There’s lots happening this week including WorldFest events and Kent Students’ Union Lead Kent elections! 

Lead Kent elections: Who do you want to represent you next year? Vote for your Kent Students’ Union Officers this week!  Voting is open Monday 24 Feb from 9:00 until Thursday 27 February at 17:00. You can vote online or in person at one of the polling stations on campus.  

KentVision reminder: The KentVision system will be unavailable from 08:00 on Monday 24 February until 17:00 on Wednesday 26 February due to essential maintenance. You can still view your timetable on the My Kent Student app and website during this time, just not on KentVision. 

Monday 24 February: Finalist planning and Global Food Fest 

In your final year? Join this planning session for Finalists to help you consider how ‘work ready’ you are and what you need to do next.  

Enjoy a Global Food Fest this week from 24-28 February in the Plaza. Explore cuisines including Greek, Moroccan, Caribbean and more! 

Tuesday 25 February: English Club, make a Pride bracelet (Medway) and Food-fluencer talk 

This WorldFest join us for a step into Ukrainian culture and share your own experiences in our English Club with Kherson State University. Meet students and staff from our Ukrainian university twinning partner at our weekly English Club which offers their students a chance to develop their English Language. 

At the Hub, Medway, you can make a Pride bracelet at the LGBTQ+ Crafternoon. All materials provided and everyone is welcome.  

Join us for a panel discussion with the Food Foundation to tackle the question of who is really in charge of what we eat. ‘Food-fluencers: How big brands and the media are manipulating your diet and what can you do about it?’ Our panel of experts will talk about food marketing and how as regulations on junk food marketing change in the UK this October, big businesses may be looking for loopholes. This event is taking place at the Gulbenkian and is open to all.  

Wednesday 26 February: Language taster sessions, Talking Cultures workshop and PG Open Event 

As part of our WorldFest celebrations, you are invited to join a language taster session. Languages include Italian, Spanish, French and German. Look out for more language taster sessions next Wednesday! 

Learn all about intercultural communication at this Talking Cultures WorldFest workshop in Templeman Lecture Theatre. The aim of the workshop is to enhance your understanding of communication behaviours to identify differences and commonalities across cultures.   

Are you interested in postgraduate study? Come along to our Postgraduate Open Event in Sibson to learn more about our PG courses and scholarship and to speak to students and staff.  

Thursday 27 February: Careers in teaching and navigating academia as Black researchers 

Wondering if a career as a teacher is the next step for you? Why not come along to a presentation about the skills teachers use and take time to identify the transferrable skills you already have. You can also book a 30-minute 1-2-1 information meeting with a Teaching Adviser for the Department for Education, to ask your questions about a career in teaching.  

The Black Intellectuals Society, in collaboration with the Graduate and Researcher College, are hosting an event which will feature speakers sharing their journeys, challenges, and insights into navigating academia as Black researchers. 

Friday 28 February: Cooking class and Lead Kent results 

As part of our Worldfest celebrations, Chef Benjamin Elsbury will be showing you how to make from scratch, Rummaniyeh, a naturally vegan dish from the Middle East, so you can get together with friends and share your new culinary skills to re-create at home.  

Find out who has won the Lead Kent Elections and who will representing you next year! Come to the Venue to find out who your next elected officers will be and to celebrate the results with all the candidates. 

See more student events.  

Opportunities 

• Are you an entrepreneur or small business owner looking for a platform to promote your products or services? The ASPIRE pop-up market on 19 March is the perfect opportunity to connect with students, staff, investors, and the ASPIRE community—all at no cost to you!  
• Santander is back with their popular tech prize draw, this time with the chance to win 1 of 10 MacBook Airs! Entries to the prize draw close at 23:00 on 6 March 2025. 
• The Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapy is opening the first charity shop on our Canterbury campus on Saturday 1 March! But, they need your donations to make it happen. They are taking donations of clothing, accessories, books, homeware and more.  

See more student opportunities. 

** Update: Tuesday 25 February, 10:40 – the system maintenance has been completed and KentVision is available again. **

The KentVision system will be unavailable from 08:00 on Monday 24 February until 17:00 on Wednesday 26 February due to essential maintenance.

You can still view your timetable on the My Kent Student app and website during this time, just not on KentVision. Please make a note of your timetable, including timings and locations, ahead of this KentVision outage.

During this time, if you need to request an extension or late submission of work for any deadlines, please email extension/late submission requests to your School Engagement Support team so that they can log that a request has been made, and then update the Kent Vision records once KentVision is available. Please note that to consider your request, you will need to list the modules, assignments and deadline dates impacted, explain why you need to request extension or late submission, and attach any evidence or documentation that you may have to confirm the circumstances impacting your submissions.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused while this essential work is carried out.

Should you have any concerns or queries please contact helpdesk@kent.ac.uk

Find out what’s on this week including wellbeing activities, career support and LGBT+ History Month events.

