Category Archives: Student opportunities

Successful launch of Business Start-Up Journey 2024

Two alumni entrepreneurs shared the highs and lows of founding their own businesses at the launch of the Business Start-Up Journey 2024 in Canterbury.

Speaking to a lecture theatre packed with students, Alex Ford, founder of fintech company Claro Wealth, and Nadia Simpson, founder of From Amora, a social media-based fragrance and beauty brand talked candidly about their entrepreneurial journeys.

Nadia Simpson, KBS alumna, shared valuable insights on running a successful e-commerce business with an impressive social media presence.

She said:

“I started my hair and wellness brand at the University of Kent in 2018, during my first year. It began as an idea to create natural hair care products that didn’t contain the toxins often found in commercial products.

Since then, I’ve started other businesses, but currently, I’m focusing on From Amora, which specialises in creating cruelty-free and alcohol-free perfume oils. My future plan is to merge my two businesses.

The advice I give to everyone is to never give up! Consistency is your best friend. You may not see results at first, and you may fail initially, but it’s up to you to get up and stay consistent!”

Alumni speakers Alex Ford and Nadia Simpson.

Alex, who studied computing and business at University of Kent, said:

“It was incredibly hard to get the business off the ground. We were challenging the traditional financial advice industry. As a start-up should, we were on a mission to disrupt the market. It meant long days, weeks, and months, with many pivots and changes, all in the hope that it would pay off in the end.

The best part of running your own business is working with amazing people on a project you’re passionate about. These people share the mission and are driven to achieve it, something you don’t always experience in a job.

My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: just go for it! I didn’t start my entrepreneurial journey straight out of uni, and I wish I had.”

After the keynote speeches, the audience quizzed the alumni founders touching on everything from the risks of starting up a business, to funding and finance. Afterwards there was the chance to network.

The event marked the start of the University’s flagship entrepreneurship support programme, the 15-week Business Start-Up Journey, which is run by the ASPIRE team.

Offering a step-by-step guide to starting a business, it inspires students with the knowledge and skills required to become successful entrepreneurs through interactive workshops and classes, delivered by ASPIRE’s entrepreneurs-in-residence and external experts.

The programme concludes with a pitching competition, where participants can win £1,000 in funding.

To join the Business Start-Up Journey or find out more about ASPIRE and how we support entrepreneurs and start-up, email ASPIRE@kent.ac.uk.

Apply to be on our International Student Advisory Board by 29 Oct

Are you passionate, organised and motivated to represent international students at Kent and make a difference to their student experience? 

The International Student Advisory Board launched in January 2023 and is in collaboration with Kent Student’s Union to ensure that the needs and voices of our international students are heard. 

The purpose of this Board will be:

To inform the inclusivity and accessibility of university-wide services and policies at both the University and Kent Union, for the benefit of all international students at the University of Kent

To provide feedback mechanisms to allow international students to actively contribute towards campaigns, awareness raising and submit suggestions for policy change

To support internationally focused activities and events such as, Welcome and Arrivals, Cultural Celebration Week and International Education Week.

We are looking for up to 30 individuals to join and work alongside our existing Board members. Whether you have been at Kent for a while or have just joined us this September, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to represent and make a difference to your student experience while at Kent.

To apply:
– You must be a current international student at the University of Kent
– You must have enthusiasm and commitment to improving the international student experience
– You must show engagement and commitment to attend meeting dates.

Board members will receive remuneration via credit on their Kent One Card (Canterbury-based members) or Deep End vouchers (Medway-based members) of £20 for active participation per meeting.  Up to 2 meetings take place each term.

For more information and to apply please see our FAQs and webpage. Deadline for applications is 29 October, with interviews expected to take place on 6 and 7 November.

Reclaiming Narratives: Finding Black History in the Archives

Join the team in Special Collections and Archives for a workshop exploring Black history in the University’s archive and book collections.

