Graduation ceremonies

Open campus

KENTThe Magazine for the University of Kent | August 2012

Welcome

Special thanks to: Lesley Farr, University Design & Print Centre. Photographs by Stephen Blakeley, Richard Bergl, Robert Berry, Mick Norman,Jess Oli, Matt Wilson, Tim Stubbings and Tempest.

Dear colleagues,

As we approach the end of the academic year, it is a good time to reflect on the University’s continued success over the past 12 months.

Demand from UK applicants for undergraduate places at Kent remains high. Total overseas applications are also up8%, emphasising the University’s international reputation, strengthened by our European campuses and links withoverseas institutions through, for example, the Hong Kong and China Portal. Postgraduate applications are alsosignificantly up on previous years. Despite the difficult economic conditions, the University remains well placed toachieve its recruitment targets.

This year, the University has done extremely well in the league tables – 22nd in the latest Guardian University Guide and34th in the Times Good University Guide 2013, meaning that we are also in the top 30 table of tables. In the run-up tothe next REF, I am also pleased to see that our research activities are going from strength to strength and that Kent ishome to so many world-class academics – including Professor Peter Taylor-Gooby, who has just been awarded an OBEfor Services to Social Science (see p5). New recruitment opportunities for academic staff across our faculties are alsounderway and I am delighted with the quality of staff who wish to join us at Kent. For existing staff, we have had anotherexcellent year for academic promotions and I would like to congratulate all staff who have been rewarded.

To ensure the University continues to thrive, we have spent much of the last year investing in the ‘student experience’ atKent. We want to ensure that all our students achieve not only the best academic results but also look to their futurecareers. Our innovative Employability Points Scheme (see right) has just celebrated a highly successful first year,involving over 2,000 students and over 100 companies in work-related activities.

Investment in facilities for students, staff and the local community also continues apace. Our Colyer-Fergusson MusicBuilding is almost complete and, at Medway campus, we have invested £5 million in the School of Arts. Students andstaff will benefit too from our new partnership with the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London (p4).

Finally, I am pleased that our recent degree ceremonies went so well, and the Chancellor and I were delighted towelcome our latest esteemed honorary graduates to the University (p6). I would like to thank all staff who have workedhard during this ‘interesting’ year for universities. I look forward to working with you again during the next academic year.

Professor Dame Julia M Goodfellow DBE, CBEVice-Chancellor

3 News 6 Feature: Honorary graduates 8 Research 10 Feature: Opencampus 11 Human Resources 12 Enterprise 13 Green Impact 14 Kent in the news/Mediation 15 Sport 16 What’s on

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First year success for EmployabilityPoints Scheme

More than 300 guests helped celebratethe success of the University’sEmployability Points Scheme (EPS) at a special ceremony on 7 June.

The ceremony, in the Gulbenkian Theatre, wasattended by students, staff and special guestsincluding: Chancellor Professor Sir RobertWorcester; Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame JuliaM Goodfellow; Cllr Robert Waters, Lord Mayor of Canterbury, accompanied by Lady MayoressSally Pickersgill; and Stephen Kingsman, DeputyLord Lieutenant of Kent.

Also attending were representatives of some ofthe 86 companies and organisations sponsoringthe Scheme, including Tesco, The ChaucerGroup, Canterbury Cathedral Trust, KM Group,Kent County Council, Coca-Cola Enterprises andReeves.

Developed by the University’s Kent Innovation & Enterprise with input from its Unit for theEnhancement of Learning and Teaching (UELT),Careers and Employability Service, and KentUnion, EPS supports the personal and work-skills development of students by encouragingthem to collect reward points for activeengagement in non-compulsory activities, frommentoring and volunteering to work placementsand completion of a world language module.Students with the highest points receive prizes

such as training programmes, paid internshipsand vouchers, sponsored by organisations orcompanies.

The Scheme was launched as a pilot inSeptember 2010 and became so successfulthat, between July 2011 and June 2012, almost2,000 under- and postgraduate students wereinspired to get involved.

Stephanie Barwick, Business EngagementManager at the Kent Enterprise Hub and EPS co-founder, said: ‘We always knew that EPS wouldbe welcome as it provides students with both lifeand workplace skills. However, we could hardlyhave anticipated the extent to which it hasbecome so successful, as demonstrated by theenthusiasm of the participating students andsponsors at this year’s ceremony.’

KENTWe have set up a readers’ panel for staff. Pleaseget in touch if you would like to become a member.We are keen to have your feedback and letters arewelcome from all our readers. Simply email theeditorial team at kentmagazine@kent.ac.uk

Kent is also available online atwww.kent.ac.uk/campusonline/kentmagazine

Editorial team: Posie Bogan, Director of CorporateCommunications; Wendy Raeside, Press &Corporate Publications Officer (CorporateCommunications); Karen Baxter, Press Assistant,(Corporate Communications), University of Kent.

Next issue: the deadline for the next issue is12 September, with a publication date of 5 October2012.

Graduation ceremonies

Open campus

KENTThe Magazine for the University of Kent | August 2012

Cover storyThe University’s degree ceremonies took place atCanterbury and Rochester Cathedrals in July (see p6).

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1 Creative Campus Award winner Victoria Tedder withDr Louise Naylor, Director of UELT

2 Chancellor’s Prize winner Chris Broad with ChancellorProfessor Sir Robert Worcester

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News

Kent confirmed as a top UKuniversityThe University of Kent has been ranked 34th outof 117 UK higher education institutions in theTimes Good University Guide 2013.

This represents an improvement on last year’sposition and follows the University’s placing at 22 in the Guardian University Guide 2013.Combined, both guides confirm Kent’s reputationas a top university, both nationally and in thesouth east.

The Times Good University Guide highlightsKent’s significant improvement in graduateprospects, an endorsement of its strengths and successes in student employability. Thepublication also ranks 71% of Kent’s subjectsamong the top 30 nationally, with four among thetop 10, and 11 other subject areas among thetop 20.

