Summer Issue 2015

Welcome to Kent!Master’s Degree Students Induction

24th September 2015

Suzie MorrisGraduate School Administration Manager

Kent Graduate School

The Graduate School

Getting Started…

• Enrol....get IT account… register for modules… pay fees!

• Find out who directs your programme of study

• Find out when and where your lectures and seminars are

• Find out who the Director of Graduate Studies is for your School

• Acquaint yourself with your Schools support processes – tutor/student advisor etc

• Check deadlines and examination dates

The Graduate School

Mission: to lead and champion the strategic development of provision for graduate education and research at the University of Kent.

SenateVice-Chancellor

Graduate School BoardDean of the Graduate School

Faculty BoardsDeans

Faculty Graduate Studies CommitteeAssociate Deans (Graduate Studies)

School Graduate Studies CommitteeSchool Directors of Graduate Studies

Staff/Student Liaison Committees Course Directors and supervisors

Programme Approval Sub-Committee

Structure Diagram for Postgraduate Programmes

Postgraduate Experience at Kent

• 86% Student Satisfaction in Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2015 (sector average 82%)

• BUT…

• If you have concerns, please tell us:

• Module Convenor

• School Director of Graduate Studies

• Complaints Procedure for Students

www.kent.ac.uk/regulations/Regulations%20Booklet/complaints_procedure_students_august2013v5.pdf

Student Involvement

Get involved…make your voice heard..

• Postgraduate Student Representatives – School, Faculty, University

• Staff Student Liaison Committees (SSLCs)

• Postgraduate Student Surveys e.g. PTES

• Kent Graduate Student Association

• The Graduate School www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool

The GradPost

The GradPost Editorial Team

A newsletter created by Postgraduates for the Postgraduate community.

Contact: gradpost@kent.ac.uk

Information on Gradpost opportunities that will look great on your CV and enhance your postgraduate experience at Kent can be found on our website:www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/news/gradpost/html

Postgraduate Experience Awards

• Do you have a great idea for a Postgraduate event at Kent?

• Apply for funding through the postgraduate experience awards and your idea could become a reality.

• Applications for up to £1,500 are invited for the Graduate School postgraduate experience awards 2015-16.

• Applications will be considered for funding to run events or projects with an interdisciplinary and/or external focus which will enhance the postgraduate experience at Kent.

• Examples of projects funded in 2014 “Take the Floor!” - an innovative workshop on improving presentation skills led

by PhD students from the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies. “Home|Less” – an interdisciplinary conference organised by four PhD students

on the meaning and implications of the concept of home Ethnobotanical Garden – A project by PhD students from School of

Anthropology and Conservation to further develop the flower beds up against the wall of the rear of the Marlowe Building

• Deadline for applications is 27th November 2015

• Application forms and more details at www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/

Postgraduate Research Festival

Page 9

• Annual PG Research Festival takes place in May

•Open to all postgraduate students

•Students can present their work to a wider academic audience

•Opportunity to network with academic staff and peers

•Learn how to create and present an academic poster

The Graduate School is running ‘Producing an Effective Research Poster’ workshops (16th February, 2nd March and 21st March 2016). For more information please contact skills@kent.ac.uk

Postgraduate Handbook for Taught Master’s students

• Everything you need to know about being a postgraduate taught Master’s student at Kent

including information on:

• Student Services

• Local community information

• Regulatory information

Master’s Degree Pass Mark (Level 7)

• 50% Pass Mark for all Level 7 Modules

• 40% Pass Mark for Levels 4 to 6 Modules

• Classification:

• 50 to 60 - Pass

• 60 to 70 - Merit

• 70 and above - Distinction

Global Skills Award

• Master’s degree students from all disciplines are invited to apply for a place which can be taken alongside their Master’s degree programme.

• All postgraduates accepted onto the programme will complete an on-line Personal Development assessment.

• The programme will run from November until March.

• Students will attend a lecture series on national and global issues and be able to select from a programme of workshops.

• The Award programme is designed to enhance global awareness and employability in a competitive job market.

• All those who successfully complete the programme will receive a Global Skills Award Programme Certificate.

• The programme is free of charge.

Sample Lecture Topics

Title Speaker

Cancer research and treatment; past, present and future

Professor Michelle Garrett

Are our (genetic) male bits shrinking into oblivion? Professor Darren Griffin

The Wisdom of Psychopaths Dr Kevin Dutton

Not so Silent Nights: The Christmas Truce, 1914 Professor Mark Connelly

The disappearing computer: computing from 1950 to 2050

Professor Simon Thompson

Researching Violent Actors: The Whys and HowsDr Harmonie Toros

• Networking

• Mock assessment centres

• Leadership

• Team building

• Presentation skills

• Managing your career

• Writing a brilliant CV

• Writing a killer cover letter

• Interview skills

• Cross cultural communication

• The changing shape of Religion

Workshop Topics

How do I obtain the award?

• Apply using the online booking system at https://bloom.kent.ac.uk (closing date is 22nd November 2015)

• Attend the Introduction Evening on 2nd November 2015 in Woolf Lecture Theatre

• Complete the initial personal development assessment via the online system before 23rd November 2015

• Attend a minimum of 8 lectures from the lecture series (in addition to the introductory lecture)

• Participate in a minimum of 6 workshops from the workshop programme

• Provide feedback on all 8 lectures and 6 workshops attended (via the online booking system)

• Complete a final personal development assessment via the online system before 20th May 2016

2014-15:

-Over 5,100 students

-130 business and organisations

-567 rewards

E: employabilitypoints@kent.ac.uk

T: @EmPoints

W: www.kent.ac.uk/employabilitypoints

The Employability Points SchemeGet Involved! Get Rewarded!

1. Take part in extra-curricular

activities

2. Claim Employability

Points

3. Get rewarded!

Activities can include: volunteering, attending workshops, joining societies, working part-time, etc.

Rewards range from internships, project placements, work experience, training sessions, assessment centres and vouchers!

Gain both ‘real life’ skills and work experience through the EP Scheme to stand out to prospective employers.

Working During Your Studies

There are various opportunities to undertake paid and unpaid work during your studies. Benefits include:

•Earning extra income

•Networking and making new contacts

•Gaining experience and learning new skills

•Tier 4 Visa Students All Tier 4 postgraduate students may work up to 20 hours per week

until the end of their course. In addition:• Taught Master’s degree students may work full-time over

Christmas and Easter vacations

All Students – things you must do..

• Visit Rochester Castle.. historic dockyard…Bluewater …

• Pop down to Canterbury and see the sights as well as the ‘other’ Campus

• Buy a railcard and go to London – some of the world’s best museums and galleries are on your doorstep and they are free!

• Book well in advance and travel to Brussels and Paris on the Eurostar

Contact DetailsProfessor Diane Houston, Dean of the Graduate School

Cornwallis East 3rd floor, room 323 graddean@kent.ac.uk

Graduate School Staff

• Suzie Morris, Graduate School Administration Manager s.m.morris@kent.ac.uk ext: 3182

• Ros Beeching, Graduate School Coordinator c.r.beeching@kent.ac.uk ext: 7838

• Dr Jo Collins, Postgraduate Development Advisor J.P.Collins@kent.ac.uk ext: 16133

• Carla Doolan, Postgraduate Development Coordinator skills@kent.ac.uk ext: 4896

• Joanna Addison, PA to the Dean and Graduate School Assistant graddean@kent.ac.uk ext: 4785

• Deborah Molloy, Graduate School Assistantgraduateschool@kent.ac.uk ext: 4089