Free English classes

You can join CEWL’s Free English language classes if your first language is not English. They are taught every weekday from 18 June to 19 July by students on the CELTA teacher training course. You can also earn employability points for attending the classes

What do the classes cover?

They cover the four skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking, as well as grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. You will have the chance to meet new people and practice speaking English.

For more information, click here

Or to book your place, please email: cewlcelta@kent.ac.uk

Research survey

You are invited to take part in a short 5 minute survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/MAReseach2018 and subsequent focus group (if you wish) to contribute to some research currently being undertaken on why some students breach non-academic discipline regulations and establish if UK Universities go too far or not far enough in attempting to control student behaviour on and off of campus. The survey will be open until 6 April 2018.

The Main focus of the study is to establish what are the reasons are for growing numbers of student misconduct on and off campus in the UK, how Universities currently manage student misconduct and how UK institutions collect and synthesis data to inform policies, procedures and Regulations designed to address student misconduct.

Why have I been chosen?

You have been chosen as University records identify you as a current student at the University of Kent.

Do I have to take part?

No, participation is entirely voluntary.

What will happen to me if I take part?

You are invited to a) complete a survey, and b) confirm whether you wish to volunteer to participate in a one-hour focus group. Focus groups will be arranged to minimise inconvenience to participants.

Benefits of taking part

Your participation in this research can result in a number of benefits, including

Feeding into University non-academic discipline regulations for current and future students.
Feeding into further research in the areas of student discipline

You need to be aware that

Data from this study will inform the development of policy and practice within the University. All participant contributions will be anonymised and used only to illustrate broad themes and findings. Your confidentiality and anonymity will be maintained.
There will be consultation between the researcher and participants regarding the data.
Data from this study may also be used for publication and disseminated at conferences. Information about or from participants used for external purposes will be anonymised. The University will not be identified by name but given a pseudonym and identified only by key characteristics and mission, enabling other researchers to consider the implications of the research for their own contexts.
You will have access to the report and findings if you so wish.

Contact for further information

Alison Mansell, Student Conduct and Complaints Manager, M1.02 Keynes College, University of Kent, a.mansell@kent.ac.uk

Students and staff performing at the Marlowe Theatre

Members of Kent students, staff and alumni are taking to the Marlowe stage mid-April with local amateur theatre company Canterbury Operatic Society in their production of Oklahoma!

Students Eleanor Farley and Beth Aherne alongside staff members, Leanne Hardy, Mariah Young and Marina Ivanova will be performing with a talented cast of local performers, including some Kent alumni, from Thursday 12 to Saturday 14 April including two matinees on the Friday and Saturday.

Oklahoma!, the first musical written by Rodgers and Hammerstein, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, making it an even more special production. It is a colourful and energetic musical about an obstacle-filled love story between the dashing cowboy Curly McLain and Laurey Williams, a winsome yet willful farm girl.

The story is set against a colourful background of high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys – pistols and all! The show is chock full of upbeat showtunes and promises to be a very entertaining evening.

Book your tickets online now via the Marlowe Theatre Website.

pubTALK – Monday 9 April – The social life of a teenage brain

After a brief break, pubTALK is back! Please join us next Monday at The Jolly Sailor, Canterbury where Dr Heather Ferguson will be discussing ‘The social life of a teenage brain’.

Understanding and predicting other people’s thoughts, feelings, intentions etc is a unique human ability that develops from early infancy, and is often referred to as ‘mindreading’. In fact, in every day life these mindreading abilities are engaged so readily that it’s easy to forget just how complex they are – we are constantly working out what other people do/do not know, to ensure successful interactions, and avoid misunderstandings or embarrassment!

For a long time, it has been assumed that children reach adult-like levels in these important social skills by around seven years old. In this talk, Heather Ferguson will explore the ‘black box’ of a teenager’s mind to discuss how social communication abilities continue to develop change across the teenage years, and what might influence these changes, both positively and negatively.

As usual, pubTALKs will be in the upstairs function room at The Jolly Sailor, Canterbury. Doors open at 19.00 for a 19.30 start and entry is free of charge. Everyone is encouraged to stay behind after the talks to continue the discussions for a drink or two!

You can find out more about pubTALKS via our website or by subscribing to our mailing list.

Coffee with colleagues: More vouchers now available

Due to the success of the Coffee with Colleagues scheme our sponsors have generously offered to make more coffee vouchers available for colleagues to invite someone they have never met in person, or do not know very well, to talk about their respective role or a work-related matter over a complimentary cup of coffee (or tea!).