Location: Templeman Library, Room A108 (A Block – first floor)

In this workshop you will learn more about the University’s special collections, and have the opportunity to view some of the archive collections that highlight aspects of Black history. Workshop participants will learn archive research techniques, and be able to participate in our ongoing work to reveal and showcase the stories and experiences of people of colour that feature in our archive collections.

Through the workshop, participants will consider the challenges of trying to uncover hidden stories in the archives, touching on issues such as changes in terminology and the use of outdated language, and the lack of detailed cataloguing providing barriers to successful research.

Faustin Charles reading poetry in 1970s (Reference: UKA/ALU/CHARLESF/7/9)

Participants will be invited to spend time exploring archive catalogues to locate items of interest in the study of Black history, surfacing evidence of the activities and experiences of people of colour held within the archives. Your discoveries will be added to our list of sources supporting the study of Black history in the archive collections.

There will also be some free pizza at the end of the workshop as a thank you for your hard work!

To book a place on the workshop please contact Special Collections and Archives: specialcollections@kent.ac.uk

Kent stands for global ambition with another successful Turing bid

We are pleased to announce that the University has once again been successful in its bid for funding from the UK government’s Turing Scheme. This will enable us to support around 300 Kent students this year on study, research, work and volunteering projects around the world. With a strong focus on widening participation, additional funding will be available for less advantaged students, helping them grow their ambition on a global scale.

Group of students in front of waterfall.

Jerome and friends at a waterfall in Fiji. Jerome volunteered with Think Pacific

This will be Kent’s fourth year of participating in the Turing Scheme and almost 500 Kent students have already benefited from funding which has developed their skills and enhanced their employability through activities such as wildlife forensics training in South Africa, Mandarin learning in China, marketing internships in Madrid, conservation projects in Bali and Fiji and many more.

Nalini spent the Summer with Fund Amazonia in Peru.

Here is a quote from one student who returned from Peru studying primates in the Amazon, “I saw so many species, visited indigenous communities, worked with amazing people and I feel so lucky to of been able to do it all, I truly don’t believe I’d be able to ever replicate a trip like it.”

Kent offers year-long Go Abroad placements and one-month Summer Abroad opportunities around the world, which allow students to build international networks, develop skills and attributes that will enhance their employability, and gain life changing experiences.

Group with football and mountains in background.

Jerome and friends after playing sports in Fiji.

More details on our Go Abroad pages and at our series of Go Abroad events at EmpFest.

Email: goabroad@kent.ac.uk

Get involved with EmpFest, 7-18 October

What is EmpFest?

EmpFest is a two-week Employability Festival run by your Careers and Employability Service. There will be a programme full of presentations, workshops, guest speakers and opportunities to meet with industry experts.

Who is EmpFest for?

EmpFest is open to all Kent students at all stages of their degree. Whether you are in year 1, 2, 3 or you are postgrad student, there is something for everyone. Explore career sectors that interest you, meet employers, say hello to your Careers and Employability team and discover opportunities to enhance your career prospects.

While the majority of events will take place on the main campus at Canterbury, there will also be some events in person at the Medway campus (which will be clearly indicated on the programme) and, of course, online events. You can catch the Campus Shuttle to travel between Medway and Canterbury campus for free.

What events should I join?

There’s a huge range of events you can join including Employer in the Foyer, skills development workshops, panel events, networking events and the Autumn Careers Fair.

You can gain at least 10 Employability Points by attending all events organised by the Careers and Employability Service. Find out what EP points are and how you can use them to gain employability opportunities!

Browse all EmpFest events.

What is the Autumn Careers Fair?

Our Autumn Careers Fair also takes place within EmpFest and is an amazing opportunity to meet with a wide range of employers and organisations. Taking place on Thursday 17 October 10:00-15:00 in Colyer-Fergusson, the Careers Fair is a chance to scout out work experience, placement and internship opportunities, as well as a graduate career opportunities.

Find out more about EmpFest 2024.

Pause for Paws: Take a break with Coco the Therapy Dog

Feeling the grind of Uni life, looking for easy way to de-stress? We got you!

