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The University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ, T +44 (0)1227 764000
School Mission and Plan
Our vision is to be the premier University Forensic Science department in the UK and to be a major research-led Physics department that is fully embedded within the South-East Physics Network (SEPnet)* alliance.
We strive to:
- Enhance our leading research activity
Our four research groups, Functional Materials, Astrophysics & Planetary Science, Forensic Imaging and Applied Optics, perform ground-breaking research at the forefront of modern science. The School’s Materials Research was ranked equal second nationally in its discipline in the latest Research Assessment Exercise. We aim to develop international collaborative research links and maximize the amount of time available to staff to undertake research activities. We are aiming to submit at least 80% of eligible staff to the Research Excellence Framework.
- Provide excellent teaching underpinned by cutting-edge research
The School’s world-leading research feeds directly into our teaching so that the courses on offer are at the cutting-edge of their discipline with students benefitting from our expertise on the very latest breakthroughs and advances in scientific research. All undergraduate courses are scrutinized to ensure they are adhering to national standards by the professional bodies awarding our accreditation. We have accreditation from the Institute of Physics, Skillsmark and the Forensic Science Society. Our performance in all aspects of teaching is also constantly monitored internally by the Learning and Teaching Committee. A major refurbishment of the School’s teaching laboratories will give students access to the very best facilities, providing us with the means to deliver a much-enhanced student laboratory experience in both Forensic Science and Physics in the coming years.
- Raise student expectations and achievements
In the last two years the School of Physical Sciences has ranked 1st (2009) and joint 1st (2010) in the National Student Survey for student satisfaction with Forensic Science course quality. Similarly, Physics and Astronomy at Kent achieve excellent results in the Times Good University Guide 2012, where we ranked 1st for student satisfaction. We will continue to provide both an excellent student experience and a high quality degree leading to a wealth of opportunities for the most able students regardless of social and educational disadvantage.
- Maintain the high employability of our students
Graduate employability is a key priority for the School and our links with industry are crucial. Graduates from the School of Physical Sciences have an excellent employment record. Our links with industry provide students not only with the opportunity to develop work experience during their degrees, but also equip them with the general and specialist skills and knowledge needed to transfer to the workplace. The School’s Forensic Science programmes are taught not only by in-house academic lecturers, but also by expert practitioner lecturers from industry. We will maintain collaborations with SEPnet which include a significant element of employer engagement, making our Physics provision particularly attractive. We will continually review and enhance the School’s courses portfolio to ensure that our offerings are best suited to the demands of the employment market. We have recently introduced a new taught Masters degree in Forensic Science and a unique two year EuroMasters degree in Physics. All of our degrees also equip graduates to undertake postgraduate training and research at universities worldwide.
- Nurture our excellent enterprise activity
We are an enterprise-active department. We have two spin-out companies associated with facial imaging in the Forensic Research Group who continue to expand their activities. The EFIT-V software developed by members of the group is now being used by a large number of British and European Police forces and evidence resulting from its application has been used in successful prosecutions. Recently the group has been to South Africa to demonstrate their software. Our Applied Optics Group continues to host the cutting-edge photonics companies Nanomet UK and Optopod Ltd within the Photonics Centre and a number of School staff are interacting profitably with Kent Enterprise. This includes two staff who hold Knowledge Transfer Partnership grants. We will continue to support and explore possibilities for enterprise initiatives.
- Deliver an effective outreach programme to the community and South-East region
We will participate fully in, and lead on many, Faculty outreach activities. We aim to maintain our delivery of an excellent outreach programme to pupils in the community and South-East region and to deliver subject-specific outreach activities at a level appropriate to any audience to as many students as possible. This includes offering a varied programme of talks/demonstrations as well as intensive full-day events such as Scene-of-Crime Days, the Salters’ Festival of Chemistry day and the Space School weekend **. We will bring more school pupils onto campus and teach some GCSE physics on site as a key part of the SEPnet GCSE outreach initiative.
*The South-East Physics Network (SEPnet) is a consortium of seven universities in the South-East of England, working together to advance and promote Physics. www.sepnet.ac.uk
** For more information on our outreach events, please see http://www.kent.ac.uk/physical-sciences/outreach.html or telephone Dr. Victoria Fitzgerald, Outreach Officer, on 01227 824178.