Kent has also been ranked 80th in the inauguralTimes Higher Education (THE) 100 Under 50league table of the world’s best younguniversities. Kent is one of 20 UK universities to make the ranking.

Students to benefit from Kent-ICA partnershipA new affiliate partnership between theUniversity and the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London will provide extensiveeducational benefits and opportunities for Kentstudents and staff.

Held jointly between the ICA and Kent’s Schoolof Arts and School of English, it is expected thatit will lead to a range of opportunities such as ajoint MA, internships, professional practiceprojects for PhD students, a student-curated film‘festival’, and ICA practice-based talks andgallery visits.

A major component of the partnership will be, for the School of English, free membership of the ICA for one year for all incoming under- and postgraduates, while 500 students at the School of Arts will receive the same benefit. Themembership will enable Kent students to interactwith students from other institutions, attend andnetwork through private views for members, anduse the members-only studio facilities.

The University offered its support to theCampaign by hosting a CfSS roadshow at itsCanterbury campus and through a financialdonation by its Faculty of Social Sciences tosupport CfSS-funded research and publicengagement during the next five years.

Music prize-winners recognised Five outstanding students have been awardedprizes, in recognition of their significantcontributions to the year’s musical calendar at Kent.

This year’s Canterbury Festival Music Prize,awarded by Director of the Canterbury Festival,Rosie Turner, to a final-year student who hasmade an outstanding contribution to music at the University, was given to Chris Gray(Architecture). President of the Music Societythis year, Chris has also played tuba with theUniversity Orchestra, Concert Band and BrassEnsemble, and has previously sung with theChamber Choir and Chorus.

The Colyer-Fergusson Music Prize, presented bychairman of the Colyer-Fergusson CharitableTrust, Jonathan Monckton, is given to a studentwho has made a major contribution to organisingmusic at the University. This year’s recipient wasMaster’s student Adam Abo Henriksen, inparticular for his role as musical director of theMusical Theatre Society’s production of Into theWoods which had a highly successful run at theWhitstable Playhouse.

The University Music Prize, for a student who hasmade a major contribution to music during theyear, was presented by Deputy Vice-ChancellorProfessor Keith Mander, to second-yearEconomics student, Marina Ivanova. Marina is amember of the Chorus, Chamber Choir and

The partnership was launched at the ICA on 21June by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Julia MGoodfellow, and Chair of the ICA Council AlisonMyners.

Kent Law Clinic celebrates its 40th anniversaryThe multi-award winning Kent Law Cliniccelebrated its 40th anniversary on 9 June with a garden party for more than 400 guests.

Among those attending the celebration at theCanterbury campus were Vice-ChancellorProfessor Dame Julia M Goodfellow; past andpresent students and Law Clinic solicitors;volunteer solicitors and barristers from localpractice; members of the judiciary; andcolleagues from Kent Law School and theUniversity.

The celebration also looked to the future,highlighting the current Kent Law Campaign,which is fundraising to build facilities for the Kent Law Clinic and its Mooting Programme. The campaign (www.kent.ac.uk/giving/lawcampaign) has already raised over £1 million in donations and pledges from individuals, trusts and foundations, and companies.

Kent supports nationalCampaign for Social ScienceKent has welcomed and lent its support to theCampaign for Social Science (CfSS), a nationalinitiative promoted by the Academy of SocialSciences (AcSS) in association with otherleading universities, learned societies,organisations and social science publishers.

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News

Cecilian Choir, and this year performed in theScholars’ Recital as part of the CanterburyFestival, as well as in the Scholars LunchtimeConcert as part of Summer Music.

The Awards Committee made two additionalawards. The first was to second-year trumpeter,Ben Lodge, in recognition of his musicaldevelopment at Kent. Ben has been principaltrumpet with the Orchestra, and played with theConcert Band and Big Band and the BrassEnsemble, and performed a memorable openingto Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition in theDecember orchestral concert.

The second award, to a student who has made asignificant impact on music-making in their firstyear, was awarded to saxophonist Tim Pickering(Forensic Chemistry). Tim has quickly become akey member of the Big Band and Concert Band,and also participated in Jazz @ 5, as well as withthe ‘Big Brand New’ as part of the Sounds NewFestival.

Kent Ambassadors visitThe University’s economic and cultural impact on the county was underlined at an informalgathering of the Kent Ambassadors on 14 June.

The Ambassadors – who come together topromote the county – were welcomed byChancellor Professor Sir Robert Worcester, Chairof the University’s Council John Simmonds andVice-Chancellor Professor Dame Julia MGoodfellow. Ambassadors were updated onactivity at the University and heard how itcontributes around £0.6 billion every year to thesouth east, as well as making an importantcultural contribution.

New student volunteeringrecord Kent students have dedicated over 80,000 hoursto helping others in 2011/12 – almost doubletheir previous year’s total.

The students’ record contribution to the localcommunity was celebrated at the annual KentStudent Certificate for Volunteering (KSCV)awards ceremony, organised by Kent Union in May.

Over 250 students attended the ceremony tocollect their KSCV Bronze, Silver, Gold orPlatinum awards for volunteering on campus,across East Kent, the rest of the UK andinternationally.

Tom Ritchie, President of Kent Union, said:‘Volunteering has a transforming effect – it helpsyou grow as a person, develop skills and havefun… Last year, Kent students devoted 46,000hours to volunteering and this year it’s over80,000. Next year, we would love to reach over100,000!’

University wins bestaccommodation award againThe University has once again been voted GroupTravel Organisermagazine’s Best UniversityAccommodation for Groups – making it the fifthyear in a row it has won the award.

The award was presented to the University’sconference and housekeeping teams by travelwriter and broadcaster Simon Calder at aceremony in London on 15 June attended byover 500 people.

OBE for Professor Peter Taylor-GoobyPeter Taylor-Gooby, Professor of Social Policy at the School of Social Policy, Sociology andSocial Research, has been awarded an OBE for Services to Social Science.

