A collaborative venture across the Library, Student Success Project, SECL and SSPSSR Medway received the Talis Aspire User Group Creativity Award 2019 for using reading lists as a mechanism to develop diverse library collections.

This national award was made by a group of peers drawn from UK universities, who stated: ‘This is a truly innovative use of Talis Aspire reading lists and data, and there’s potential for this project to have national impact.’ (The Talis Aspire User Group, May 2019)

Students Collins Konadu-Mensah and Evangeline Agyeman and Liaison Librarians Emma Mires-Richards and Sarah Field accepted this award on behalf of the project and presented a paper to the conference that outlines the work and its outcomes – Diversity in the curriculum: a collaborative approach.

Over the last year, Diversity Mark pilot projects have taken place in:

• • the School of European Culture and Languages led by Dr Laura Bailey (Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics)
  • SSPSSR Medway coordinated by Dr Barbara Adewumi (Sociology Lecturer) and Dave Thomas (Student Success Project Officer).

Professor April McMahon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, said: ‘This is a measure of all the fantastic work that [the group] have been doing in Library Collections and in the Student Success Project in partnership with students and the wider University. We are absolutely delighted that they all have been awarded the 2019 award for their work to diversify library collections and support the development of a more inclusive learning experience. It is great for this innovative, first-class and highly collaborative project to receive national recognition in this way – it is very richly deserved.’

Following the success of the Diversity Mark pilot, there are plans to offer this service to other schools in the next academic year. For more details, contact the Student Success Project or your Liaison Librarian.

Mental Health Training, delivered by Psicon is taking place on Tuesday 21 May 10:00-13:30. Please book your place by logging onto Staff Connect.

Dr Alvise Sforza Tarabochia, Lecturer in Italian, has been interviewed by UniTo News at the University of Turin about a module that he is introducing there during the summer term. The module introduces the main narratives and representations of madness and mental disorders that emerged over the course of history. An English translation of the article (from the original Italian) is below:

To learn the history of the representation of madness and mental disorders; to critically connect these representations with science, medicine, society, culture and politics; to understand the reciprocal influence of society, science and history in the way mental disorders and madness have been represented and understood: these are the aims of the module ‘Storytelling and Mental Disorders’ that Alvise will deliver in May and until Friday 7 June.

The module, open to all students of psychology, social sciences and humanities introduces the main literary and visual topoi that have governed the representation of mental disorders, including for instance physiognomics and phrenology in their connection with painting, photography and medicine.

Lectures will also cover the lunatic asylum as a space of segregation, and will analyse the first person narratives of inmates, patients and psychiatrists, assessing the impact that literature and the visual arts have on therapeutic applications of storytelling.

Alvise explains: “The bond between psychoanalysis and literature is strong. The greatest revolution that psychoanalysis brings about is narrative and literary because it advances that symptoms of mental disorders speak and have a meaning, they develop to give meaning to experiences that would otherwise be unintelligible”.

As we come towards the end of another busy academic year, the Careers and Employability Service would like to invite University of Kent staff to a summer catch-up on Monday 1st July. This is the perfect opportunity to meet with employability contacts from across the University!

There will be a series of short talks, which focus on employer engagement, including activities which have taken place within Academic Schools. We are also pleased to welcome FDM Group, who will be discussing employability in the curriculum. A networking lunch will follow this.

The Forum will take place from 12:00 – 14:00 in Grimond LT3. If you would like to attend, please confirm your place by emailing Liz Foden; e.r.foden@kent.ac.uk by 31st May 2019.

In the latest episode of the Nostalgia podcast series, Dr Chris Deacy, Reader in Theology and Religious Studies in the Department of Religious Studies, speaks to Dr Todd Mei, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Philosophy.

Todd was born in California in an environment that was a hotbed of Republicanism and we discuss his love of rock climbing, Heidegger’s ‘Being and Time’, working as a claims adjuster, wind surfing, break-dancing, skate punk, wrestling, his apprehension of LA in the light of the Rodney King riots, being ‘shaped by opposition’, the different political sensibilities between the UK and US and how Todd responds when people ask him whether he’s a theist or an atheist. We also learn whether Todd would rather be an academic or a rock climber and why as Heidegger would say looking back is his way of looking forward.

