This week was another reminder of the disruptive impact of Covid-19 as we took the difficult decision to end much of our campus activity a week early. None of us wanted this and I know how hard many have worked to give our students the send-off they deserve. However, adapting quickly to fast-moving events has been critical all year and once the rise in cases became apparent, we had little choice but to switch to supporting students to return home safely. This takes a huge combined effort and I cannot express enough my appreciation for what all of you are doing to keep our community safe.

This marks a strange end to another unprecedented term. At Council on Friday we reflected on both the unpredictable environment we continue to operate in and, importantly, the progress we’ve managed to make in spite of it – including our recent Silver Athena SWAN Award, which reflects fantastic work to further equality and diversity across the University.

While I know it has been far from easy, we have also made significant steps to improve our financial position this year and I’m pleased that we will be able to take the brakes off some of our more immediate restraints from last year, such as the pay freeze. We do, though, continue to carry an underlying deficit and face challenges ahead, from planned pension changes to the Government’s much anticipated spending review. Keeping within our means will remain critical as we turn our focus more and more to growing our income, implementing the priorities set out in Kent 2025 and continue towards a more sustainable position and successful future.

Friday’s Council discussion also touched on our political environment, with the continued focus on the impact of universities and issues surrounding freedom of expression. Academic freedom and freedom of speech are fundamental to our work and we have a statutory duty to uphold them; similarly, equality, diversity and respect are our central values, backed by legal obligations under the Equalities Act. It is within this context that Council as our governing body approved adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, following a formal Government request. They also approved usage of the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism to support with interpretation after feedback from staff, students, Senate and wider legal advice. This is an important step in ensuring our Jewish community feel safe on campus and we will be shortly sharing more information on implementation as part of our continued work to tackle discrimination and racism.

Finally, I know that recent weeks have included challenges for many as work continues to bed in KentVision. This has had a big impact on exam boards in particular, and I want to apologise for the extra pressure this has placed on staff and to thank all those involved for the way they have responded to a difficult situation. The KentVision team are working hard to address these initial issues and relieve any additional workload as quickly as possible. I also wanted to point to our upcoming Clearing efforts later in the summer, where we will need a university-wide approach to support our Marketing and Recruitment colleagues and teams in the academic Divisions to ensure a successful outcome; more details on how we can all help with this will be shared shortly.

In the meantime, my thanks once again for all that you have contributed over this last year. I wish you all the very best for the summer.

With my best wishes to you and your families,

Karen

Professor Karen Cox | Vice-Chancellor and President

Applications open today (Wednesday 30 June) for staff who wish to choose where they work for part of the week.

Under our new Hybrid Working Scheme – open to all professional services staff on UK employment contracts – if your job is suitable for remote working, you can request to work off-campus for up to two days per week, starting from 20 September 2021.

Staff who are contracted to work on four days per week or more will be able to apply to work remotely up to two days per week. Staff who work on fewer than four days can apply for one remote working day per week.

How to apply

The default application window for eligible staff is from 30 June – 30 July 2021. This may be varied locally, if necessary due to logistical constraints, and you will be notified if this is the case.

To apply, log into Staff Connect and go to ‘My Forms’ where you will find a link to the Hybrid Working Scheme application documents.  It is important that you read the Application Guide on the HR pages, and take into account any local parameters that have been shared with you by your line manager, before submitting your application.

Your application will be assessed by your line manager, in consultation with your departmental director and in line with agreed criteria. This will take account of what is operationally viable for you in your role, service requirements and overall needs of your team. Managers are being encouraged to facilitate hybrid working wherever operationally possible.

Why we’re doing it

The new scheme underlines the benefits of hybrid working for both the University and our staff. We believe that giving you more choice and control over where you work helps build mutual trust, employee motivation and wellbeing, and can result in enhanced performance.

The Hybrid Working Scheme has been developed in consultation with a JSNCC Working Group and cross-section of other key stakeholders across the University.

Find out more

Further information on the Hybrid Working Scheme, including FAQs, is available now on our HR webpages.

The University of Kent Research Excellence Team, in collaboration with KMTV, present ‘Next Generation Impact’; the first streamed impact series for all levels of academic and professional staff across our sector.

The series will tackle all aspects of the impact agenda, from engagement to working in partnership and funding impact activities.

The next session titled ‘Maximising impact: engaging the public with research’ will take place online on Thursday 1 July 12.00 – 13.00 and will contemplate the future of engagement with research in a post-Covid world. This open to all ll levels of academic and professional staff across the sector.

