Category Archives: Uncategorized

Care first webinars w/c 8 November 2021

‘ Financial wellbeing with care first Lifestyle’Our official Employee Assistance Programme provider, Care first offers a numbers of services and provide useful advice and support, including weekly webinars.

This week’s (Monday 8 November – Friday 12 November) webinars are as follows:

Monday 8 November 2021 – ‘How Care first can support you’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Tuesday 9 November 2021 – ‘Financial wellbeing with care first Lifestyle’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Wednesday 10 November webinar – CANCELLED

Thursday 11 November 2021 – ‘Winter heart health’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Friday 12 November 2021 – ‘The benefits of giving back and supporting other’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Gary’s in the frame for a portrait award

Dr Gary Robinson, Senior Lecturer in Microbial Technology in the School of Biosciences, is in the frame for this year’s Scottish Portrait Awards.

Gary is the subject of a shortlisted portrait, by his artist brother Keith Robinson, for the Awards, which will be announced on Wednesday 17 November.

The portrait of Gary is titled ‘My brother the microbiologist and his microbiota’ and reflects Keith’s interest in the interface between science and art developed over many years with Gary and colleagues within the School of Biosciences. Keith has previously worked on various SciArt projects with Professor Darren Griffin (some of the resulting works are on show in the Senate Building) and Professor Mark Smales (works on display on the 4^th floor of the Ingram Building).

Gary is relatively humble about being the focus of a major piece of art: ‘As far as I’m concerned, it was to support what my brother wanted to do and an extension of the many discussions we’ve had and continue to have about art and science. I applaud his skill as a portrait artist and I’m just proud and really pleased for him.’

Gary is hoping to join his brother, and see his portrait on display, at the awards ceremony at at the Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh on the 17^th. You can see Gary’s portrait and other shortlisted entries on the Scottish Portrait Awards website.

Research and Excellence workshops

The Research Excellence Team at Kent are hosting a series of workshops designed to help academic researchers and post graduate researchers with stakeholder engagement and raising their public profile through social media.

The aim of this workshop series is to encourage researchers (at whatever stage of their research career they are) to start thinking about building their public profile to benefit their research impact and create and nurture their stakeholder relationships.

Often, research impact is not widely promoted due to researchers not understanding how to create their public profile, how to identify their stakeholders and consequently build relationships with these stakeholders. These workshops cover all these aspects and as they are also at the start of the next REF cycle, it is a great time to start this process for the REF 2028 submission.

From the feedback from the first workshop that was held last week (‘Initiating and retaining stakeholder relationships’), many researchers have just be awarded grants following bid applications and do not know how to engage through research to maximise the impact of their research.

The next two workshops to take place are:

Enhancing stakeholder relationships: using social media to create your profile – 5 November 12.00 -14.00

To find out more about this workshop and how to book your place please visit this Research Policy and Support webpage.

Fast, easy and free audio-visual content creation for academics – 11 and 22 November 15.00 – 17.00

To find out more about this workshop and how to book your place please visit this Research Policy and Support webpage.

Participants suffering with lower back pain wanted for study

Do you have lower back pain, are you interested in exercise, but not sure where to start? The University of Kent are looking for people like you to take part in a study conducted by the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences.

Using ultrasound imaging, they are investigating the effects of an increase in movement and online exercise classes on your lower back.

To be included in the study, you must be:

a male or female non-smoker
aged between 18-70 years
have lower back pain
partake in less than 150 minutes of exercise per week
able to visit the University on four occasions (before starting, during, upon completion and a 6-week follow up)

With no prior history of:

previous lower back, hip or knee surgery
a displaced or injured vertebral disc or vertebrae (eg. spondylolisthesis)
corticosteroid injections
previous surgical interventions including pins or plates near the spine

What the study includes:

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:

Group 1 – Two weekly online exercise class in small groups for an hour each over the course of a minimum of three months (maximum of six).

Group 2 – Daily prompts to increase movement throughout usual office hours.

Group 3 – A control group where participants should just continue normal activities.

For further information about this study please contact Claire Melanie Boucher at cmb71@kent.ac.uk, or can scan the QR code below.

