Applications for the Wellbeing Student Advisory Board are now open.

The Advisory Board’s purpose is to help guide Kent Union and the University of Kent in improving our approach to student wellbeing and ensuring our work is impactful and accessible to all students. This will involve discussing current and future plans and offering suggestions based on the board’s shared expertise and experiences. Topics discussed at meetings will include mental health, safety initiatives, the cost of living crisis, sense of community and belonging, as well as anything else that is important to you. You will help shape student wellbeing at Kent.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for 20 students on undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, from a range of courses and years to create a diverse and inclusive panel. Any student who is currently enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at the University of Kent can apply to be part of the panel.

No prior experience is required to be a member. All you need is to be passionate about student welfare and helping all students to love their time at Kent.

What to expect?

A two-hour meeting will occur three times in the academic year with additional opportunities to get involved in projects and campaigns. Invitations for these meetings will be sent once membership to the board is confirmed.

Students based on the Canterbury campus will receive £20 KentOne credit in exchange for their active participation in the two-hour WSAB meeting. Students who are not based on the Canterbury Campus will be compensated for their time at the same rate through an alternative method. Students will also be able to earn Employability Points throughout the academic year.

How to apply?

To apply, please submit either a maximum of a 500-word response or a 2 minute long video telling us a bit more about you, what skills and experiences you feel you would bring to the role and why you would like to get involved.

The deadline to submit your application is Monday 8th January 2024 at 12:00.

Apply now via online application form. 

If you have any questions please email Tom Freeston (Vice-President Welfare and Community) at Kent Union, t.freeston@kent.ac.uk.

Good luck with your application!

Are you travelling overseas over the winter break? You can use our airport transfer service for your return to campus.

Our Airport Transfer Service will operate from London Heathrow airport on Thursday 11 January. The service will meet students whose flights arrive between 6:00-15:30, and will travel to both the Canterbury and Medway campuses. The price is £45 per person.

Booking is now open and will close at 23:59 (UK time) on Monday 8 January 2024.   

Find out more and book your place.

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. 

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.

Umii has an exciting role open to all Kent students! Read below for more:

Who are Umii?

Umii was created by students, for students. The Founder of Umii suffered from
loneliness and poor mental health at university, finding it difficult to easily meet
like-minded people. Umii combats the issues of student isolation and loneliness
by offering an easy way for like-minded students to meet across campus and
build real-life friendships.

What Umii do:

Umii partners with Higher Education Institutions to provide a preventative
measure to loneliness and isolation to their students. They have developed a digital application that is used by students to connect with others at their university, in a safe and secure environment. The app is designed to create individual, meaningful friendships, by connecting students based on their interests, course types and society preferences, allowing them to expand their social circle outside of their course and accommodation. We work closely with our partners to promote the app to students and encourage real-life friendships to form as a result.

Umii are looking for people who thrive in a startup environment and want to build
tech for good. Interested? Read on…

Job purpose

To help grow Umii at your university by taking part in Freshers fairs and
promotional campaigns, spreading the word about Umii to your fellow students.

Job Activities

• Stall setup: Prepare and arrange all necessary materials, banners, and
  promotional items at the freshers fair stall to create an inviting and visually
  appealing display.
• Student engagement: Proactively approach and engage students passing
  by the stall, initiating conversations to explain the features and benefits of
  the Umii app.
• App promotion: Communicate effectively about the Umii app’s
  functionalities, emphasising how it facilitates student connections,
  enhances university life, and provides valuable resources.
• Interactive activities: Develop and execute interactive activities or games at
  the stall to attract and engage students, fostering interest and creating a
  positive brand experience.
• Sign-up support: Guide interested students through the process of
  downloading and registering for the Umii app, answering any questions
  they may have and addressing concerns.
• Relationship building: Establish and maintain a friendly and approachable
  demeanour, actively listening to students’ feedback, suggestions, and
  concerns, and providing assistance whenever needed.
• Brand ambassador: Act as a brand ambassador for Umii, maintaining a
  professional and knowledgeable image, and representing the company’s
  values and mission to create a positive impression among students.

This is a casual and flexible role. See Umii Ambassador Job Description.

If interested in the role, reach out to Umii at hello@umii.app providing a little
information about yourself.

Discover how to reach your goals at our Open Event on Wednesday 15 November, 17:00-19:00, in Sibson. 

Choosing where to progress your career ambitions is a big decision and we’re delighted to invite you to our Open Event.

Open Events are a fantastic way to meet our staff and postgraduate students and to find out how Kent can help you make your ambition count.

You can also find out more about all our scholarships, including some that are exclusive for Kent alumni!

This event is for potential postgraduate students (Master’s and PhD) and their supporters.

Book your place