Monday 17 February: Wellbeing workshop, working abroad (Medway) and Lupino Film Club

Student Support and Wellbeing are running a new monthly wellbeing workshop. The first month’s theme will be ‘Life is like a box of chocolates’ and is taking place in Keynes.

Are you based at Medway and thinking of working abroad? Join this in-person session to find out information and tips for opportunities abroad.

The Lupino Film Club, part of the Film, Media, and Culture Research Group, has put together a month-long programme of free screenings for LGBT+ History Month. On Monday evening you can watch the film ‘Dear Tenant’, a 2020 Taiwanese drama.

Tuesday 18 February: Career planning, ResLife Garden and managing stress workshop

The Careers team are running a ‘How to plan your career’ session which will explore strategies to manage your career path as well as developing your ability to benefit from any opportunities you come across.

Join your ambassadors Elyse and May to help us get the ResLife Garden up and running. You can find the garden in Keynes College, past Dolche Vita. They have lots of plans including a pond, hedgehog hotel, sensory garden and more!

Stress is something that affects everyone. Find out how to manage stress well when you are busy or have a high workload at this online Study Plus workshop.

Wednesday 19 February: Wellbeing activities (Medway), drop-in study support, goat walking experience and Climate Café

Take a midweek pause to focus on your mental and physical wellbeing with this Wellbeing Wednesday event at The Hub, Medway. It’s all about relaxation, self-care, and connecting with others in a positive, supportive environment.

Do you have a nagging feeling that there is something not quite right about your assignment? The Skills for Academic Success team will be available for a drop-in service in the Templeman Library this term on most Wednesdays until the Easter vacation.

If you live in on-campus accommodation, you’re invited to join a goat walking experience! This includes a walk with the goats through a wild valley and giving the goats a brush.

Feeling concerned about climate and nature? Drop in to Climate Café, a chance to share your thoughts and feelings in a safe space, while taking part in an activity for change too. Led by students for students.

Thursday 20 February: Employability Points, placements and CVs and cover letters (Medway)

Find out more about the application process of applying for rewards through the Employability Points scheme. The deadline to log your points so you can apply for paid summer internships is 10 March.

Are you considering a placement year? Taking a placement year has many benefits and industry experience is highly recommended when it comes to your graduate job search. Find out all you need to know in this session.

Get help with your CV and cover letter at this in-person Medway workshop. Critique an example CV and cover letter and reflect on how you can improve your own.

Friday 21 February: Makeup and mingle, FIFA tournament (Medway) and LGBTQ+ friendly social

The ResLife team are hosting a ‘Makeup and mingle’ event in DG-02 in Templeman Library. Have fun playing with makeup and experimenting with different styles. This is a supportive, judgement-free environment for all skill levels.

The Hub, Medway, are hosting a FIFA tournament on Friday afternoon. Compete against fellow gamers for the chance to win a £20 Amazon voucher.

ResLife Ambassadors May and Taylor would like to invite you to join them for an LGBTQ+ friendly social. However you identify, come and chat to others in your community in our safe space in the library with games, colouring and hot drinks.

See more student events.

Opportunities

• In your final year of undergrad? Complete the National Student Survey (NSS) to give your feedback about your time at Kent and for the chance to win cash prizes up to £150
• Considering postgraduate study? Find out how to take the next step at Kent. Learn about flexible study options, scholarships and Postgraduate Open Events.
• WorldFest begins next week! WorldFest is our celebration of cultural diversity at Kent. Find out what’s on for WorldFest, 24 Feb – 7 March.

See more student opportunities.

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week (10 – 16 February), we’re highlighting some of our amazing apprentices here at Kent and finding out what skills they’ve gained from doing an apprenticeship.

Meet Aaminah Ahmed who won the Apprentice of the Year award at the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards 2024. We asked her a couple of questions and here’s what she had to share with us:

How did your apprenticeship help you gain skills for life?

“My apprenticeship was invaluable in helping me develop lifelong skills because it immersed me in the professional world from the onset of my journey. It allowed me to see how the theoretical knowledge from my university degree translated into real-world scenarios.

One of the most rewarding experiences was speaking with my lecturers, many of whom had extensive experience in management consultancy. Their practical advice not only enriched my understanding of the subject but also enabled me to take challenges from my workplace and directly apply them to my academic work.

This unique combination of academic insight and hands-on practice gave me a well-rounded foundation that continues to shape my career.”

What advice would you give someone just starting or considering an apprenticeship at Kent?

“My advice for anyone starting or considering an apprenticeship is always the same: be proactive and curious. In the early stages of your career, there will be people wanting to guide and support you, but opportunities won’t always come to you automatically.

Take the initiative—ask questions, seek out challenges, and show your eagerness to learn. By demonstrating curiosity and drive, you’ll not only gain more from your apprenticeship but also set yourself apart as someone ready to grow and succeed. When I was starting out my career in the early stages I found that the more I put myself out there the more I found new opportunities.”