From Martin Carvey | Project Manager

Following significant work from stakeholders across the University, over the past couple of months we have begun to see increased functionality across KentVision, supported by careful testing and training ahead of rollout. This will continue in the weeks and months ahead, with our Agile Team delivery model being deployed across more areas, allowing for quicker and more effective development at each stage.  

This remains a challenging project but we are now seeing real progress in tangible business analysis, development and testing activity, leading to more key features and functionality being deployed – this will continue in the weeks ahead. My continued thanks to all users across the University for your engagement in getting the recent deliveries into place. 

Assessments: Boards of Examiners 

Initial Boards deployment is now completed. Development and testing of the next stage of the functionality for this remains on track for rollout this term, with training scheduled throughout. This is a key functionality with progress continuing in the weeks ahead, ensuring we can run a smooth exam process across Divisions. 

Changes of Circumstances 

Several user group onsite workshops with key users across the University have assisted in completing the process mapping for this, with a focus on user experience. Additionally, core components for delivery have been identified, ensuring data improvement is an initial focus.  

Our business analysts and developers continue collaborating to consider the complexities around Changes of Circumstances and are now working through the priorities for different users. This will focus on mapping out the changes to have in place for the key moments in the academic calendar during this year.  

Statutory Data 

Incremental changes are being made that will ensure data in KentVision continues to improve, with this strand of work continuing in line with the schedule. 

Next steps  

We are concurrently focusing business analysis and specific development work across several other priority areas – both for KentVision to meet the University’s needs during the short term, with further delivery scheduled during the next few weeks, and for further changes throughout this year, supported by ongoing user engagement. A priority order for delivery is being confirmed now to conclude the work of our independent SITS consultant, confirming the extensive SITS delivery list and priorities. Estimates for delivery timelines are now being accurately assessed, and a resourced project delivery roadmap can be completed.  

While there is still a way to go before we have features and functionality in place to satisfy all stakeholders, we are also looking ahead to how we bring both the working methods and ongoing improvements into ‘business as usual’ with the support of colleagues in IS.  

Congratulations to Kerry Barber for being appointed as the Director of Research and Innovation Services.

Kerry will be known to many as the current Director of Operations for the Division of Human and Social Sciences at Kent and will be taking up her new role as Director of RIS in the summer.

“I am delighted at Kerry Barber’s appointment to lead Research and Innovation Services, a high-performing directorate that is supporting the University very effectively to achieve its ambitions for research and innovation.”
Professor Shane Weller | Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation

Congratulations to Janice Markey for being appointed as the Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. 

A published writer and higher-degree graduate, Janice has studied and worked as a Lecturer and Journalist in Germany, Canada and the UK. She has led on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at a wide range of different organizations including Tower Hamlets, Westminster and Brighton and Hove Councils, London Ambulance Service as well as at several universities including the University of Southampton and Manchester Metropolitan. She enabled London Ambulance Service to become one of the Top 100 Employers on the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index in the last five applications she led on and has successfully overseen Athena Swan submissions and Race Equality Charter work as well as attaining the Disability Confident Leader accreditation for the University of Southampton, the first university in the country to be awarded this status.

In her free time Janice enjoys going to the theatre and gym and also doing music reviews.

During Kent Giving Week the staff netball team ‘Kent Unicorns’, took on the Moving Challenge in their own way and pledged to donate £1 per goal scored during their Tuesday match in the Thanet Netball League.  The game was a win to the Unicorns, with the final score being 28-5.

The Unicorns then took on a Netball Challenge during Friday’s livestream event, with team members each taking turns to score as many goals as they could in 1 minute.  Unfortunately, none of their shooters were able to make this event, but they gave a good show, with their team captain, Ali Webster, scoring the highest, with 12 goals.  The Unicorns added these to their total on Tuesday night, making a total donation of £45 for the Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapy.

Vice Captain, Emma Marku, who works within International Programmes, said ‘it was once again great to get involved with events on campus, to be part of that community, while doing something that we all enjoy and at the same time, raising money for a worthwhile cause‘.

Kent Giving Week is a week of fundraising activities raising vital funds for the University, with a focus this year on raising £25,000 towards the Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapy. The Centre will provide integrated and individualised non-drug therapies to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of those living with Parkinson’s.  For more information about the Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapy please click here.

You can still make a donation here.

If anyone is interested in getting involved with Netball, you can go along to ALL Active Social Netball every Monday lunchtime, 12.30-1.30pm in the Sports Centre. Kent Sport membership required. Minimum membership £2 per session with pay to play membership. For more information, please see our website or follow @ALLActiveKent on Facebook, twitter, Instagram or TikTok for updates.

Must-do Training!

If you have not completed the University Data Protection training or refresher in the past two years. Please do so as soon as possible. Data Protection training for people handling personal data is a mandatory Information Commissioners Office requirement as well as a University requirement.

