are your plans for next year?
“Next year I will be back in seminar rooms and lecture theatres after finishing my placement in May! I am extremely excited to travel over the summer but I am also looking forward to starting my new modules in September. I like to keep busy and spend as much time in nature as possible, so I will make sure I can continue volunteering at KentCOG and working with the SAC SWG whilst studying. I intend to make it a fantastic final year!”
Need a boost in your revision? Get some ideas for how to improve your revision with these tips from our current students:
“Look at past exam papers to identify patterns in questions. This will settle any nerves prior to the day.”
Tereza Koshi – 2nd year Law.
“Why not give ‘study-with-me’ videos a go. You can find these online, and they can help to focus on the task at hand, break the revision into manageable chunks, and provide a sense of completion!”
Antti Lattula, MSc Organisational and Business Psychology.
“Make sure that you have an adequate amount of breaks when revising. I like to study for half an hour and then half a ten minute break. Look back at the essays you’ve written throughout the year to see what you can improve on.”
Lucy Dixon – 2nd year International Business.
“I like making colourful flashcards and using Quizlet and Notion to test myself.”
Lily Colwell – 2nd year Forensic Psychology.
“Group study can help you focus and supplement your knowledge as it’s great to pick up things off of other people that you might not have thought of before.”
Emily Flint – 2nd year History.
“I like to condense all of the most important information into one document and go through and highlight key pieces of legislation and cases. This means that in an online exam I can quickly refer to this to find what I need. I also like to add in comments of critical thought from different readings that might be useful in my essays.”
Ellie House – 3rd year Law.
“Use active recall and make sure you plan out your time in advance depending on when your exams are so you can prioritise modules.”
Gemma Overy – 3rd year Psychology.
“Pick a topic and write out a mind map of everything you can remember from it — only when you’re totally stuck do you look at your notes. This always helps me figure where I actually need to focus my revision rather than going over things I already understand”
Tanya Iyer – 3rd year Law.
“It’s important to structure your days out so that you have a clear plan on what you need to get through that day. This will make things feel more achievable, and make you feel like you are progressing well through your day.”
Stephanie Colairo – 3rd year Law.
Follow us on Instagram @UniKentLive as we’ll be sharing more revision tips on Instagram stories in the lead up to and throughout the exams period.
This means that the marking and assessment of your work has been resumed as normal. Any marking that was not carried out due to the boycott will now be prioritised and we anticipate all of this will be completed by early May at the latest.
I would like to thank you all for your patience during what has been a really difficult time for you. You have faced significant disruption this term for which I am sincerely sorry – I hope this news will go some way to helping you focus on your studies and experience at Kent for the remainder of the year.
Ongoing national issues
As I said in my email last week, we are continuing our talks with the UCU on the national issues in the hope that together we can come to a resolution that avoids any further action at Kent.
Expenses claims – strike action
If you incurred any expenses because of the strikes by the UCU and you would like to claim these back, please would you make sure you do so by this Friday 8 April. You will find the claim form and guidance on the student webpages.
My thanks again to all of you for your continued hard work throughout this period of disruption. I would also like to wish you all a peaceful and restorative break. I know that the last term has been challenging, both due to industrial action and as we have adapted together to the return of face-to-face activities.
I wish you all the very best as we head into the exam term – look out for an email later this week with more information on the support available to you throughout this time.
With all good wishes,
Richard
Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education & Student Experience
*You can also listen to the new Kent Voices Exam Calm podcast to hear from Kent students and staff about how to get the most from your revision*
Current student Ellie shares her top tips for how to prepare for exam season:
1. Make the most of the Easter break
Just because exams are online, don’t think this means you won’t need to revise and prepare. Make the most of the Easter break by using this time to go over all of the content you’ve studied throughout the year, and to practise how you will answer exam questions. Of course, also use the break to relax, but don’t forget that it is also a great time to catch up or get ahead on work.
2. Be aware of how you’re going to be examined
Exams run differently in different subjects and modules, so don’t assume that every exam will be the same. They also often differ from coursework in style, length and criteria, so it’s important to be aware of how this might change the way you revise. Make sure you’re adapting your revision techniques to this, and that you read through different example questions to get an understanding of how the exam will look on the day. Also, if you do any wild modules, it’s important to consider how different schools mark and examine as this could be very different from what you’re used to! See the Guidance for Online Exams 2022.
3. It’s never too late to start
The run up to exams can often feel overwhelming for students, and it can be tempting to keep putting off your revision. However, it’s important to start as soon as possible, as any extra time you can put towards exam preparation will help you! If you’ve found yourself in a position where you feel it’s too late to start, DON’T GIVE UP! Start now as it’s never too late to get some extra practice in, and it really will help you when you’re under the pressure of an exam. Check out the Planning, Revision and Preparation for Online Exams webpage for lots of advice to help you get prepared.