This year, there is also a ‘mystery colleague’ option for more adventurous colleagues willing to be matched with a colleague at random.

Registration has been extended to Friday 13 April but don’t wait too long to register as numbers are still limited and vouchers allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

If you want to take advantage of this offer, all you will need to do is complete a short form giving details about yourself and your guest.

Coffee with Colleagues is part of the Kent Colleagues Connect programme, jointly funded by the Academic Division, Commercial Services and Learning & Organisational Development. This programme offers a number of opportunities throughout the year to meet colleagues across the University in an informal setting and learn more about their role.

Go Abroad Photo and Video Competition – £200 worth of Amazon Vouchers to be won!

International Partnerships is reaching out to students who are currently on their term/year abroad 2017-18, either at Kent, or at one of our partner universities across the globe. Send your best photos and videos capturing those special moments for a chance to win an amazon voucher.

For more information see: https://www.kent.ac.uk/goabroad/photo-video-competition.html

One month membership this spring

Our popular one month membership offer is back again this spring – from 1 April to 30 April 2018 inclusive, you and your friends and family can enjoy a wide range of activities for half the usual price of Gold public membership at Kent Sport.

Adults can get membership for just £35.50. Juniors (anyone in full-time education or 16 to 18 years old) pay just £28. Under 16’s pay £3.90 per activity.

The Spring membership offer provides unlimited access to modern sports facilities including the fitness suite, squash courts, all outdoor facilities and entry to all fitness and dance classes. If you’re looking to explore the campus, and maybe further, then Gold members can also hire a range of high-quality bikes for free through the Kent Sport Cycle Hub.

To purchase your membership, visit the Sports Centre or Pavilion receptions. Membership is available to purchase and use until 30 April only. For further details and terms and conditions, please visit our membership webpage. You can view the Kent Sport facility opening hours here.

*To apply for the junior rate please bring with you proof of full-time education (student card etc.)

To stay up to date with Kent Sport news, events and special offers, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @UniKentSports

William Rowlandson in Público newspaper

Dr William Rowlandson, Senior Lecturer in Hispanic Studies in the Department of Modern Languages, was interviewed for the Portuguese daily national newspaper Público concerning the ongoing industrial action in Higher Education in the UK.

Público is a daily newspaper published in Lisbon, with a circulation of around 28,000.

In the interview, published on 25 March 2018, William puts the industrial action into a wider context of changes to Higher Education sector.

To read the full article (in Portuguese), please see the page here.

Celebrating students supporting other students – APM Awards ceremony

Students from 15 schools involved in the Academic Peer Mentoring (APM) scheme attended an awards ceremony on 28 March hosted by the Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) in UELT. Mentors and colleagues from participating Schools joined in the celebration of students’ engagement and achievements.

The awards were presented to the mentors by Professor April McMahon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Education and Dr Louise Naylor, Director of UELT. Mentors and colleagues from Architecture, CEWL and SLAS made presentations and showcased the impact this additional student-centred learning support has had on student achievement. The APM scheme is an important intervention in the University’s Student Success project.

The APM experience shows that mentors benefit greatly from the scheme as they deepen their understanding of the course content as well as enhance their employability skills.

Please visit the School of Architecture’s blog to hear mentors/mentees’ feedback regarding their experience of the APM scheme.

91% of previous Kent peer mentors, who are in touch with the alumni office, are now in graduate jobs, compared to 80.4% for Kent graduates in general.

“The University’s peer mentoring scheme is a fantastic way for students to develop valuable employability skills such as communication, planning and leadership” (Amy Wiggins Medway Careers Adviser)

95% of mentors would recommend the APM scheme to others.

”Among the most full academic experiences”

“One of my students wanted to drop out but she didn’t and said it was down to the academic peer sessions. She wouldn’t have a degree if we’d let her drop out”

If you would like to be involved in the APM scheme, please check/contact your School’s website/ School as Schools will be shortly recruiting Mentors.

To find out more about the APM, click here or email mailto:slasapm@kent.ac.uk

Do you know an inspirational Kent student? Nominate them for a Kent Student Award!

Students, staff and members of the public have until 6 April to nominate a student or group of students to win a Kent Student Award.

Nominate someone now

The Kent Student Awards recognise and celebrate student achievement in extracurricular areas of university life. View the award categories.

Kent Student Award winners will receive a personalised brick on the Kent ‘Footsteps Path’ and it’s something impressive to add to the CV.

Please share this with colleagues, students and local businesses to encourage nominations.