JSNCC non-union representative nominations

The Joint Staff Negotiating and Consultation Committee (JSNCC) is the main forum for consultation between the University of Kent and its staff on matters of mutual interest. Staff membership of the committee comprises representatives of each of the trade unions and four representatives of non-union staff: two from the professional services and research support staff in grades 1 to 6; and two from the academic, research and professional services staff in grades 7 and above.

One of the current representatives, Becky Verlin, will be stepping down from this role at the end of her extended term, and so nominations are now invited for one position to represent staff grades 1-6. Staff members working within Grades 1-6 are encouraged to put themselves forward for this exciting and rewarding opportunity.

Nominations can be made by following the instructions in the staff nomination email which was sent on 1 November 2021. All nominations must be proposed and seconded by two other staff members and nominees must confirm that they agree to be nominated. The deadline for completed nomination forms being submitted is 17:00 on Monday 15 November 2021.

Why join the JSNCC?

Acting as a staff representative is interesting and rewarding. It provides the opportunity to discuss and comment on University plans and policies, to meet a wide range of new people and to gain valuable personal development. Training and support will be provided to the successful candidates.

Further information about the JSNCC and the nomination and election processes can be found on the JSNCC website or by contacting Colin Smith in the employee relations team via c.smith-832@kent.ac.uk

Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Data (EDI)

Your Information is important to us.

Staff Connect puts you in control by allowing you to review and update your personal details to make sure the University always has the most up to date information for you.

As we return to campus and with life being a little different, it is easy to forget to check your EDI data, tell the University about a change in circumstances such as your new address or a change in telephone number for an emergency contact.

Missing EDI information makes it very difficult for us to succeed with initiatives such as Athena Swan, Race Equality and identifying and addressing gender, ethnicity or disability pay gaps, so please would you take just a few minutes from your day to check and update your personal details?

To get a quick overview of the details that you are missing you can log into Staff Connect, click on the ‘Edit Dashboard’ button in the top right-hand corner of the screen (under the Sign Out button) and select ‘Reporting Services’. Click on the ‘⋮’ symbol in the top right of the widget that has appeared and then click on ‘Settings’. Select Personal Data Check and click ‘Save’; the details that are missing will be red.

The data fields are regularly reviewed to ensure that they meet current equality requirements, so check back regularly in case there have been any changes and your data needs updating.

Please note that this widget is only accessible when you are on campus or via VPN when off-campus.

You can review and update your personal information by selecting the ‘My Details’ button from the left-hand menu. Simply edit your details in the ‘Edit’ screens and your record will be updated once you press ‘Submit’.

If you need help to do this, please refer to our users guides found under ‘Staff Guide’ then ‘Staff Connect Support’ in the left-hand menu within Staff Connect.

Viewing and editing your Details – Staff Connect information site – University of Kent

Christmas shoebox appeal – we need your donations!

Would you like to get involved in our Christmas shoebox appeal to help vulnerable communities across Eastern Europe?

Our Careers and Employability Services (CES) are hosting a wrapping and filling session for students on Monday 15 November – and they need your help with donations of essential items such as:

toothbrushes
soap
small toys
hats/gloves
hairbrushes
deodorant
stationery
other new and non-perishable goods.

Please bring any items or, if you wish to make your own, any filled and wrapped shoeboxes to the CES reception before 15 November.

Many thanks for your support with this. To find out more, email the CES team at careerhelp@kent.ac.uk.

Staff Webchat: Update on KentVision on Tuesday 9 November

Chaired by Professor Richard Reece, this Staff Webchat on Tuesday 9 November will update on the work actively underway to improve the current situation with our student records system, KentVision.

Supported by the new Project Manager Martin Carvey and the KV Project Board, project priorities include re-designing KV Service Desk to better manage emerging issues; and increasing the size of the KV Project delivery team to ensure the planning, testing and delivery cycles are completed fully, including full engagement and consultation with relevant stakeholders. This will avoid issues impacting staff and students. Some benefits of these changes should start to be realised from December onwards.

Alongside Richard and Martin, the panel will include Anthony Brenton, Lead Business Analyst; Paul Sales, IT Trainer; James McCrea, Head of Enterprise Systems; Anita Jackson, Director of Strategic Planning & Performance; Kyra Harwood-Lucas, Head of Student Administration; and John Crook, Director of Operations in the Division of Computing, Engineering & Mathematical Sciences.