4. Make efficient use of your resources
As most exams are online, this often means that you are allowed to use your notes and textbooks (but please check for each individual exam before assuming this). However, don’t let this become a safety blanket to ignore working hard. Go through your resources before the exam and make note of important quotes, pages and articles that may be relevant later so that you can access them efficiently under timed conditions. This will help you in the actual exam as you won’t be rifling through hundreds of online articles whilst trying to get your answers completed in a short space of time. There are plenty of online resources including time planner templates so you can make your own revision timetable.
5. Try to keep a positive mindset
This is easier said than done, but keeping a positive mindset about exams can really help you to remain confident and do well. Try to remember that exams are simply a way to show what you can do, and that as long as you’re prepared and you try your hardest, there’s nothing more you can do. By keeping a positive mindset, you can really focus on what needs to be done to achieve the grades you want. The Exam Calm website also has tips, resources and events to help you prepare, connect and be calm during the exam period.
We hope these tips help you feel a little more prepared, and that you can use them to impact the way you revise and prepare. Good luck in your exams!
It’s the last week of the Spring Term! Here’s a roundup of this week’s top student events:
Monday: Aromatherapy workshop and Community Litter Pick
Join an Aromatherapy Workshop at Medway in the Drill Hall Library, 12.00-14.00 on Monday. Relax with essential oils and try making your very own Aromatherapy reed diffuser, room spray or mini air freshener.
Get involved in our Community Litter Pick, meeting outside the Careers and Employability building at 12.30 on Monday. Give back and clean up our public spaces. It’s also a great opportunity to earn Employability Points while getting out in nature. Can’t make it on Monday? There’s also a Community Litter Pick on Wednesday.
Tuesday: Preparation for exams and Medway Social Spaces Celebration – Oasis Lounge
To celebrate our new social spaces at Medway, we’re holding a celebration event in the Oasis Lounge, Rochester building. Catch up with friends before term ends with free food, drink and music.
Wednesday: Inflatable assault course at Library Lawn and live music at The Hook Lounge (Medway)
Grab some friends and head to the Library Lawn for the inflatable assault course and games. It’s a great opportunity to have fun some fun with friends before the end of term.
Following Tuesday’s Medway social space celebration, we’ve got another one in store for you on Wednesday. This time at The Hook Lounge in the Clocktower building. Come along for free food, drinks and live music!
Thursday: Compassion meditation for postgrad students
Join a guided compassion meditation with other postgrads at 17.00 on Thursday in Cornwallis North West. The meditation has a focus on health, happiness and wellbeing. This is a safe and open space for postgraduate students to join and feel welcome, stay for the hour-long session and for refreshments afterwards.
Sunday: Deadline for Graham-Roger £1000 academic prize
How would you change the world? Sunday is the deadline to enter the Graham Roger Prize. Submissions can take the form of an essay, article, poem, speech or video. A Kent student will win £1000 prize and the runner up will receive a £100 gift voucher, so it’s worth entering!
Just over 2 years on from the start of the pandemic, Aisha Dosanjh, Kent Union President, celebrates and reflects with the ‘Class of 2020’ at their celebration ceremonies in Canterbury Cathedral this week.
Watch Aisha’s full speech
Read Aisha’s speech
‘I am so honoured to be able to address all of you here today, 2 years and 6 days after we parted ways and the world went quiet. I am so pleased to be able to sit amongst you in this beautiful cathedral and share this once in a lifetime event with you. Of course, not everyone has been able to make this journey with us and we have lost family and friends along the way. I’d like us to take a moment to pause and remember them.
‘We could have never predicted what we’ve been through. When the pandemic began, I held my breath. I couldn’t make sense of the world, though I tried and tried to make sense of it, and grief hit me like a wave. Grief for the connections I had lost, grief for the routine I had gotten used to, grief for the things I had taken for granted. I forgot how to put one foot in front of the other.
‘I spent my days thinking about how close I came to finishing before the world turned upside down, how close I was to spending a day in July in this very cathedral. I had booked the day off work. I had looked at dresses. I felt very sorry for myself, actually. I don’t think I was able to properly process how I felt until recently. But upon reflection and having been able to digest at least a small fraction of the emotions I’ve been feeling these last two years, and after having found my feet a little after the wind had swept them up, I started to think about what my time here at Kent has taught me.
‘Education is not a commodity to be bought and owned, it is to be shared among our community. University isn’t just about lectures and classes and assignments and exams (although it starts to feel like that after about the 5th time you drag yourself up the hill for your Thursday 9am). Education is about giving us the opportunity to learn with each other, to share with each other, to challenge each other. Education is about opening ourselves up to transformation and emboldening one another. It is about using our newfound knowledge to grasp at the roots of injustice and being inspired to be a visionary. It is about expanding each other’s learning and committing to each other’s liberation.
‘Older members of the audience will know that many generations have fallen into the trap of exceptionalism, the idea that we are somehow vastly different to the generations before us. In some ways we are: access to higher education has never been easier and many of us who wouldn’t normally have been able to have the privilege to go to University have now been able to; cultures and identities have never been mixed and shared like they are now; compassion for those who are different from us has never been so bold. But change shouldn’t feel like a weight on our shoulders. It is gradual, something we create when we see a barrier and decide to move forward. Every time we stand up for justice, every time we insist on speaking the truth, and every time we refuse to compromise on our values.