[Jump to upcoming dates]

Featuring Coco, the charming therapy dog, ‘Pause for Paws’ in Templeman Library is back at 3.30pm in Nexus (Block D, Ground Floor). Running nearly every Wednesday during term time, this weekly initiative is one of our favourite ways to bring joy, relaxation and sense of wellbeing to students and staff at Kent.

So take a break from your hectic schedules and visit Templeman Library to say hello to Coco. He is a certified Pets as Therapy dog, very friendly, calm and loves being fussed over! It’s an opportunity to boost mental wellbeing, alleviate stress and recharge amidst your daily commitments.

Upcoming Dates (autumn term)

Wed 06-11-2024
Wed 13-11-2024
Wed 20-11-2024
Wed 27-11-2024
Wed 04-12-2024
Wed 11-12-2024

Keep up to date with Library and IT events!

As the ‘Heart of Campus’ we believe in embracing a spirit of discovery and providing an enriching environment beyond the conventional expectations of a library. At the Templeman Library you always get more than you expect. Library & IT events page.

Free Destination Success Bootcamp, 8-10 Nov

The Careers and Employability Service are running the ‘Destination Success Bootcamp‘. This is an exciting, 3-day intensive training programme with the purpose of helping you map out your journey to success and build confidence in your abilities. This programme is suitable to those across all years, including recent graduates.

This programme will be delivered face to face on the Canterbury Campus (Friday 8 November 12L00-16:00, Saturday 9 November 10:00-16:00 and Sunday 10 November 10:00- 16:00).

The programme will focus on:

Understanding you – This module aids self-reflection so you can better understand how you work, this will include completing a personality profile, exploring your personal values, your strengths and development areas, imposter syndrome and the power of positivity, finishing with looking at what you want to get out of life.
Navigating you – This module with focus on how to nurture and build good relationships, focusing on team dynamics, exploring learning styles and rules of teamwork, having challenging conversations and how to communicate in the workplace.
Universal Life Hacks – This final module will give you a toolbox of ideas to hit the ground running, including decision making, planning, prioritising and delegating, mapping your skills and looking at whether you would employ yourself.

Find out more and book your place.

If you have any queries, please email studyplus@kent.ac.uk

Kent receives its first Race Equality Charter Bronze award

We are proud to announce that the University has achieved its Race Equality Charter (REC) Bronze Award from Advance HE – a major milestone in our work to identify and address the barriers facing our racially minoritised students and staff.

The Race Equality Charter provides an externally recognised framework to help universities improve the representation, progression and success of racially minoritised people in higher education.

To reach this point the University’s REC Self-Assessment Team have been actively listening to and engaging with our racially minoritised students and staff about what it is like for them to work and study at Kent. There has also been the analysis of a large amount of data and benchmarking. This work has highlighted areas for urgent, future and continuous improvement and it has led to recognition and reinforcement for a number of outcomes and initiatives to improve race and intersectional equality across the University. These include our:

Sector-leading Diversity Mark project
Student Success initiatives
Report and Support for students and staff
Living Black at Kent
Anti-Racism Strategy
Inclusive staff training and recruitment

Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, the University’s Acting Vice-Chancellor and President said: ‘This award is an important reflection of the collective progress made to improve the culture, experience and outcomes for our racially minoritised students and staff. I would like to thank everyone who has made it possible through their commitment to anti racism and determination to help reduce racial inequalities and ensure that Kent is a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. There is much more to do but this achievement is an indication that we are heading in the right direction.’

Kent is hosting this year’s Living Black at University Commission conference on 8 October, the theme of which is ‘Engaging With Equity’. Conference delegates will have access to practical university case studies on actions taken as a result of Living Black at University and the Commission, including a Black student panel, hosted by Student Minds.

Further information on our Bronze Award and the work we are doing to challenge racism can be found on our Challenging Racism webpages. If you would like to get involved please contact equalityanddiversity@kent.ac.uk.