The session will take place on Teams on Tuesday 9 November from 13.00-15.00, including time for questions. You can sign up now, and ask your questions in advance, via this link. A calendar invite will be sent to all attendees by Monday, 8 November, with further information of how to join us.

Covid-19: Working together to keep each other safe

As I am sure you are aware, recent weeks have seen a national rise in the number of Covid cases in the UK. While we do not currently have any major concerns locally, this is an important reminder to all of us that, unfortunately, Covid has not gone away, and we all need to continue to keep safety at the front of our minds, especially while on our campuses.

Face coverings and indoor spaces

We strongly encourage and recommend that you wear face coverings in crowded indoor spaces, including teaching and study spaces or while standing in queues. Face coverings are available free of charge at all student reception desks – wearing one can really help keep each other safe.

All of our rooms on campus have been assessed and adapted where necessary to meet Government ventilation guidelines. If you are meeting up with friends, then try to do this outside if you can – avoiding busy indoor spaces is a big part of stopping the spread.

Testing, reporting and vaccinations

Everyone coming onto campus should continue to take a Covid lateral flow test twice a week. You can get walk-in tests or pick up take-home kits from the Old Bank on our Canterbury campus or the Old Sports Hall at Medway, or order them online.

It also really helps us if you report the results of your tests to the NHS whenever you take them, whether they are positive or negative – instructions on how to do this should come with the testing kit itself. If you do have symptoms or test positive, you must self-isolate and get a PCR test as quickly as possible. Let us know that you are isolating so we can make sure you get the support you need – if your PCR test is positive, you will need to self-isolate for 10 days from when your symptoms started.

Lastly, vaccinations continue to be key to minimising the impact of Covid – if you haven’t already, we strongly recommend getting two jabs if you can. Watch out for the Government’s Grab a Jab campaign for local walk-in centres.

Keeping going

I have been hugely impressed by the way all of you have worked together to keep each other safe as you have come back onto campus, and am really pleased that we have managed to keep infection numbers low to date. All of us have a part to play in continuing to keep our campuses safely open, so let’s continue to be careful in crowded indoor spaces, taking regular tests and getting vaccinated if you can.

With all good wishes,

Richard

Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Education and Student Experience

Covid-19: Working together to keep each other safe

From Professor Richard Reece, Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Education and Student Experience As I am sure you are aware, recent weeks have seen a national rise in the number of Covid cases in the UK. While we do not currently have any major concerns locally, this is an important reminder to all of us that, unfortunately, Covid has not gone away and we all need to continue to keep safety at the front of our minds, especially while on our campuses.

Face coverings and ventilation

We strongly encourage and recommend that people wear face coverings in crowded indoor spaces. Wearing a face covering can help keep each other safe, particularly in teaching and study spaces or while standing in queues. Face coverings are available free of charge at all student reception desks. Being outdoors or in well-ventilated spaces also helps reduce transmission. All of our rooms on campus have been assessed and adapted where necessary to meet Government ventilation guidelines. Keeping a window open helps support this – we should also all keep to a ‘virtual first’ approach to staff meetings to reduce the number of gatherings. Testing, reporting and vaccinations Everyone coming onto campus should continue to take a Covid lateral flow test twice a week. You can get walk-in tests or pick up take-home kits from the Old Bank on our Canterbury campus or the Old Sports Hall at Medway, or order them online. Reporting is also critical to supporting the national effort to counter Covid. Please remember to report your LFT test results to the NHS whether they are positive or negative – instructions on how to do this should come with the testing kit itself. If you have symptoms or if you do test positive, you must self-isolate for 10 days from the day your symptoms started and get a PCR test as quickly as possible. If your PCR test is positive, please let your line manager know and also email covidsupport@kent.ac.uk Lastly, vaccinations are also a key part of supporting national efforts against Covid, so if you qualify for a booster jab then you are strongly encouraged to get one if you can.

Keeping going

The start of term was a significant adjustment for all of us with the return of students and large number of staff to campus. I have been hugely impressed by the way all of us have responded and am pleased that to date we have managed to work together to keep infections low so far. All of us have a part to play in continuing to keep our campuses safely open – by being careful in crowded indoor spaces, taking regular tests and getting vaccinated if you can. I am also writing to students this week to remind them of what we all need to do to keep each other safe and will provide a further update if there any Government announcements that affect our response in the coming weeks. Richard Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Education and Student Experience