‘I hope that you do not leave today feeling proud only of the certificate you hold in your hand but I hope you are proud also of your experiences. The energy you have invested into relationships, training with your society or sports club, fundraising for meaningful causes, representing your peers… helping others, and letting them help you. I hope you are proud of the change you have made to the world around us, and of the person you have become. When the pandemic began, I held my breath. But now I feel like I can breathe.
‘I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you something special that we created together, a crowd-sourced poem written by us, for us, brought together by Kent alumnus and former Canterbury Laureate, Dan Simpson.’
At Kent, we wish to encourage excellence amongst students, leading by example. In light of our Good Neighbour initiative, we aim to celebrate local student residents who exemplified what it means to be a kind and respectful neighbour.
At Kent, our aim is to inspire students to be good neighbours, by drawing from the model students living in our communities and bringing them to the forefront. We would like to recognise the achievements of those students who go the extra mile and embed themselves within their neighbourhoods.
Do you have local student residents displaying exemplary behaviour and community spirit in your area?
Are your student neighbours benefitting the area where you live and giving back to their community?
We would like you to get in touch with information about your excellent student neighbours. Please provide their address and some information about why your neighbours deserve recognition for the award.
We look forward to hearing your experiences and celebrating students who deserve recognition for their contributions to our local community.
We plan to interview the winners of the Good Neighbour Awards and share these case studies with our cohort of students to inspire and empower them. We will use these real-life examples to inform our resources for the future and make them relevant to students living locally in years to come.
Transgender, or Trans, is as an umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth. Someone who is trans may identify as (not limited to) transgender, non-binary, or genderqueer.
Support for trans students at Kent
There is a Trans Support Group in Canterbury that meets twice a month. It is open to trans, intersex and non-binary people at Kent. The group is run by trans/non-binary people for trans/non-binary people. Family and partners are welcome.
We have gender neutral toilet facilities across our campuses, and these facilities will increase as building improvements and construction takes place.
Cisgender, or Cis, describes someone whose gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned to at birth.
There are lots of simple ways you can become a better ally and show support to trans colleagues, such as:
Updating your pronouns on your email signature, Zoom screen and Teams profile. Include a link to a website such as mypronouns.org for people to find out more.
Wear one of our new Rainbow lanyards. These are designed around the ‘Inclusion Flag’ which incorporates the Pride rainbow flag with pink, blue, brown and black, representing the trans community and people of colour within the LGBT+ community.
The LGBTQ+ Student Network acts as a voice for LGBTQ+ students to both the University and the Students’ Union and helps to ensure informed decisions are made on a practical and strategic level as well as planning events and networking opportunities for students. Email the Student Network if you are interested in joining.
You can also join the student LGBTQ+ Society at Canterbury and the Medway LGBTQ Society, a safe space for students of marginalised gender identities and sexualities to socialise and meet other like-minded individuals. Make friends and develop your support network.
International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an annual event on March 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.
Transgender, or Trans, is as an umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth. Someone who is trans may identify as (not limited to) transgender, non-binary, or genderqueer.
Support for trans students at Kent
There is a Trans Support Group in Canterbury that meets twice a month. It is open to trans, intersex and non-binary people at Kent.The group is run by trans/non-binary people for trans/non-binary people. Family and partners are welcome.
We have gender neutral toilet facilities across our campuses, and these facilities will increase as building improvements and construction takes place.
Cisgender, or Cis, describes someone whose gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned to at birth.
There are lots of simple ways you can become a better ally and show support to trans people, such as:
Updating your pronouns on your email signature, Teams profile and social media profile. Include a link to a website such as mypronouns.org for people to find out more.
Wear one of our new Rainbow lanyards. These are designed around the ‘Inclusion Flag’ which incorporates the Pride rainbow flag with pink, blue, brown and black, representing the trans community and people of colour within the LGBTQ+ community.
Tweet your support using #TDOV2022 and tagging @UniKent, @ukclgbtq and @Medwaylgbtq.
Study into the Experience of Transgender Students in Higher Education
Lynne Regan from Student Support and Wellbeing, recently gave multiple talks about her research on the Experience of Transgender Students in Higher Education, including a presentation to members of the Executive Group.
You can watch the recording and view the PowerPoint slides to learn more about Lynne’s findings and her suggestions for what we can do at Kent to improve the experience of our trans students.
LGBTQ+ student groups at Kent
The LGBTQ+ Student Networkacts as a voice for LGBTQ+ students to both the University and the Students’ Union and helps to ensure informed decisions are made on a practical and strategic level as well as planning events and networking opportunities for students. Email the Student Networkif you are interested in joining.
You can also join the student LGBTQ+ Societyat Canterbury and the Medway LGBTQ Society, a safe space for students of marginalised gender identities and sexualities to socialise and meet other like-minded individuals. Make friends and develop your support network.
