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
• The University is investing in resources to support critical Equality & Diversity activities for staff and students following this year's review of Equality and Diversity
• Kent Union's achievement of the "Investors in Diversity" award

More information - HR Equality and Diversity, Kent Union

from the Kent student experience

• Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence worth £2,000 per year to any applicant who achieves AAA over three A levels (or specified equivalents)
• £6 million scholarship and student support fund including scholarships for sport and music
• £1,000 scholarship per year available to eligible applicants who are studying at a Partner School or College
• Kent is the main sponsor of Brompton Academy in Gillingham and a co-sponsor of Longfield Academy, Dartford
• Partnership Development Office works with over 40 regional schools, colleges and academies to raise aspirations of students and encourage them to consider the benefits of higher education
• University-wide Ambassador scheme (undergraduate and postgraduate) provides a wide range of voluntary and paid opportunities for students.

Social Sciences Change Academy supports the development of partnerships between students and staff through a collaborative initiative encouraging strong student participation including direct involvement by student speakers within the annual Social Sciences Learning and Teaching Forum in May 2012 and the promotion of student blogs and staying in touch with student matters by using social media such as Twitter.

though the provision of flexible and diverse learning opportunities

• Commitment to enhancing employer links, placement opportunities and student participation in employability initiatives by creating three new Employability Adviser posts within the Careers and Employability Service
• Developed 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
• Delivered a Global Skills Award and Career Planning Guide for postgraduate students
• Further developed the highly successful Employability Points Scheme for undergraduate students
• Created and embedded a new Careers Employability Award using Moodle for students to identify employability skills, improve career planning and job-hunting skills
• 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 Kent Union and Creative Campus
• 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, and internal support mechanisms such as faculty funding support, to expand opportunities for students to work or study abroad. Most notable are new exchange partners in China and Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, Korea and Peru
• Increasing number of programmes offering dual UK and European qualifications
• Students at Kent from over 125 countries reinforcing the University's international reputation and cosmopolitan, multicultural flavour and creating a student body of whom around 23% 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
• Annual January re-orientation programme introduced for all international students as a reminder of the support services available at Kent.
  • Better promoted activities and support programme available to international students remaining on campus over the winter holiday period.
  
• Dedicated library and learning support, free English lessons, international events including WorldFest and Europe Day, specialist support from International Development and a monitoring programme to aid continued improvement
• Strengthened relationships with international Alumni networks including increased Alumni gatherings in Country.
• Enhanced working relationship with Kent Union and students, including jointly run international events, international buddy scheme and regular update meetings.
• Continued development of international studies programmes at our Brussels Centre and the addition of our Paris Centre and Athens 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.