Professor Taylor-Gooby is internationally notedfor his work on new social risks, an area of studyhe helped create and develop. His researchinterests include current developments in thewelfare state, particularly the ‘cuts’ and welfarestate restructuring, the social divisionsassociation with inequality and the struggles over multiculturalism.

Way forward for healthresearch collaboration Health research collaboration was top of theagenda as the University hosted a majorconference featuring academics and cliniciansat its Medway campus on 28 June.

Organised by the University’s KentHealth agencyand co-sponsored by Canterbury Christ ChurchUniversity and the NIHR Comprehensive LocalResearch Network, the event featured a keynoteaddress from Dr Janet Wisely, Chief Executive of the Health Research Authority and Director of the National Research Ethics Service.

Other external speakers at the event, whichattracted more than 200 delegates, were DrSheila Harvey of INARC, the Intensive CareNational Audit and Research Centre, and KarinaGriffiths, Study Start-up Manager at ICON.

KentHealth was launched at the University in2011 to help co-ordinate all health-relatedactivities. It also organises regular events aimedat increasing collaboration between variousagencies working in health and social care.Further information and an Annual Review,highlighting KentHealth’s first year activities, is available at www.kent.ac.uk/health/

Appointment of a newChancellorStudents, staff, alumni and members of theUniversity’s Senate, Council and Court areinvited to suggest names of suitable people whomight be appointed as Chancellor of theUniversity of Kent.

The University’s current Chancellor, Professor SirRobert Worcester, will be completing his term of office on 31 July 2013. Suggestions for theappointment of a successor should be sent to Dr Keith Lampard, Deputy Head of the CentralSecretariat, by Friday 7 September 2012(K.J.Lampard@kent.ac.uk).

More information about the role of theChancellor, the format of suggestions and the appointment can be found on the CentralSecretariat webpages – www.kent.ac.uk/censec/governance/chancellor.html

1 Kent-ICA partnership will benefit students and staff2 Music award winners (from left) Chris Gray, MarinaIvanova, Adam Abo Henriksen, Ben Lodge and Tim Pickering

3 Students set new volunteering record

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At congregations ceremoniesin Canterbury and RochesterCathedrals in July, theUniversity was delighted toconfer honorary degrees onthe following people.Professor Christopher Ham CBE is a Kentgraduate who took up the post of ChiefExecutive of The King’s Fund in April 2010. Hehas been Professor of Health Policy andManagement at the University of Birminghamsince 1992. From 2000 to 2004, he wasseconded to the Department of Health, wherehe was director of the strategy unit, working withministers on NHS reform. He is the author of 20

books and numerous articles about health policyand management. He was awarded a CBE in2004 for his services to the NHS.

Jools Holland OBE, composer, pianist,bandleader and broadcaster, lives nearRochester in Kent. He began his career playingat pubs in the East End docks as a teenager andwas then a member of the successful bandSqueeze before leading his Rhythm & BluesOrchestra. His passion for music made him adoyen of the UK music scene and he wasawarded an OBE in 2003 for his services to theBritish music industry. His extensive charity workhas included fundraising for HIV charities andconcerts to raise money for the maintenance ofRochester Cathedral. In 2005, he was appointeda Deputy Lieutenant of Kent.

Honorary graduates

Valerie Marshall Sir Paul Nurse Rebecca Lenkiewicz

Rebecca Lenkiewicz is a playwright, actor andpoet who graduated from Kent in 1989 with a BAin Literature and Film. Her play Her Naked Skinwas performed at the National Theatre in 2008and was the first play by a female playwright tobe performed in the Olivier Theatre. Other playsinclude The Night Season, Soho, The Painter,Shoreditch Madonna, That Almost UnnameableLust, The Typist, Blue Moon Over Poplar,Wisconsin and Stars Over Kabul. Other workincludes plays for radio and television andseveral film scripts. She is also developing afeature film with Pawel Pawlikowski and is writingfor Channel 4.

John Lloyd CBE is a renowned comedy writerand TV producer who was born in Dover andeducated at King’s School Canterbury. While

Dumbledore surprises graduating studentsBioscience graduates were surprised to see Professor Dumbledore of Harry Potter fame appear attheir Canterbury Cathedral degree ceremony.

In fact, Dumbledore was none other than Dr Peter Klappa, Senior Lecturer in the School ofBiosciences and Master of Rutherford College, who had donned the garb of the famous characterfrom the Harry Potter novels to help raise money for a cancer charity.

He explained: ‘I wore the fake beard and hair and posed with willing ‘Hogkent’ students to raisemoney for the Emily Ash Trust, a cancer in children charity. One of our final year Bioscience andRutherford College students, Emilie Saintas, came up with the idea, set up the donation page andchose the charity for this and I was more than happy to become Dumbledore for a few hours.’

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so at: http://www.justgiving.com/Emily-Saintas1

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Wayne Otto and Jools Holland

reading Law at Trinity College, Cambridge, heappeared in the 1973 Footlights Revue and wassubsequently recruited by the BBC as a staffwriter and trainee producer. His speciality sincehas been starting enduring new broadcastformats. Two of the radio shows which hecreated in the mid-1970s, Quote...Unquote, andThe News Quiz (the model for Have I Got NewsFor You), are still running today. He also co-wrotethe first series of both The Hitchhiker’s Guide toThe Galaxy and To The Manor Born. Ontelevision, he was one of the creators of SpittingImage, Not the Nine O’ Clock News andBlackadder. In 2011, he was awarded a CBE.

Valerie Marshall is a corporate investmentdirector and was a member of Council at Kentfrom 2003 to 2011, the last six years of whichsaw her serving as Chair. During this period, shebecame deputy chair of the Committee ofUniversity Chairs, one of the national bodiesrepresenting universities’ interests to thegovernment and other agencies. She is ChiefExecutive Officer of corporate finance boutiqueStratagem Corporate Finance and Strategy Ltd.Valerie Marshall is also a Fellow of the CharteredInstitute for Securities and Investment.