The “Oscars of higher education”, the THE Awards 2019, are open for entries.

This year’s awards feature categories including:

• Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year
• Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
• Outstanding Library Team
• Technological Innovation of the Year
• International Collaboration of the Year

Take a look at these and other categories  and, if you have an idea for an entry, let the team in Corporate Communications know. Deadline for entries is Wednesday 5 June so please let us know – by emailing communications@kent.ac.uk asap.

With your help, we may be able to repeat Kent’s successes in the awards over the last two years – in 2017, winning the Outstanding Support for Students category (for our Student Success Project) and in 2018, winning, again, for Outstanding Support for Students for our OPERA project and shortlisted in the Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year (Professor Nicola Shaughnessy, School of Arts).

Picture shows: The Kent team collecting the Outstanding Support for Students trophy from Sandi Toksvig (far left) at the THE Awards 2018.

From 11 May 2019 Arriva introduced new buses, services 1 and 2, to replace the 191 bus service.

View the new timetable.

The 191 will no longer stop at the Medway campus but the new services will arrive on campus approximately every 10 minutes.

Arriva has introduced these new services to improve reliability.

The 116 bus route remains the same and continues to stop at the University.

The new Campus Shuttle route also connects Liberty Quays accommodation, central campus and the Dockyard. Find out more on the Campus Shuttle webpage.

The School of European Culture and Languages has been successful in its application for a Bronze Award under the Athena SWAN Charter. The award will be presented at a ceremony at the University of York on 24 June 2019.

The Athena SWAN Charter was established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education and research. In May 2015 the charter was expanded to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL), and in professional and support roles, and for trans staff and students. The charter now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women.

Bronze awards recognise that the School has a solid foundation for eliminating gender bias and developing an inclusive culture that values all staff. This includes initiatives such as working to promote the number of female students on courses, ensuring an even balance of male and female teaching and academic staff, and putting equality policies in place for all staff.

Dr Lubomira Radoilska, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Deputy Head of School and Athena Swan lead, said: “The Athena SWAN Bronze Award is an important milestone toward the advancement of gender equality within SECL. The four year Action Plan that this Award supports will guide our continued efforts developing a working and learning culture where everyone feels welcome and respected.”

Congratulations to University of Kent Sports Development Officer for Medway, Jemma Whyman, who smashed the Brighton marathon on 14 April 2019 in just 3 hours and 14 minutes. We asked about herself and the experience.

How would you describe your job?

I put on sports and activities for student and staff, to help encourage them to be more active. For details of the May and June Medway activities see the timetable here: https://www.gkunions.co.uk/pageassets/activities/clubs/Team-Medway-Social-May-June_.pdf

Why did you do the marathon?

It helps with my mental health.I like to challenge myself and have a target to aim for. I have never been able to get a place in the London marathon, so I wanted to try and get championship entry by running a good time at Brighton marathon.

What training did it involve?

I have spent about six months training and I have a running coach who writes me a plan each week. Her name is Liz Weeks and she really has helped me to achieve my goals. I was training 5-6 days a week which included running and circuits. I had to increase the volume of food I eat and eat more carbohydrates. Especially before the long runs I would carbohydrate load and take on energy gels. I also stopped drinking alcohol. My endurance and speed increased throughout my training. I did several races in preparation where I placed 2nd and 3rd lady in a couple, which really gave me a confidence boost.

How did you do at the event?

The event went very well. My time was 3 hours 14 minutes which means I will get automatic championship entry into London marathon next year. I came 13th in my age category and 21st lady overall.

There is still time to book a place on this year’s Learning and Teaching Conference taking place on Monday 17 June, 9:00-17:00 in Darwin Conference Suite, Canterbury.

The programme and details on sessions that are running during the day is now available here https://www.kent.ac.uk/cshe/news-events.html?tab=learning-and-teaching-conference-2019

Please complete the online booking form to register https://www.kent.ac.uk/cshe/events/LT_Conference_2019_Event_Booking_Form.html