Who’s on the panel:

Catherine Richardson, Professor Early Modern Studies at the University of Kent and Director of the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries (ICCI)

Alex Stevens, Professor in Criminal Justice at the University of Kent

Mark Connelly, Professor of Modern British History at the University of Kent and Director of Gateways to the First World War

Book your place  by visiting the Next Generation Impact website

Over the weekend, we took the difficult decision to cancel all remaining Kent Summer Fest activity a week early, along with all other non-essential student activity on campus. This is due to a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases among students on our Canterbury campus, meaning we had no choice but to take this precautionary step.

I know this will be hugely disappointing for many of our students and it is not something we wanted to do. However, the safety of everyone on campus has to remain our top priority and we did not feel we had any other choice once the number of positive cases became clear. This also followed advice from the local Health Protection Team who confirmed this was the ‘responsible action’ for us to take.

Our focus now is on supporting all students who were due to leave on-campus accommodation on 3 July to return home as soon as possible, once they have completed all testing requirements in line with the latest Government travel guidance. We have written to all our on-campus residents and event ticket holders and will be writing again today to all of our students based at Canterbury. There is also more information on on-site testing on our Covid-19 webpages.

I would like to thank everybody for the huge effort they’ve put in to coordinating Kent Summer Fest, which was a true team effort across the University. At its heart, the events were an attempt to give our students an opportunity to come together and mark the end of what has been such a challenging year – it is a real shame for everyone that the ongoing pandemic has once again got in the way of our plans.

I would also like to thank all of our staff across a number of areas who are pulling out all the stops to support students with getting testing, self-isolating when they need to, and keeping our campuses safe for everyone. All of your effort and commitment across the year has been truly exemplary and I am humbled to be working with so many dedicated colleagues.

With all best wishes,

Richard

Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chair of Covid-19 Silver Command

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 28 June – Friday 2 July) webinars are as follows:

Monday 28 June 2021 – ‘How Care first can support you’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Tuesday 29 June 2021 – ‘Key facts about the Delta variant & Health Anxiety’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Wednesday 30 June 2021 – ‘Tips for managers to keep staff motivated’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Thursday 1 July 2021 – ‘Vaccine Anxiety’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Friday 2 July 2021 – ‘Positivity & Wellbeing’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Can you tell us about International Partnerships’ role at Kent?

We’re here to enhance the University’s global profile through a range of activities, including managing student and staff exchange programmes, virtual exchange projects and supporting visiting faculties.

We strengthen partnerships by engaging with international education and funding organisations, identifying which ones lead to direct income generation and collaborating with high-calibre institutions.

As well as supporting partnership activity across the Divisions, we are responsible for:

• identifying appropriate models for collaboration
• negotiating agreements and assessing each partnership.
• designing institutional strategies and policies for different agreement types
• leading on legal factors taking account of business risk and academic requirements
• auditing existing partnerships, ensuring they’re consistent with institutional standards.

Who’s who within your team?

Our experienced study abroad team, Janet Wilson-Sharp, Françoise McKee and Katie Rowberry, look after our student and staff exchange programmes, with around 1,000 incoming and outgoing students each year.

International Partnership Officers, Jan Lowe, Emma Marku and Katy Thompson, play a key role in partnership development, agreement negotiation and strategic planning. Primrose Paskins, our Senior International Partnerships Officer, oversees institutional approval and due diligence processes, while Head of International Partnerships, Hannah McNorton manages our partnership activity, taking the lead on developing institutional strategy.

From top left: Françoise McKee, Emma Marku, Janet Wilson-Sharp, middle left: Katie Rowberry, Hannah McNorton, bottom left: Katy Thompson, Primrose Paskins, Jan Lowe

Who does the University have partnerships with and how do you work with them?

We work with many prestigious European and international HE institutions on student and staff exchanges, dual awards, research collaboration and enterprise links.

For incoming and outgoing students, we work closely with our partnered colleagues, helping with their enrolment on our programmes, accommodation, study visas, insurance and other practical matters. The University of Ghent and Hong Kong Baptist University are two of our multilateral partners and, together, we develop Master’s programmes, doctoral training, jointly supervised PhDs (Ghent), and other collaborative projects.

Our membership in the 3i University Network: Interregional Internationalisation Initiative is an example of the far-reaching impact of international networks, bringing together higher education, local and regional businesses and governmental organisations to identify strategies and address shared challenges. The network is hosting a series of workshops in June, with us leading on Energy & Climate change.

Additionally, our membership of the SGroup Universities in Europe, has provided a number of mobility opportunities for both students and staff.

How have Brexit and Covid impacted your area of work, and what’s been your response?

