Thursday 14th April 2022
10:00 – 16:30
Would you like an Easter treat? Hunt for eggs that have been hidden around campus and bring them to the College & Community Life office, above the Co-Op in the Locke Building to get your chocolate treat! 4 eggs will be swapped for an ‘egg’stra special prize.
Happy hunting!
Apply now for a great Summer Research Experience Placement in social sciences.
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.
Find out more and apply by 29 April 2022 on the South East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS) website.
The University of Kent has a long history of delivering postgraduate courses in continental Europe, beginning with the Brussels School of International Studies in 1998. While the University has many partnerships throughout Europe, the Brussels School and the Paris School of Arts and Culture, which opened in 2010, are key parts of our new Kent in Europe strategy to offer specialist postgraduate teaching in Europe.
The University of Kent European schools provide unique opportunities for students to gain international educational experience in locations relevant to the subject. They are recognized as examples of excellence in transnational education and are a key part of our new Global Engagement Strategy; being led by the new EG lead for global engagement, Professor Richard Reece.
In order to strengthen the Brussels and Paris Schools for the future, the University has agreed that the schools will be most effectively managed from September 2023 inside our new Divisional structures. This will enable a closer alignment of academic activities and an integration of the professional service teams to allow better support for staff and students. It will also mean that students in Brussels and Paris will have a deeper link to the University and its resources and provide Divisions with a stronger international outreach and recruitment opportunity. It will also enable the University to provide a clearer and more efficient central service support for the Divisions in their management of the Brussels and Paris Schools.
While the academic subjects are already integrated into Divisions, from September 2023 the Divisional links will be enhanced by linking professional service teams into the Divisions. HSS will manage – with the appropriate links to LSSJ and any other subject areas – the Brussels School of International Studies, and A&H will managed the Paris School of Arts and Culture. There will be a period of transition in the next academic year 2022-2023 to allow the most effective integration.
This integration will enable the Divisions to establish a stronger sense of ownership and have a clarity of operation in Europe for both teaching and research links in the cities of Brussels and Paris. It is hoped that this new structure will make the European schools more agile in responding to the new demands of global education. It will allow more effective management and provide an operational framework for other subjects in the University to benefit from European links and subject delivery through the new structures should they wish to explore these options.
In the increasing challenging world of global education, this new organizational structure of our European Schools signals how they remain a vital part of our vision for the future.
Thank you to all of those who volunteered to help at the celebration ceremonies in Rochester and Canterbury.
It was such an important moment for our students who had graduated in absentia in 2020 and we know how much they appreciated that Kent made sure they could have their special day. The graduates are of course the stars of the day, but it takes a team to make sure the show can happen for them – and you were a big part of that.
We know our call for volunteers came at an already busy time and we are very grateful you joined us to make the occasion a success. We hope that you enjoyed taking part and the opportunity to make the Cathedrals your office for the day! Please do let us know if you have any feedback from the events that you would like to share with us.
This May we will be hosting our graduates from 2021. We begin in Rochester on 11 May, and then Canterbury from 16 – 20 May. We hope you will join us again, and that you will also encourage colleagues to take part. Please sign up online here.
We have made this video to thank the staff involved, and we hope it will also show others that it may be hard work, but it’s a lot of fun too!
“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.”
“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!”
“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.”
“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!”
The recent media attention surrounding the Equality and Human Right Commission report “Separate and single-sex service providers: a guide on the Equality Act sex and gender reassignment provisions” has created some confusion, uncertainty and debate around the interpretation it brings when it comes to the use of facilities such as toilets and changing rooms.
At Kent we recognise that the responses of some institutions are placing our trans, nonbinary and intersex colleagues at an increased risk of harm. We affirm our commitment to members of these communities at Kent, and to our ongoing work to remove discriminatory practices and approaches that place them at risk of harm.