If you have any queries or would think your service may benefit from additional team or service question and answer sessions please contact us on dataprotection@kent.ac.uk

Personal Data Security Incident or Breach

Not every personal data incident security incident is a data breach and not every data breach is reportable to the Information Commissioner. But the University has a statutory duty to investigate, evaluate and record all incidents (whether reportable or not).

When reporting a data breach to the Information Commissioner’s Office the first or second question is always “have staff involved completed data protection training”?

The UKGDPR and DPA 2018 gives the Information Commissioner the power to issue penalties and instructions for lack of process. Lack of training will be considered lack of process leaving the University vulnerable to financial penalties, enforcement notices and bad publicity!

If in doubt seek advice and assistance from Information Compliance dataprotection@kent.ac.uk

All incidents are distressing to individuals affected by them so it is important that lessons are learned and  that all incidents are reported to Information Compliance. If incidents are not reported we cannot learn lessons or comply with the law.

First lesson in Data Incident Management if you can get it back – get it back – then contact us!

New Online Reporting Tool

Information Compliance have launched a new online reporting tool. This form provides all the information we need to evaluate any incident or breach. If you cannot access this form for any reason please e-mail Information Compliance on the e-mail above.

Incident Trends

Most information security incidents happen because of human error or lack of thought, this is true of all the incidents reported in the past quarter. Common mistakes include

• e-mails sent to the wrong people
• e-mails sent to a group rather than an individual (or wrong group).

Information Compliance  has reported 1 breach to the Information Commissioner’s Office in the past quarter and held discussions about a further two incidents which were very close to the statutory requirement to report (to the Commissioner’s Office)

Think

Where you are working and who can see your work

Recently I travelled on the Euston to Crewe train I returned to my seat having walked through the corridor. I sat down and informed the man opposite me that he worked for the MoD! the person two seats down was a lecturer… etc! I could read their screens just moving through the carriage! I do not work on the train unless I have a privacy screen fitted (they are easily removeable when not needed and are very light).

For the cost of £30 (approx.) could save the University and Departments £000s’

How do you send information?

Is it secure? Who can see it?  Do you know the privacy settings. Is it appropriate use of acebook or teams for example?

Laptops

University Laptops are encrypted. The reason for this  to prevent inappropriate access if laptops are lost or stolen. Organisations have been fined  tens of £000,000.00s’ for losing unencrypted laptops. Keeping log in details (such as encryption key and passwords) with the laptop negates encryption and leaves the UoK open to financial penalties. Please keep them separate!!

Don’t Keep Encryption Keys and passwords with your computer

Think what you do with other people’s data treat it at least as securely as your own!

• Keep personal data secure
• Don’t share your passwords
• Beware of scams
• Lock your computer even if you leave it for “only a couple of minutes”

Last but not least, congratulations to Laura Pullin, who has now commenced her role as Head of Data Protection!

Kent’s BAME Staff Network was launched in 2019 to support the University’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity and provide an active forum in which BAME staff can engage to discuss issues and experiences important to them.

About the Network

Full Terms of Reference for the Network can be seen on the HR webpages:
https://www.kent.ac.uk/hr-equalityanddiversity/networks/bame-network.html

Current Network Co-Chairs are Mita Mondal, Vanisha Jassal, Dr Bridget Ng’andu, Dr Barbara Adewumi and Dr Gurprit Lall; all have been staff members at Kent for several years. One of the Co-Chairs is studying for a PhD research degree at the University. They therefore bring a range of experience and knowledge related to both staff and students. This is critical to forming a comprehensive understanding of BAME experiences at the University. To find out about the people behind the Network, take a look at this blog produced by the Co-Chairs during the University’s virtual ‘Belong and Grow’ week in May 2020.

Following its launch in 2019, a key objective of the Network has been to reach out to all BAME staff members so please do contact the Network at bamestaffnetwork@kent.ac.uk if you would like to talk to the Co-Chairs about membership or any other matters.  Please note that this inbox is only accessible by the five Co-Chairs and all communication will be kept confidential and anonymous.

Staff survey Phase 2 Case Studies

In 2020, all staff at the University of Kent were invited to take part in the BAME Staff Network Survey Phase 1 to help the Network explore and examine staff experiences of working at Kent.  The BAME Staff Network All Staff Survey 2020: A report on the findings, is now available on the BAME Staff Network website – BAME Network – Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity – University of Kent. The Report was positively received and endorsed by Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Academic Strategy, Planning and Performance.

We are now building on the exclusive insight of Phase 1 of the qualitative research by progressing the research study to Phase 2, which involves rich in-depth Qualitative Interviews with colleagues that expressed interest in participating in the case studies.  To enable us to have a good representation of colleagues from BAME backgrounds, we requested for amendments to the initial Ethics Application of 2020, to include a specific request for BAME staff that did not take part in the Phase 1 research, but would like to participate in the case studies, to now do so. The amendment was approved by SSPSSR Ethics Committee in March/April 2022.

Our research in Phase 1 foregrounds the significance of colleagues wellbeing, progression and sense of belonging and we wish for BAME staff to deeply reflect on their lived experiences whilst working at Kent. This will enable the Network to continue its collaborative work with the University’s Senior Management Team in addressing racial inequalities and create an inclusive culture and environment where all staff are able to thrive, irrespective of their race or ethnicity.