Brexit has brought a host of challenges and we’ve had to find new pathways to work with our European partners; legally, academically, and economically. We have developed new models of agreements for our existing university partners and adapted the way we enter into networks and collaborations. It’s given us the opportunity to future-proof our processes and enhance our creativity, innovation and sustainability, while pushing us to new areas of research.  

The Covid pandemic has cast unforeseen challenges, most notably suspending our international student exchange programme for the academic year 2020-21. But our approach for 2021-22 is to honour students’ wishes to study or work overseas when it is safe and practicable. Our wider planning has also been affected as we look ahead to international partnership development in a post-Covid era.

Yet, there’s also been some positive impact. For example, we now have an effective digital method for collaboration, which means we’re able to communicate more frequently with our partners. Our co-curricular virtual exchange initiative GLO (Global Learning Online) has also strengthened, with hundreds of students embracing online opportunities over the past year.

Can you tell us what you’re currently working on, as well as your longer-term goals?

Following Brexit, the UK is no longer a member of the Erasmus+ student exchange programme. However, any funding secured pre-Brexit can be used until the project end date, so we will continue to support staff and students under Erasmus until 31 May 2023. Beyond that, we’re currently working with universities across Europe to establish bilateral agreements, allowing us to continue our European exchange activities.

We’ve recently submitted the University’s first funding bid to the UK government’s new Turing Scheme, which will allow us to support students on placements throughout the world. Subject to a successful bid, we aim to create new international opportunities such as summer schools and internships.

Our longer-term goals are to design a flexible international mobility experience, fit for a changing student demographic and to work with high-calibre institutions who share our values. We’ll be prioritising international relationships that lead to multi-lateral partnerships, ensuring our approach remains agile in an ever-changing environment.

How can staff find out more and get involved with your work?

We encourage colleagues to talk to the international contacts in their Division. You can also talk to us directly at internationalpartnerships@kent.ac.uk

bOing! Kent’s Family Arts Festival is bouncing back this summer and there is an extra special day before the festival weekend kicks off just for Kent Staff and their families on Friday 27 August.

Organised as a big thank you from our Executive Group in recognition of colleagues’ tremendous effort throughout the year, the Staff Family Day at bOing! is FREE for Kent Staff and their families to attend.

Whether you’ve been working on site or remotely, this is an opportunity to reunite with family and colleagues in person for an amazing summer day on campus filled with FREE live performance, music and fun for all!

Everybody’s invited, so say a proper farewell and invite colleagues who have left while we have all been working remotely.

Free refreshments will also be on offer with a £5 credit loaded to Kent Staff KentOne cards that can be redeemed at any University of Kent catering outlet on campus.

All events are free to attend, but please register your attendance via this booking link. MOONmoon has a limited capacity so you will need to book tickets individually for this performance by following this booking link.

Schedule for bOing! on Friday 27 August

12.30 – 12.50pm – The Puppet Van: The Lost Colour
Outdoor chaos 2m in the air featuring clowning and puppetry from Kent Alumni company Half A String.

1 – 1.30pm – Gandini Juggling’s Smashed2
Funny and inventive juggling performance featuring a lot of fruit.

2 – 2.20pm – UPSWING’s Catch Me
A playful mix of dance, circus and chairs.

3 – 3.40pm – Dybwikdans’ MOONmoon – BOOK TICKETS
Marvellous moon inspired musical performance for 0-18months and their adults. Limited capacity so tickets must be booked in advance.

3.30 – 4pm – Gandini Juggling’s Smashed2
Funny and inventive juggling performance featuring a lot of fruit.

4 – 4.20pm – The Puppet Van: The Lost Colour
Outdoor chaos 2m in the air featuring clowning and puppetry from Kent Alumni company Half A String.

4.30 – 4.50pm – UPSWING’s Catch Me
A playful mix of dance, circus and chairs.

5 – 7pm – Global Sounds Music Stage
Programmed by Music for Change, enjoy some summer sounds under the sun.

Find out more about bOing! Kent’s Family Arts Festival

bOing! Kent’s Family Arts Festival is open to the general public on Saturday 28 and 29 August 2021 with a range of free and ticketed events. Funded by Arts Council England and the University of Kent, bOing! welcomes the most innovative and exciting performers from across Europe to the Gulbenkian Arts Centre and our beautiful Canterbury campus. All events at bOing!2021 will be performed in line with Government guidance on Covid-19. 

Watch the bOing! Festival trailer

Become a bOing! Volunteer

Follow in the paw prints of our amazing volunteers of previous years, don a pair of ears and become a bOing! Volunteer. Find out more about volunteering at bOing!

The Graduate and Researcher College is delighted to announce the winners of the 2021 GRC Prizes.

