that promotes, encourages and enhances an appreciation of the value of all forms of diversity

• Access Guide for students with disabilities developed in collaboration with DisabledGo
• Opportunities for students with disabilities to visit the campus, before the start of their courses
• Improvement to on and off-line pre-arrival information for both home and international students
• Enhanced arrival and orientation support for international students including airport pick-up, orientation programmes and pre-departure events in a number of countries
• Students at Kent from over 120 countries reinforcing the University's international reputation and cosmopolitan, multicultural flavour and creating a student body of whom around 22% are international students
• WorldFest - an annual event to celebrate our international community and ethos
• Establishment of a working group in the Faculty of Sciences who are helping to steer the University's commitment to achieving the bronze-level of the Athena Swan Charter for women working in the sciences by the end of 2013
• Growth of the various equality staff networks (including amongst others Athena Swan, Equality Promotion and Equality Network)
• Participation by staff in equality-related learning and development activities, for instance, through the University's new E-Learning modules
• Review of Equality & Diversity 2011/12 underway which will help in setting the agenda for Equality & Diversity over the next few years.
• Kent Union's achievement of the "Investors in Diversity" award

More information - HR Equality and Diversity, Kent Union

from the Kent student experience

• Undergraduate bursaries worth up to £1,000 per annum for UK students from lower income households. Kent put £3,844,214 into this scheme in 2009/10 benefitting 4,643 students. Of those, 3,186 were awarded full support
• £1.5m undergraduate scholarship funds awarded for academic, musical or sporting excellence
• Partner Schools scheme works with 16 regional schools and academies to raise the aspirations of students and encourage them to consider the benefits of higher education
• Over 40 new students each year from our partner schools and colleges receive a University Regional Scholarship of £1,000 per annum.
• Kent is the main sponsor of Brompton Academy in Gillingham (launched September 2010) and a co-sponsor of Longfield Academy, Dartford
• Over 1,000 Kent students study our validated degree courses in our Associate and Partner Colleges
• A QAA Collaborative Provision Audit in 2011 commended as good practice, the structures and liaison posts that support partner institutions (including the Validation and HE in FE Forums, plus the Partnership Development Officers and School Liaison Officers

through active engagement with their studies and full participation in the academic community

• Provided new teaching spaces and learning opportunities in the curriculum through Creative Campus
• Creative Campus also provided greater scope for student engagement through curriculum-based projects, volunteering opportunities and internships - 2011
• Personal Academic Support System (PASS) at Kent relaunched - 2011
• Ran new programme for International Students on academic study skills and guidance
• Extended the VALUE programme to support transition from Stage 2 to 3 (VALUEPlus)
• Trained more students and engaged more academic schools in Academic Peer Mentoring
• New SIGMA funding secured to support new Maths and Stats Clinic - 2011
• Student Ambassador scheme now combines voluntary, paid and credit bearing opportunities for both undergraduate and postgraduate students - 2011
• Launched international and Erasmus buddying schemes

though the provision of flexible and diverse learning opportunities

• Promoted students' employment prospects through the Student Ambassador scheme, which employs 200 students and co-ordinates over a thousand volunteers combining voluntary, paid and credit bearing opportunities for both undergraduate and postgraduate students - 2011
• Launched a Global Skills Award and Career Planning Guide for postgraduate students
• Piloted an Employability Points Scheme for undergraduate students and proved
• Further developing a new Careers Employability Award using Moodle for students to identify employability skills, improve career planning and job-hunting skills
• Commitment to increase employer links, placement opportunities and student participation in employability initiatives by creating three new Employability Adviser posts within the Careers Advisory Service
• Provided more on-line support materials regarding assessment, e-learning and personal development planning, including development of e-portfolios
• Continued development of partnerships to expand opportunities for students to work or study abroad
• Increased language learning opportunities for all students through the Centre for English and World Languages (CEWL)
• Expanded opportunities for volunteering/work experience through Creative Campus
• Continued to expand the numerous opportunities for volunteering
• Credit-bearing courses introduced for entrepreneurship and volunteering
• Running your own business is now an option to add to exisiting industrial placements and Year in Industry schemes
• Sports Coaching & Officiating programme to help develop coaches and officials of the future. Students taking part also gain experience through officiating within the inter-college sports programme.

