KENT MAGAZINE AW - University of Kent

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1 Kent Business School launch 2 Business boost 3 IT on campus 1 2 3 Gear change The launch of the new Kent Business School (KBS) signalled a change in gear for the University’s business activities. Increased research activity, a stronger portfolio of under- and postgraduate courses and the creation of the new Chatham-based European Business Institute in partnership with the University of Greenwich are just some of the key elements of this increasingly dynamic University department, formerly known as the Canterbury Business School. Its new identity was launched at a two-centre event held in Medway and Canterbury. Speaking at the launch,Vice-Chancellor Professor David Melville said KBS was on track to be a great regional business school as well as an national and international player. He also spoke of the School’s ambition to offer a world-class MBA, accredited by the Association of MBAs and the recent launch at Bluewater of a new foundation degree in retail management developed in conjunction with Canterbury College and the John Lewis Partnership. His comments were endorsed by Chancellor Sir Crispin Tickell, who said ‘This particular part of the country really needs to have a vibrant business school.’ KBS Director Martyn Jones emphasised the importance of a strategic approach to business education. ‘We need to be very clear about what we do – and do it well.’ The School has established an advisory group led by Chair Helen Bostock, Vice-President of JP Morgan Chase Bank and Kent graduate.The next year will see the development of three new applied research centres in Medway and in September 2005 the new campus will become the base for a new executive MBA programme. Expansion is also planned for the existing undergraduate programmes. Leading from the top Three new and dynamic leaders have joined Kent Business School (KBS). Martyn Jones is now the School’s Director, Professor Paul Phillips is Deputy Director and Professor John Mingers is Director of Research.The three have come to Kent from the business schools at the universities of Wales, Surrey and Warwick respectively. Between them they have a wealth of experience that combines the academic with the business world. Paul, who is also Professor of Strategic Management, was a management consultant with Price Waterhouse before joining the University of Wales, Cardiff and the University of Surrey, where he held the Charles Forte Chair of Hotel Management. Martyn was a colonel in the Royal Army Educational Corps before moving to Cranfield, where he headed up the MBA programme, and Wales, where he was director of the business school. John spent 15 years at leading business school Warwick and was a management scientist with Unilever. All three see KBS as a place of great potential with a unique geographical position. It is, as Martyn says, a young organisation which has now reached its next stage of development. ‘The School has been developing well in several respects. It’s a good recruiter, students get a full educational experience and the University is serious about establishing a good international business school. Such success has now generated a number of options and the challenge will be to decide which options to follow.’ £2.2m business boost The University has been awarded £2.2m as part of the Government’s funding awards given to support knowledge transfer from universities to business and the wider community as part of its drive to boost the UK’s innovation, performance and productivity. The scheme is a major part of the Government’s strategy to increase prosperity and provide highquality job opportunities. Vice-Chancellor Professor David Melville said, ‘We were very pleased to receive this award which will enable the University to reinforce its partnerships and support for business in Kent.’ The grant is three times the level of funding previously allocated and the University is now in a very strong position to accelerate its enterprise activity. Managing IT IT systems have an increasingly crucial role in almost any business. However, for many small and medium size businesses, technical IT management is a financial nightmare. As part of its enterprise activities, the University has set up the Kent IT Clinic to help solve the problem. Through the skills of student consultants, the Clinic offers a range of services from upgrading computers and providing training to giving advice on how to network computers and the internet. Most have gained first-class working experience with major organisations like Sun Systems, IBM and Microsoft and are mentored by trained IT systems professionals to ensure standards are of the highest. BUSINESS LINKS 12
SHAPING THE WORLD The University of Kent makes a key contribution at a regional, national and international level.A thriving organisation, its mission is to develop and maintain its reputation for teaching and research quality. Building work is now under way on the £50m Universities at Medway campus, a ground-breaking initiative led by Kent and the University of Greenwich. Inaugurated by the Queen, the campus will welcome its first students in 2005.The first students are now at the University of the Transmanche, an innovative partnership project developed by Kent together with the three Lille Universities and the University of the Littoral. UK Education Secretary has praised the University of the Transmanche as an excellent example of how UK universities should develop overseas in order to widen their international appeal.The University of Kent at Brussels set to expand significantly over next ten years. New Pharmacy School now open. A shared project between Kent and the University of Greenwich, student numbers are 50% higher than anticipated. Kent Business School.This new name signals increased research activity, a stronger course portfolio and the creation of the new European Business Institute in partnership with Greenwich University. Kent attracted the highest percentage increase in government funding for universities in the UK in 2004. Kent awarded £2.2m government funding to boost business support. Kent’s close collaboration with Harada has led to research success. Kent receives £90,000 to attract overseas investment into region. £100m of capital investment at Kent planned over the next four years. Kent has one of the best graduate employability records of any UK university. 17 out of 23 departments at Kent have achieved research grade 4 or above with Social Policy awarded 6*, the top grade. 81% of Kent research staff work in departments which contain research of national or international excellence. 23 new professors appointed over last 12 months at Kent. Kent has a thriving cosmopolitan community with students of all ages and over 120 different nationalities. Kent has had a 21% increase on overseas students from 2002/2003 to 2003/2004. 16% of Kent’s full-time students are from overseas. 13
Page 1 and 2: ENT The magazine for the University
Page 3 and 4: Contents 4 News 8 Development news
Page 5 and 6: 2 3 4 Building work under way at Un
Page 7 and 8: English student Samantha is a talen
Page 9 and 10: RIDING THE WAVES OF CHANGE 1 ‘Ano
Page 11: 1 Previous page; Brussels 2 Medway
Page 15 and 16: 1 2 3 4 5 Please describe a ‘typi
Page 17 and 18: 1 Rising sons 2 Older workers 3 Sey
Page 19 and 20: Diane Houston WORK, YOUR FLEXIBLE F
Page 21 and 22: WHO’S WHAT WHERE Mandy Boursicot
Page 23 and 24: 1 ‘During one amazing session, in

KENT MAGAZINE AW - University of Kent

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