Please remember, if you have any questions about the Phase 2 Case Study research, to email the Principal Researcher, Dr Bridget Ng’andu on B.Ng’andu@kent.ac.uk.

For expressions of interest to participate in the study, please contact Dr Daisy Emoekabu on d.a.emoekabu@kent.ac.uk

Thank you, Bridget, Mita, Gurprit, Barbara and Vanisha, Co-Chairs of the BAME Staff Network

We are delighted to announce the official launch of the Research at Kent website, which is maximising discoverability of cutting-edge research and innovation projects from across the University of Kent.

Discover

Explore projects that are delivering significant social, cultural and economic benefits to regional, national and international communities. Find out about our world-leading researchers who are taking a collaborative, global, impactful and interdisciplinary approach to research and innovation.

How it works

Research at Kent provides a network of University of Kent branded websites, freely available to researchers across the University, to help promote their research projects.

It provides standard options to display text, images, video, and other media. It can also display customized lists of research works from Kent Academic Repository, course listings, course modules, and SharePoint lists.

Get your own project site

Any researcher from across the university can have a Research at Kent project site.

• If your research project hasn’t start yet, contacting the Research and Scholarly Communication Support team.
• If your research project is underway, use the New Website Form to request a new site.

If you’re a postdoctoral researcher make sure to include the name of your supervisor for approval.

Get in touch

Contact Josie Caplehorne with any questions or comments about Research at Kent.

The next EDI Forum is scheduled for the 18 May, 13.00 – 15.00  (online via Teams)

The EDI Forum exists to allow all students and members of staff at the University of Kent to come together to discuss topics related to equality, diversity and inclusion that are important to them. This could be raising issues that the University needs to address, highlighting good practice that they have come across or sharing their thoughts and ideas.

The Forum is a safe, neutral space that is chaired by a volunteer member of staff. It feeds any discussions back to the EDI Strategy Group so that real change can be manifested across the University.

Any member of staff or student can raise an item for discussion. If you have something that you wish to add to the agenda, please email Becky Lamyman, Student EDI Officer.

At the next meeting the main topic for discussion will be Menopause Support at Kent; what is available, what is missing, ideas for events and activities to raise awareness, how line managers and supervisors or tutors can be better positioned to support staff and students going through the menopause, what a Menopause Support Policy should include etc.

We particularly welcome members of the Staff and Student representative networks. Trade Union and Divisional / Directorate EDI representatives and student societies to attend.

You do not need to register in advance or book a place; simply follow the link on the day.

The agenda and minutes from previous meetings are available on the EDI Forum webpages

We look forward to welcoming you to the Forum on the 18 May at 13.00.

We are delighted to announce that on 26 and 27 May 2022 an event will take place to celebrate our colleague Professor Adrian Podoleanu’s distinguished career.

About Professor Podoleanu

Professor Podoleanu is a pioneering researcher who helped advance greatly the field of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). The University of Kent has benefited for many years from Adrian’s dedication and enthusiasm and the world-leading quality of his research and its application.

The conference will include speakers from across the Division of Natural Sciences including academic staff and current research students. There will be the opportunity to view our current laboratory spaces and to network with a swathe of high-calibre researchers.

Since 2005 Professor Podoleanu has led the Applied Optics Group in the University of Kent (and continues to do so), developing OCT both as a methodology and with applications across a wide range of fields from clinical practice to forensic sciences. He has supervised (and continues to do so) of more than 50 postgraduate and visiting researchers during his career at Kent, many of whom have gone on to lead in their fields.

As members of the Applied Optics Group, we look forward to welcoming in May a number of world leading researchers and also giving Adrian an opportunity to be reunited with many of his alumni who benefited not only from his undoubted research excellence but also from his leadership and training to go on and be high achievers in the field of Optical Coherence Tomography and Photonics in general.

Find out more about Professor Podoleanu and his career

Registration

Registration is open until Monday 23^rd May

To register please navigate to

https://kenthospitality.kent.ac.uk/Register/CC22Conference

To register as a current member of staff or PG student (in possession of a KentOne card) and benefit from the discounted £25 conference fee, please ensure you check the appropriate option and fill in the 6-digit staff number on the back of your card when asked to do so. There is no need to input a discount code.

Former Kent staff can get a discount code by emailing George Dobre – this will enable you to progress through the registration screens.

Influential songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kristin Hersh, leader of the indie rock band Throwing Muses and the noise rock power trio 50 Foot Wave, is back on the road with her highly acclaimed Throwing Muses release, Sun Racket.

Playing here in a solo capacity, this is a rare opportunity to spend an intimate evening alongside one of the world’s most uniquely gifted and compelling songwriters.

” Lean, Immersive, and groove-heavy, tapping the vein of hardscrabble psychedelia that defines their best work ” – Pitchfork

More information on this event and how to book can be found on the Gulbenkian website.