The Rt Rev Adrian Newman, formerly the Deanof Rochester, became the Bishop of Stepney inJuly of last year. The appointment marked hisreturn to East London, where he began hiscareer as a curate in the London Borough ofNewham. Urban churches have been at theheart of his work in the Church and he has alsoworked in parishes in Sheffield and Birmingham.He took a sabbatical in 2010 to research the roleof the Church in addressing urban poverty. AsDean of Rochester Cathedral from 2005, his roleinvolved leading the cathedral in its mission andministry, representing the cathedral in itsengagement with the wider community, andworking as a member of the Bishop ofRochester’s senior staff.

Sir Paul Nurse is the current President of theRoyal Society, London, and was awarded theNobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2001for his genetics research with two others onprotein molecules and their impact on cells. He took up the post of President of the RoyalSociety for a five-year term on 1 December 2010.He was Professor of Microbiology at theUniversity of Oxford, CEO of the Imperial CancerResearch Fund and Cancer Research UK andPresident of Rockefeller University, New York. He is currently Director and Chief Executive ofthe Francis Crick Institute.

Wayne Otto OBE is Britain’s most successfulkarate athlete. He graduated from Kent in 1992with a BSc in Communications Engineering. Bornin London, he attended schools in Hackney andbegan training in karate at the age of 14. Fouryears later, he was representing England at theJunior European Karate Championships. In 1997,he became Britain’s most successful karateexponent, gaining his ninth World Championshiptitle at the World Cup Championships in Manila.In 2001, he was awarded an OBE for services tothe sport of karate.

Brian Philp is an archaeologist who wasresponsible for the discovery of the RomanPainted House at Dover and a number of otherimportant finds in Kent. The author ofArchaeology in the Front Line: 50 Years of KentRescue 1952-2002, he has completed over 700archaeological projects in Kent and South EastLondon and also published nearly 140 articleson his work in Kent. He is a Fellow of the Societyof Antiquaries, London and has previouslylectured at Kent.

Dr Garry Rogerson was born in Bromley, Kentand graduated from Kent in 1974 with a BSc inBiochemistry and then went on to gain a PhDfour years later. He joined Advanced Energy inAugust 2011 as chief executive officer andboard member. He was chairman and chiefexecutive officer, from 2009 and 2004,respectively, of Varian Inc, a major supplier ofscientific instruments and consumablelaboratory supplies, vacuum products andservices, until the purchase of Varian by AgilentTechnologies Inc, in May 2010. Dr Rogerson alsoserved as Varian’s chief operating officer from2002 to 2004; as senior vice president, scientificinstruments, from 2001 to 2002; and as vicepresident, analytical instruments, from 1999 to2001.

Phil Shiner is the principal lawyer at PublicInterest Lawyers. He has an internationalreputation for his work on issues concerninginternational, environmental and human rights

law. He has acted in some of the mostconstitutionally significant human rights testcases of recent years. He was Liberty/JusticeHuman Rights Lawyer of the Year 2004 for hiswork on Iraq and was the Law Society’s Solicitorof the Year 2007. He is a Vice-President of theHaldane Society and co-editor of The Iraq Warand International Law.

Dr Jean Venables CBE was born in Dover andeducated at Dover Girls Grammar School. She isChief Executive of the Association of DrainageAuthorities (ADA), as well as Chairman of CraneEnvironmental and Past President of theInstitution of Civil Engineers. As Chief Executiveof ADA, she represents organisations involvedwith water level management and flood riskmanagement, including Internal DrainageBoards, Flood and Coastal Committees,Environment Agency, local authorities andassociate members. She was awarded the MBEfor services to civil engineering, the OBE forservices to flood defence and the CBE forservices to the civil engineering profession andthe Institution of Civil Engineers’ Garth WatsonMedal.

Special ceremony for MargaretA special ceremony was held as part ofthe degree congregations in CanterburyCathedral to mark the retirement ofAssistant Registrar Margaret Anderson.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor KeithMander presented Margaret with gifts onbehalf of her many friends andcolleagues. He said: ‘Margaret has beenpart of the University since 1974, anddegree ceremonies will not be quite thesame without her. Her colleagues andfriends, on behalf of many generations ofstudents she has nurtured through theirdegree ceremony, would like to thank herfor her wonderful contribution and wish hera very happy retirement.’

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Research

An ongoing project has beenlaunched online designed toanalyse the global system ofrendition, secret detention andtorture initiated by the George W.Bush administration as part of its‘War on Terror’.

The project is led Dr Ruth Blakeley from Kent andDr Sam Raphael from Kingston University.Working closely with Reprieve, a UK-based legalaction charity which has led the way ininvestigating secret prisons and representingvictims of rendition and torture, they aim tocollate and analyse the huge amount of open-source data on the global rendition system.

To date, the Rendition Project has collated dataon: hundreds of victims of rendition, secretdetention and torture since 2001; more than6,500 flights by 140 aircraft connected to the CIArenditions programme; and the involvement of 45countries around the world in rendition, secretdetention and torture as part of the US-led ‘Waron Terror’.

Funded by the UK’s Economic and SocialResearch Council, the Project has establishedthe new website as part of its wider research.Work on the site will continue throughout 2012,and will eventually feature: detailed profiles and

RenditionProjectlaunchedonline

analysis of detention facilities used by the USAand its partners; detainee profiles, tracking theirdetention, movement and treatment within thesystem; access to hundreds of key primarydocuments; key data from the world’s largestdatabase of flights by CIA aircraft connected torendition, compiled by the Rendition Project fromall public source information about the renditionprogramme; and profiles of the aircraft used tomove detainees from site to site and thecompanies that were involved in operating theseaircraft.

Much of this information was obtained throughFreedom of Information legislation, and thiswebsite is designed to become a clearing-housefor the information released through these efforts.

For further information, seewww.therenditionproject.org.uk

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Research

New study to spotlight‘mumpreneurs’ Women who combine motherhood withlaunching their own business often have toovercome many barriers to succeed. Now, a newresearch project at the University will explore thephenomenon of the so-called ‘mumpreneurs’.