At the University we have our own EDI policy, Dignity at Work policy and Trans Student Support policy but given the press attention, we feel it necessary to clarify our position that we want to work towards an environment where individuals can feel safe and comfortable to use the facilities including toilets and changing rooms, that matches their gender, without fear of harassment or discrimination.
This most recent media attention is situated in an ongoing context, where trans and non-binary people face discrimination and harassment:
We at the University of Kent are committed to fostering a positive working environment where all employees are treated fairly, with dignity, courtesy, respect and consideration. All staff have a responsibility to create an environment that is free from harassment, bullying, unlawful discrimination and victimisation. We do not – and will not – tolerate discrimination and harassment within our institution. We have been pleased to see growing awareness of the diversity of the trans and non-binary community and increased understanding of the breadth of gender identities. Unfortunately, this visibility has come with a rise in hostility towards some members of the trans community.
We fully support and encourage all our students and staff to report incidents of harassment and discrimination using existing policies.
We have maps of both our Canterbury and Medway campuses highlighting the location of gender neutral toilets. We want individuals to be comfortable using the facilities that match their gender, without fear of harassment or discrimination.
Using the resources available removes the burden of questions, explanations and discussions from members of the LGBTQIA+ community – the links below are an excellent starting point for people wanting to understand more.
Our LGBTQ+ network have a fantastic blog that covers ongoing news, events and challenges – stay up to date with the issues affecting the community.
Mermaids UK and Stonewall have easily accessible resources and Q&A that cover many of the relevant issues.
The University of Kent Rainbow Lanyard celebrates and promotes our work around Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Wearing one shows your commitment to providing a safe and comfortable environment for all of our LGBTQ+ staff and students. It also shows LGBTQ+ people that they can ‘bring their whole selves’ to you without fear of judgement or an unsupportive reaction.
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.
Helpful exam webpages:
From Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education & Student Experience
I am pleased to be able to let you know that the local branch of the UCU has accepted the proposal we made on 23 March and that the local marking and assessment boycott has now been brought to an end. You can read our joint statement with UCU in full for more on the background to this.
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
From Martin Atkinson | Director of HR & Organisational Development
I am pleased to be able to let you know that the local branch of the UCU has accepted the proposal we made on 23 March and that the local ASOS, including the marking and assessment boycott, has now been brought to an end. You can read our joint statement with UCU for more background on this.
This means that marking and assessment is now resumed as normal, although the national Action Short of a Strike (not including a marking and assessment boycott) remains in place.
Any work that was not assessed during the boycott will now be assessed alongside other work, with Divisions working with their staff to agree on areas to prioritise. We anticipate that all outstanding marking will be completed by Friday 6 May 2022.
We would like to thank our local UCU for their part in the negotiations which have brought the dispute to a close. We would also like to thank those of you who have been providing extra support to students throughout the periods of industrial action.
This year has been particularly difficult for our students, and I want to recognise their patience in the face of the uncertainty and stress caused to them by the ongoing disputes. I sincerely hope that they can now look forward to some stability and certainty as they enter the examination period.
Ongoing negotiations
I am also conscious of how challenging recent weeks have been for colleagues in Divisions which have been reviewing their activities and which face continued challenges due to national changes in where prospective students’ interests lie.
Whilst no compulsory redundancies have been proposed as part of these reviews and would only ever be considered as a very last resort, we understand that reviews can be unsettling for staff and I hope this agreement will take some of the pressure off while this work continues. I’d also like to thank colleagues for their continued involvement in working collectively on what a positive and sustainable way forward might look like. For the avoidance of any doubt, the commitment made in the joint statement to UCU members also applies to all other staff across the University.
We are also continuing our talks with UCU on the national issues in the hope that we can build on progress in the areas that we can influence at Kent – bearing in mind that many of the issues on the national ballot are out of our control. I will continue to keep you updated on progress with all these issues and hope we can now all concentrate on preparations for the summer term.
With all good wishes,
Martin
Martin Atkinson | Director of HR & Organisational Development
*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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!