The Graduate and Researcher College would like to thank all the nominees, we recognise the tremendous work being carried out this year and we thank you for your contributions to our research community.

A huge congratulations to all our winners.

Postgraduate Researcher

Ellis Spicer, School of History

“I’d like to thank Prof Juliette Pattinson for her nomination. It has been a pleasure to be part of the University throughout my studies and participate fully in every opportunity.”

Postgraduate Professional Service Champion

Lucy Wilson, Division of Human and Social Sciences

“I am honoured and grateful to have won this award, it means a lot to me.
I would like to thank Jess Barkham and Nicola Huxtable for this nomination, I wouldn’t be able to succeed in this role if it wasn’t for their advice, support and friendship. Thank you to all the students and staff, past and present, that I have had contact with, you have made me feel so welcome and appreciated. I look forward to continuing to help with all things PGR!”

Director of Graduate Studies

Dr Zita Stone, Kent Business School 

“I am delighted to receive this award and would like to thank Dr Catherine Robinson for her nomination, Professor Paul Allain and the whole GRC for the support.  This recognition is going to motivate me and drive my commitment and make me improve further in every aspect of my role.”

Research Degree Supervisor

Dr Lex Mauger, School of Sports and Exercise Sciences 

“Winning this award was a complete surprise and I want to say a big thank you to my PGR students who nominated me and wrote such kind things in their supporting statements. I put a lot into trying to make sure that my students get as much out of their PhD as possible and it means a huge amount to know that what I’m doing is valued by those that matter the most.”

Dr Seán Molloy, School of Politics and International Relations 

“I am delighted to win this award. I very much appreciate the nomination and the award is welcome recognition from the university not just for me but for the importance of research and PhD supervision as a core part of academic life.”

Early Career Research Staff

Dr Irina Petrova, GCRF Compass Project 

“Being part of the exiting GCRF COMPASS project alongside its Principal Investigator and the best mentor I could wish for, Prof. Elena Korosteleva, has been a tremendous learning experience for me. Elena has been an endless source of inspiration, support, and kindness, helping me to develop my research and societal impact skills. I, therefore, would like to dedicate this Prize to her.”

Postgraduate Teacher

Marwa Wasfy, School of Politics and International Relations 

“I am very grateful to my module convenor- Dr. Tim Aistrope- for the nomination and for all the advice and guidance he gave to me. I extend my gratitude to Dr. Ed Morgan-Jones. Over the last three years of teaching at the University of Kent, I have had the opportunity of learning alongside my students. I had the freedom to develop my teaching style and redefine my role as a seminar leader not as someone who imparts information and knowledge, but who creates “equal opportunities” for every student to develop his/her cognitive structures.

It has been a tough year for everyone, and I am so delighted to be winning the Graduate school Prize for postgraduate teacher. It means a lot to me.”

The E-Learning Team are pleased to announce that the next event in our series of ‘Digitally Enhanced Education webinars’ will take place on Thursday 8 July, from 11.00-13.30 (BST), with the theme ‘What will HE look like once the pandemic is over?’

Please find the agenda for the event below:

11:00 – 11:05 – Dr Phil Anthony: Introduction.

11:05 – 11:20 – Dr Louise Naylor (University of Kent) : Challenges and opportunities: digital learning and student experience in the Covid era

11:20 – 11:35 – Dr Helen Beetham (University of Wolverhampton): Digital and post-digital thinking: what knowledge matters?

11:35 – 11:50 – Nick Hillman (HEPI): What will HE look like once the pandemic is over

11:50 – 12:05 – Associate professor of practice Maha Bali (The American University in Cairo): Beyond Toxic Positivity – Care and Equity Beyond the Pandemic

12:05 – 12:15 – BREAK

12:15 – 12:30 – Sean Pryor (FutureLearn): FutureLearn’s thoughts on where we see the HE sector once the pandemic is over

12:30 – 12:45 – Jisc’s Jonathan Baldwin imagines a technology-enhanced, post-pandemic HE sector

12:45 – 13:00 – Professor Shigeru Miyagawa (MIT, US): What Will Remain Post-Pandemic?

13:00 – 13:15 – Dr Tony Bates (Research Associate with Contact North): ‘Some post-Covid trends in higher education

13:15 – 13:30 – Sunday Blake (President at University of Exeter Students’ Guild)

If you would like to join the webinar series, please express your interest here if you haven’t done so already. We will add you the Microsoft Team linked to the series. Colleagues from outside the University of Kent are very welcome to join –  so please feel free to circulate.

If you would like to present at a future event, please complete this form and Phil Anthony will be in touch.

We hope to see you on 8 July!

The E-Learning Team