Dr Patricia Lewis, of Kent Business School, willlead the research to explore the emergence ofthis new type of entrepreneur. Examples of thistype of businesswoman include Chrissie Rucker,founder of The White Company, and JustineRoberts and Carrie Longton, founders ofMumsnet.com.

Dr Lewis said: ‘This fascinating form ofentrepreneurship sees women choosing to stayat home and care for children while launching asuccessful business, often with a nurturing orchild-centred theme. One of the project’s keyquestions will be whether combining businesswith being a stay-at-home mum can makewomen’s entrepreneurial activity seem lesslegitimate.’

The one-year project, titled Mumpreneurs:Reframing Women’s Entrepreneurial Activity?, will investigate how distinct ideas about being a mum and entrepreneur influence women’sbusiness and mothering activities. The BritishAcademy research grant-funded project willbegin in September.

New mammal species forconservation fundraisingImages of tigers and elephants are among themost common threatened mammals used byconservation organisations as ‘flagships’ topromote fundraising – but new research led bythe University suggests that other threatened‘Cinderella species’ could prove equallyeffective.

The study, by a team led by Dr Bob Smith of theDurrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology(DICE), is the first to research what species areused by international conservation NGOs in theironline fundraising campaigns. Dr Smith’s teamincluded researchers from the Institute ofZoology and the Centre for Ecology andHydrology.

At the moment, only 80 flagship species areused by these NGOs, and more than 60% oftheir campaigns only raised funds for thatspecies itself, the study found. These flagshipspecies tend to have a high body mass andforward-facing eyes – because people find largeanimals with a human-like face more appealing.

But, by using a similarity score approach, theresearchers identified that there are otherspecies, which, like Cinderella in the children’sstory, share this aesthetic appeal but arecurrently overlooked.

New solution to problems inmulticultural policy In a ground-breaking paper published by thejournal Science, psychologists from theUniversity claim a solution to the problems facedby multicultural policy can be found in the studyof human evolution.

Research has shown that while multiculturalismis a highly enriching characteristic of modernsociety, policy has generally failed to engagewidespread public support for this idea. One ofthe reasons for this is that people have apsychological tendency to prefer environmentslow in social complexity.

However, in their Science paper, ProfessorRichard Crisp and Rose Meleady propose thatour human ancestors evolved a specialisedcognitive system that enabled them to adapt tocomplex and diverse tribal environments. Theyargue that this system is only triggered undercertain conditions, which have hitherto beenabsent from contemporary multicultural policy.

Their paper offers a unique multidisciplinaryperspective on this issue, drawing togetherresearch on evolutionary psychology, cognitivescience, sociology and social policy.

Science is the journal of the AmericanAssociation for the Advancement of Science.

Research awards listSome recent research awards

Dr Melissa Demian (School of Anthropologyand Conservation), £147,940 from theEconomic and Social Research Council for‘Legal innovation in Papua New Guinea’.

Dr Mattias Frey (School of Arts), £62,132from the Arts and Humanities ResearchCouncil for ‘Extreme cinema: arthouse ethics,exoticism and the desire for the real’.

Dr William Pettigrew (School of History),£61,394 from the Arts and HumanitiesResearch Council for ‘Cultural hybridisation:English overseas trading companies in the17th century and the development of aglobalised dialogue about governance’.

Professor Miri Song (School of Social Policy,Sociology and Social Research), £113,479from the Leverhulme Trust for ‘Mixed raceparents’ racial classification of their children’.

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Feature

Summer open day successThe University summer open days took place at the Canterbury andMedway campuses in June and July. Around 5,000 prospective studentsattended the events, which are co-ordinated by the Recruitment andMarketing Unit in Enrolment Management Services (EMS).

Open days are key recruitment events, especially in the current climate ofincreased fees and concerns about the financial investment involved.Universities across the UK are reporting a huge rise in the number ofprospective students and their families attending open days and this isespecially true at Kent; visitor numbers increased in 2011 by 25%.

The importance of open days to the University’s recruitment strategy isclear: 48% of students who attended an open day in 2011 went on to makean application to Kent, and applications made by visitors who attended anopen day have increased by almost 30% year on year.

Prospective students at all levels of study are able to find out more aboutthe courses available at the University and get a real flavour of life at Kentthrough a comprehensive programme of subject talks, demonstrations, andworkshops, plus tours of the campuses and student accommodation. EMSstaff also give detailed presentations on the UCAS admissions process,student finance and student support services. In total, the University holdsnine open days during the year, including Clearing open days andpostgraduate events.

EMS would like to take this opportunity to thank all University staff andstudents involved in the open days for their continued support in makingthese events so successful.

Working with schools and collegesThroughout June, the Partnership Development Office ran numerous eventsinvolving schools and colleges from across Kent and Medway. The eventssupported by Ambassadors – undergraduate students - included:

Robot Challenge – over 100 primary and secondary school studentsattended workshops at Medway, organised with the School of Computing,which included programming robots and presentations on food transport.

World Languages Days – around 500 Year 8 students took part in two daysof workshops introducing new languages - from Arabic to Russian - orusing ones they are already learning in fun activities.

FE Residential – 80 students from our Partner FE Colleges attended thistwo-day residential on Canterbury campus, designed to support students’progression to HE and experience life as a university student.

Science Extravaganza – two Science Extravaganza days attracted nearly400 students. Organised with the University’s science schools, the daysfeatured workshops and presentations on different areas of science.

Humanities Day – around 100 sixth-form students attended a day,presented by Faculty of Humanities staff, to showcase humanities subjects.

Equilibrium – around 100 school and college students took part in a dayfocusing on social sciences subjects.

In June, the Recruitment and Marketing Unit ran two schools conferenceson HE study, attended by around 450 students from eight Kent schools andcolleges. The Unit also hosted visits to Canterbury campus by the LycéeErmesinde, Luxembourg and the British School of Paris.