and enhancing the professional development opportunities for staff

• Launched new leadership and development programmes for staff at all levels, to address key aspects of new HR strategy
• Achieved full HEA accreditation at National Professional Standards for Teaching in HE (PGCHE and related programmes) for new and experienced academic staff
• Delivered induction sessions to all new postgraduate students - 'Getting to grips with HE' - to support training for teaching as well as some bespoke work with academic schools - 2011
• Distributed CPD fund to faculties to disseminate good practice in learning and teaching and to support enhancement initiatives
• Annual award of five prizes for excellence in teaching/learning support
• Improved range of language tuition for staff and students through the Centre for English and World Languages (CEWL)
• Kent Union Teaching Awards launched inclusing categories for innovation, feedback, student support, enthusiasm and inspiration - 2011

to respond to changes in learning and teaching practice and new technology

• Provided more effective allocation of teaching space by matching school/timetable requirements (Teaching Room Improvement Group) eg SECL, Cornwallis
• Replaced webCT with Moodle as VLE, incorporating feedback from staff and student surveys
• Students can now access all Kent modules through Moodle - 2011
• Reviewed use of PebblePAD and piloted MyFolio as new e-portfolio tool to support learning and development planning
• Launched MyFolio as full service for all students providing e-portfolio and personal development planning facilities - 2011
• Online module evaluation launched institution-wide - 2011

• Over 630 student access PCs provided centrally, of which 25% are replaced annually
• Instant access to the Internet provided to all students on arrival
• Internet connections in all study bedrooms with over 98% take-up
• Extensive support for student mobile devices including:
  • comprehensive wireless coverage with Internet access in all social and study spaces
  • laptop and netbook loan services
• New library catalogue upgrade with enhanced search features and functionality
• Templeman Library opening hours extended, including weekend opening and extended opening times during exam periods. During peak exam times, special bus services between the Canterbury campus and the city leave at midnight, 1am and 3am
• Box of broadcasts - off-air recording system for students and staff to create their own playlists from radio and TV
• Printing and photocopying services linked with new photocopiers
• Online payment facilities introduced for both library fines and photocopying
• Developed a mobile-friendly web-based app for student information
• Introduced an e-first policy allowing easy access to the latest resources on and off campus
• Invested an extra £200,000 in additional books and eresources
• Safeguarded access to key research databases
• Introduced clearly signed study 'zones' in the Library for social, quiet and silent working
• Provided an additional 100 study spaces in the new Social Learning Zone

See Information Services for more details.

• Continued development of partnerships to expand opportunities for students to work or study abroad. Most notable are new exchange partners in China and Hong Kong, Japan and Peru
• Increasing number of programmes offering dual UK and European qualifications
• Students at Kent from over 120 countries reinforcing the University's international reputation and cosmopolitan, multicultural flavour and creating a student body of whom around 22% are international students
• Enhanced arrival and orientation support for international students including airport pick-up, orientation programmes and pre-departure events in a number of countries
• Dedicated library and learning support, free English lessons, international events including WorldFest, specialist support from International and European Offices and a monitoring programme to aid continued improvement
• Continued development of international studies programmes at our Brussels Centre and the addition of our Paris Centre courses for postgraduate study in the Humanities
• Increased language learning opportunities for all students through CEWL
• WorldFest - an annual event to celebrate our international community and ethos

See the International impact section of the University Plan for more details.

in every area of the student experience, encouraging our students to develop independence, self-esteem, well-being and good citizenship, and enabling them to draw maximum benefit from being part of the Kent community

• Access to a large variety of sport and leisure facilities, with new facilities planned in 2012.
• Inter-college sports programme allowing students to represent their college across a number of sports
• Coaching & Officiating programme to help develop coaches and officials of the future. Students taking part also gain experience through officiating within the inter-college sports programme.
• New Tennis Development Coordinator, starting Sep 2011, using funding from the Tennis Foundation
• Continual development of the Disability and Dyslexia Support Service, enabling students to maximise their potential.
• Enhancement of student mentoring, particularly for students with mental health difficulties and Asperger Syndrome.
• Close liaison between academic schools and support services
• Student Data System developed to inform academic schools of the entitlement of students with disabilities
• Creation of Mental Health Advisor position

See Sports, Physical Activity and Recreation and Disability and Dyslexia Support Service for more details.

for students by providing modern residential accommodation, a wide range of catering facilities and outstanding service.

• Over 4,800 bedrooms for new undergraduates and postgraduates at Canterbury, enabling us to house 36% of full-time students in University accommodation
• 544 bedrooms currently available at Medway, with another 500 rooms scheduled for completion for September 2013
• Continual refurbishment programme for all accommodation to ensure the highest standards are maintained
• State-of-the-art catering venues, giving students a wide range of food choices
• Newly improved and expanded sports facilities, offering discounted student membership
• Thriving theatre and cinema on Canterbury campus, providing a varied entertainment programme
• Friendly reception services across campus, with advice and information for students, specially during Registration weekend
• A new online off-campus housing information service
• Low cost travel options for easy access to the city of Canterbury, surrounding areas of Kent and London
• Cycle clinics on the Canterbury campus and a cycle incentive scheme on the Medway campus
• Enhancement of social spaces at Medway
• Improvement to signage on the Canterbury and Medway campus

See Kent Hospitality, Gulbenkian and Estates for more details.