Events roundup: 30 September – 6 October

This week sees the start of Black History Month with events including a coffee morning, inspirational speaker talk, art exhibition and film nights. See all Black History Month events.

Plus, there’s lots more happening this week including sessions to improve your skills, meet others and challenge yourself to try something new.

Monday 30 September: IT skills and board game night

Do you need to brush up on your basic IT skills? Join this Skills for Academic Success Team’s webinar about using the Windows Operating System including formatting Word documents and saving files in different formats.

Live in on-campus accommodation? On Monday evening you can join ResLife Ambassadors Himadri and Elyse for board games, puzzles and card games in DG-01 in Templeman Library.

Tuesday 1 October: finding a part-time job and PGR time management

Thinking about finding a part-time job? This in-person session in Keynes will cover different options for part-time work, what might be best for you and steps you need to take to apply for roles.

The Graduate and Researcher College are running a time management and habits in-person session for postgraduate researchers including topics such as prioritisation and procrastination.

Wednesday 2 October: Social justice talk, ResLife Cup, Business Start Up Journey Launch and GOLD programme info session

As part of Black History Month, Andrew Morris, activist and founder of the New Wave Trust joins us for the first in our series of talks on the topic of social justice. Andrew will share his unique and personal perspective on Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPPs) and discuss the wider issues that surround the current justice system in the UK.

The first event of the ResLife Cup is here with an inflatable assault course, hungry hippos, gladiators and much more. Score points for your accommodation (or just for fun if you live off campus) and enjoy trying out some exciting new activities with friends.

Interested in starting your own business? Join the Business Start-Up Journey Launch event on Wednesday afternoon to find out more about the University’s flagship entrepreneurship programme and hear from two Kent alumni as they share their inspiring stories of starting their own businesses. The Business Start-Up Journey is run by ASPIRE, the University dedicated space to support student entrepreneurs.

Open to all students, the Global Officer Leadership Development (GOLD) programme is a year-long course designed to develop your leadership skills, global citizenship and cultural intelligence. Come along to the GOLD programme information session in Ingram to find out more. There is an additional info session at Medway next week.

Thursday 3 October: participating in seminars, social sports (Medway) and launch of Pop ‘n’ Soul Choir

The Skills for Academic Success team are running a webinar all about participating in seminars. Learn key tips on how to make the most from your seminars, what to expect and how you can perform at your best within the seminar format.

At Medway, you can give Social Badminton or Social Cricket a go for free at Waterfront UTC which is just down the road from Pier Quays accommodation.

Postponed from last week, the Pop ‘n’ Soul Choir is launching on Thursday evening. Open to all without audition and there’s no need to read music. Just come along!

Friday 4 October: Farm visit with afternoon tea and volunteer at the Kent Community Oasis Garden

If you live in on-campus accommodation, you can join a farm visit and afternoon tea for just £5. Meet and brush friendly horses and enjoy a tasty afternoon tea in a local village.

Each Wednesday and Friday, you’re welcome to go along to the Kent Community Oasis Garden (KentCOG) located near Park Wood. KentCOG is a collection of students, staff and community members working to create a sustainability hub centred around growing food.

See all student events.

Black Student Market sign up form

Following the success of the previous student-led markets, Kent Students’ Union is looking to organise another Black Student Market this Black History Month (BHM)!

In celebration of BHM, we eagerly anticipate the participation of a diverse array of student businesses, all led by Black students, who will showcase their products at the University of Kent. Hundreds of staff and students are invited to join us at the Plaza on our Canterbury campus to support and purchase from these Black-led ventures.

For further details, the event will take place between 12:00 and 15:00 on Tuesday, 29 October. Businesses are encouraged to set up between 11:00 and 12:00, and dismantle their stalls at 15:00.

If you’re a Black student entrepreneur and interested in securing a stall to showcase and sell your products, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Stall spaces are limited and filling up fast, so please ensure your spot by registering your interest on the online form.

Closing date for registration of interest: 1 October 2024