Open campus

11KENT Magazine

Human Resources

Coming to a screen nearyou…HR, Finance and Information Services are working together to procure andimplement a next generation HR/Payroll system. A key part of the newsystem will be Employee and Manager Self-Service, allowing you as a staffmember to access your details and much more.

As part of the preparation to bring in the new system, we will be launchinga data cleansing exercise later this year to make sure the basic informationwe hold about you is correct.

We will be giving you the opportunity to log in to a secure web page, checkthe current details we hold and let us know of any adjustments needed. Wewill ensure that a full explanation is included regarding information use andprotection of confidentiality.

We’ll be asking you about the following information:• Your contact details• Your equality and diversity details• Your next of kin details.

The new system will ultimately make it much easier for you to provide liveupdates to your own information, which is critical for correspondence,statistical purposes and in cases of emergency. This initial data cleanse willbe one of the first steps – as the project proceeds, we will ensure thatfurther updates are provided. If you have any questions in the meantime,please contact project manager, Chris Wootton at c.wootton@kent.ac.uk

The University is preparing for the Research ExcellenceFramework (REF) exercise in 2014.

One important feature of the REF is the higher profile given to equality anddiversity (E&D) considerations and research funders are increasinglylooking at institutions’ approach to E&D; paying lip service to E&Dprinciples is no longer enough. A university is a place in which, by its verynature, diversity should thrive and Kent is committed to working to embedE&D principles within its organisational activities to the benefit of all.

Learning and Development and Research Services have been working incollaboration to deliver half-day workshops to ensure everyone involved indecision-making for the REF at the University appreciates the importanceand value of diversity, as well as understanding the working of the formalselection process for the REF.

So far, two briefings have been held and were well-attended by staff. Afurther session will take place on Wednesday, 22 August (pm). If you areinvolved in REF decision-making but have not yet been able to attend,please contact Sue Prout, Research Services, S.C.Prout@kent.ac.uk, ext7054, to confirm your place.

Increasing awareness of equalityand diversity

Thumbs up for new- style staff inductionWe have completed our first year of the new-style Staff Inductionand Information Fair, with three events at Canterbury in October,January and June and one at Medway in March. Attendance levelshave been very positive with over 200 new staff participating.

The event comprises a welcome and presentation from Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Keith Mander, followed by short sessions tohighlight the important areas of Safety, Health and the Environmentand Equality and Diversity. New members of staff are then invited tothe Information Fair, where they can find out more about what itmeans to work at Kent by browsing a wide range of stallsshowcasing University services, while networking and enjoying abuffet lunch.

Feedback from both attendees and stall-holders has been verypositive over the year, so thank you to all of the 20-plus departmentswhich have contributed to making the Information Fair such asuccess. We will be opening up the Fair to all staff, new and longer-serving, in the next academic year. Please check our website fordates at www.kent.ac.uk/hr-learninganddevelopment

12 KENT Magazine

Enterprise

Funding support Beth Flowers has recently joined Kent Innovation & Enterprise,replacing Brian Lingley following his move to Research Services. In hernew role, Beth will support funding applications, focusing on:• identification of Innovation & Enterprise funders and funding streams;• Technology Strategy Board intelligence;• costing of applications;• support for writing the business aspects of applications;• submission of applications.

For further information, or to register your interest in fundingopportunities, please contact Beth on ext 7572 or emailentfunding@kent.ac.uk.

SME innovation and growth The University re-launched its successful Innovation Voucher scheme,providing support for project collaboration involving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), on 19 June. The ‘Business Growth throughInnovation’ event, delivered in partnership with the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, included presentations delivered by Kent County Counciland the Technology Strategy Board, as well as case studies of successfulUniversity-SME collaboration.

Over 90 delegates attended the event including a range of academics from across the University. During the plenary session, delegates providedvaluable feedback on potential partnership working and proposals relatedto specific interest areas. Delegates also learnt about key funding routes tosupport collaboration with the University.

If you missed the event and would like to know more, please contact Kent Innovation & Enterprise by email enterprise@kent.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0)1227 827376.

Enterprise and Impact Trainingautumn 2012 Due to high demand, the University’s Enterprise and Impact Training will be running again this autumn term. The course will be useful for anyacademics and staff who wish to equip themselves with the knowledge and tools to successfully engage in added-value enterprise activities.

The programme will run over two half days on 23 October and 16November 2012 and will be held at the Innovation Centre at the Canterbury Campus.

If you would like to book one of the limited places, please contact Learning & Development by email ldev@kent.ac.uk or phone ext 4348. If you would like specific advice on the suitability of this course, contact Christina Schönleber at Kent Innovation & Enterprise by emailc.m.schoenleber@kent.ac.uk or by phone, ext 4804.

The Graduate EntrepreneurProgramme A new programme to help Kent international graduates set up their ownsuccessful businesses in the UK is being launched by Kent Innovation &Enterprise’s Enterprise Hub working with the School of Psychology’s Dr Tendayi Viki.

The programme is based on the ‘Lean Start-up’ concept and supportsparticipants in the development of a successful business model within acomprehensive year-long programme combining theory and practicalapplication. Graduates will receive support from a dedicated team ofmentors and advisors, as well as fully furnished office space in theEnterprise Hub, during the course.

At the end of the programme, participants will pitch their validated businessideas to a panel of private investors for the opportunity to obtain the fundingthey need to progress their business.

The programme has been established in response to a UK Border Agency initiative that supports international graduates in acquiring aTier 1 visa to enable them to start a business in the UK. The programmestarts on 1 October 2012 and is limited to 10 places. Deadline for entries is 1 September 2012 and successful candidates will be informed by 24 September 2012.

For further information and application criteria/details, please visitwww.kent.ac.uk/enterprise/students/enterprise-education.html or emailS.R.Barwick@kent.ac.uk.

Marcus Taylor, CEO of Feuerlabs, who spoke at the SME event

13KENT Magazine

Green Impact

Building on successes in recent years, Kent is implementing a new EnvironmentalManagement System and seeking certification to the International ISO14001 standard.

The Environmental Sustainability team has beenworking hard behind the scenes to develop thesystem which allows the University to betteridentify and control the environmental impacts ofour activities; ensure compliance with legislativeand other requirements; and to set and achieveenvironmental objectives and targets in all areas,from sustainable construction to the promotion ofbiodiversity on campus.

‘I am confident that the University’s plansto become accredited to EN ISO 14001, theEuropean standard for EnvironmentalSustainability, will demonstrate ourcommitment to getting the balance rightbetween the needs of the business and the needs of the environment.’Bernard Angus, Director of Safety, Health andEnvironment

Key achievements over the past year haveincluded:• recertification with the Carbon Trust Standard• increase in recycling from 47% to 54% • 10% reduction in Carbon Emissions • 10% reduction in water consumption per head• increased participation in the Green Impactscheme from 16 to 25 teams.

Underpinning the entire system is the newEnvironment Policy, which sets out theUniversity’s main objectives and commitments.These are addressed through a series ofmanagement plans – developed by the EstatesDepartment – covering all of the University’ssignificant environmental aspects: energy, water,waste, transport, biodiversity and construction.The new Environment Policy – which was signedby the University’s Council in March this year –can be found on the Safety, Health andEnvironment Unit webpages (see right).

‘Over the last few years that I have been here, I have noticed that staff andstudents are increasingly interested in many aspects of the University’senvironmental performance and arelooking to find ways to reduce their ownimpacts. Our Environmental ManagementSystem will guide us to develop furtherprojects and programmes to engage staffand students.’Catherine Morris, Environmental Co-ordinator

Managing our environmentalimpacts

Look out for…All staff at the University – no matter what theirrole – have a part to play in ensuring the successof the Environmental Management System. Tohelp staff understand their responsibilities to theenvironment, a new e-learning training coursehas been produced and a new EnvironmentalSustainability section has been developed withinthe Safety, Health and Environment and EstatesDepartments’ website. Users will be able to findinformation about any aspect of environmentalsustainability at the University, from progresstowards our environmental targets to details ofupcoming events and projects.

For further information visitwww.kent.ac.uk/estates/sustainability or contact c.morris@kent.ac.uk

Joel Pett (www.kentucky.com/joel-pett)

14 KENT Magazine

MediationKent in the news

Kent experts continue to feature strongly in international, national andregional news coverage.

International and national broadcast coverage of University research andexpert comment included Dr Roger Giner-Sorolla, of the School ofPsychology, who appeared on the BBC World Service to talk onindividualism and conformity. Professor Frank Furedi, of the School ofSocial Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR), featured on BBCRadio Four’s Today Programme discussing the changing age of parenting,while Professor Richard Griffiths, of the School of Anthropology andConservation, talked about the great crested newt on BBC’s The One Show.

Regional broadcast coverage included Professor Alex Stevens, of SSPSSR,who appeared on BBC Radio Kent talking about drug policy. LBC featuredProfessor Frank Furedi, discussing Andy Murray’s show of emotion onlosing the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final. Professor Roger Vickerman, ofthe School of Economics, was featured on BBC Radio Kent, commenting onthe failure of HS1 to deliver economic benefit for the county.

Other regional coverage included Professor Peter Taylor-Gooby, of SSPSSR,on LBC discussing his research into the riots. Professor Tim Luckhurst, ofthe Centre for Journalism, was featured on BBC Radio Kent talking aboutHouse of Lords reform. The University was also mentioned in an ITVMeridian News story on the fall in student application figures in the regionand on BBC South East News in coverage of John Lloyd and Jools Hollandreceiving honorary degrees from the University. Dr Alixe Bovey, of theSchool of History, also featured on BBC South East launching the campaignto save The Mendham Collection.

MediationServicelaunched

The University launched its new Mediation Service in June as part of itscommitment to ensuring a pleasant and productive working environmentfor staff.

The University is working with mediation experts Total ConflictManagement (TCM) Group to develop an in-house mediation serviceproviding an alternative dispute resolution process to all employees. This complements the University’s formal arrangements for dealing withconflict. Research undertaken by the TCM Group shows that mediationis more effective at reaching long-term resolution to workplace conflicts,and is far more cost-effective than more formal dispute resolutionprocesses.

Mediation is based on the principle of collaborative problem-solving anddoes not seek to apportion blame. Conflicts in the workplace areinevitable, but through mediation we hope to resolve potential conflictsbefore they become a formal issue. The service is confidential, voluntaryand encourages mutual respect. Through the facilitation of an honestand open dialogue, the goal for mediation is for both parties to draw upand commit to a mutual agreement.

The role of the mediator is to support people through the process andmaintain a neutral and impartial approach. They will maintain theconfidentiality of both parties and will not make any judgements orprovide solutions. Our team of volunteer mediators are all fullyaccredited through an Open College Network (OCN) trainingprogramme and work in a variety of roles and departments across theUniversity.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Mediation Service visitwww.kent.ac.uk/mediation

NHS Stop Smoking Quit Clubs • Do you smoke?• Have you ever thought about giving up?• Have you ever tried and failed?• This may be of interest to you!

The University’s Occupational Health team is working with NHS StopSmoking to run smoking cessation groups on campus. NHS Stop Smokingstatistics show that these Quit Clubs are very successful, with 70% ofparticipants kicking the habit.

Naturally, you’ll probably want to find out more about the scheme beforecommitting to it. Organisers and health promotion experts from NHS StopSmoking will be at the University on two consecutive Tuesdays, 28 Augustand 4 September 2012, to give full information of what is entailed. If the sunshines, they’ll be situated on Jarman Piazza; if the weather is inclement,they’ll set up stall in Keynes College foyer.

There are many health and financial reasons for giving up smoking.Whatever your relationship with the ‘demon weed’, come along and find outmore about the advantages of quitting and how NHS Stop Smoking canhelp you.

Presentation of Workplace Mediation certificates (from left): Faith Phoenix, KyraHarwood-Lucas, Rachel Mayatt, Karen Adams, David Liddle (TCM), Emma Nevill,Nikki Hyde, Chloe Gallien, Julie Bennett, Steve Lawton, Bonnie Ferguson, withDeputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Keith Mander.

15KENT Magazine

Sport

£4.8 million development begins

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Work has begun on the redevelopment of sporting facilities on the Canterburycampus. Contractors are working on thefirst phase of the project, which includes:

• significantly enhanced fitness suite• third multi-purpose sports hall• larger dance studio• physiotherapy clinic.

The second phase of the redevelopment, theconstruction of a covered structure, will begin at the end of August 2012. The structure willprovide three indoor tennis/netball courts, which can also be used for other activities.

For the latest news, updates and photos of theredevelopment visit www.kent.ac.uk/sports/future

Try five Olympic sports for £10 To celebrate the Olympics and to encourageeveryone to get active, Kent Sport is offering youthe opportunity to try five Olympic sports for only£10 in August.

The Olympic Passport will be available to staff,students and public during August, giving youthe chance to try out some Olympic sports suchas table tennis*, badminton*, tennis*, football*,basketball, volleyball*, hockey*, powerlifting oruse of the Fitness Suite (subject to gyminduction) and Olympic-themed fitness classes.

Olympic Passports are available from the SportsCentre or The Pavilion.

*Booking of courts is required and is subject to

availability.

Fit4theBeach winnerCongratulations to this year’s Fit4theBeachwinner, Kent Enterprise Hub receptionist RachelElcombe (pictured right with Kent Sport FitnessInstructor Darius Ashtari).

Fit4theBeach challenges members to complete agrueling six-week beach body programme in theFitness Suite, with one-to-one support from theresident fitness team.

Members of the Estates Road Cycling Team (Paul Griffiths, Paul Dengate, Will Sonnen and Gary Wilson) celebrate after completing their780-mile trek to Land’s End, expected to raise around £3,000 for Pilgrims Hospices and Demelza House. The team would like to thank allof their colleagues for their support and encouragement, especially their driver Rob King, and Alan Hollister and Peter Czarnomski whosehelp and generosity made the trip possible.

With six weeks’ hard work and determination,Rachel completed the challenge and lost over a stone in the process. Happy with her results,Rachel commented: ‘Six weeks later and I’mpractically a changed woman. I need to goshopping because I have lost all this weight!’

Fit4theBeach is an annual summer-termpromotion and is open to all members. If you areinterested in taking part in the next Fit4theBeachprogramme, watch out for details in 2013.

What’s on

Gulbenkian TheatrehighlightsMonday 6 to Saturday 11 August, 7.30pm,The Old Stagers present, for their 161stSeason,�You Never Can Tell, one of BernardShaw’s most delightful and popularcomedies. A topical musical revue (known asthe Epilogue) follows the play on Friday andSaturday nights. Friday night is ‘gala night’,when there will be a 40-minute interval forpicnickers. Black Tie optional.

Saturday 1 September, 2pm, LittleCauliflower Theatre�presents Street Dreams.During this uplifting show, the everydayobjects humanity discards come to life, whilea confused puppet tries to make sense of itall. Suitable for ages 5+.

Thursday 13 September, 7.30pm,�Seabright Productions presents�TheShowstoppers, a� brand new musicalcomedy. Audience suggestionsspontaneously become an all-singing, all-dancing show on the spot, withunpredictable and hilarious results. Suitable for ages 14+.

Friday 14 September, 7.30pm,�CourtneyPine�in Europa, his first all-bass clarinet set.

Saturday 15 September, 7.30pm, LonnieDonegan Jnr�with the Lonnie Jnr SkiffleBand, paying tribute to his late father and his legendary music.

Gulbenkian CinemahighlightsWednesday 8 and Thursday 9 August,Woody Allen: A Documentary (15).

Friday 10 – Sunday 12 August, Seeking aFriend for the End of the World (15).

Sunday 12 August, The Artist (PG).

Friday 17 August,�Glyndebourne: Le Nozzedi Figaro (live). Sung in Italian with Englishsupertitles.

Saturday 18 August, Toy Story 1 3D (PG).

Sunday 19 August, The 39 Steps (U).

Sunday 19 August,�Glyndebourne: RavelDouble Bill (live). Sung in French with Englishsupertitles.

Friday 24 – Sunday 26 August, TheAmazing Spider-Man 3D, (12A).

Friday 14 – Monday 17 September, TheDark Knight Rises (12A).

Tuesday 23 October, Swan Lake�Live Ballettransmission from The Royal Opera House.

Sunday 18 November,�Glyndebourne:Handel’s Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar).

Studio 3 GalleryA new exhibition, John Blackburn – AndGod Cryed will run from 24 September to 14 December 2012. Opening times areMonday to Friday 9am-5pm and admissionis free. For more information, seehttp://bit.ly/blackburnatstudio3

Sunday 16 September 2pm, Long NosePuppet’s�show Penguin�is based on the award-winning book by Polly Dunbar. Suitable for ages3+.

Wednesday 19 September, 7.30pm, NewInternational Encounter (NIE)�presents Past HalfRemembered,�a madcap journey through 20thcentury Russian history.

Thursday 20 September, 7.30pm, Julian Claryin his Position Vacant – Apply Within warm-upshow. Suitable for ages 16+.

Friday 21 September, 7.30pm,�Blake,�Love LiftsUs Up. Brit-Award winning, superstar vocalistsreturn with their spectacular 2012 show.

Saturday 22 September, 7.30pm,�Theatre Tours International� present Shylock,�written and directed by Gareth Armstrong.

Sunday 23 September, 7.30pm,�Tim Key,Masterslut. Key was nominated for a Bafta in2008 and he’s got a late night poetry programmeon Radio 4. Suitable for ages 14+.

Saturday 29 September, 7.30pm, pop expertsFrisky & Mannish in Extra-Curricular Activities.Suitable for ages 16+.

Thursday 4 October, 7.30pm,�GerardLogan�presents The Rape of Lucrece�by William Shakespeare.