News and updates
College Report features doctoral student article
The most recent edition of the King's College London Report features an article on how the College is working to develop our doctoral students. To read the article please click here.
King’s receives EU recognition for researcher development
King’s College London is one of a further 12 UK institutions who have now been awarded the HR Excellence in Research Award from the European Commission, bringing the total number of Higher Education Institutions recognised in the UK to 50.
Recognition is granted to universities within the European Union whose policies and practice show commitment to supporting researchers' careers and ensuring good working conditions and career development opportunities for researchers. Awards are granted to HEIs submitting an action plan for implementing the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers1. King's action plan highlights the good work already being done at King's and outlines our continued commitment to building on this work in the future and is published here:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/pg/school/training/OtherInformation/ImplementationActionPlan.pdf
Chris Mottershead, Vice Principal for Research and Innovation says “Research staff comprise a significant proportion of the academic community at King’s College London and the College recognises that they are a key part of the College’s mission to advance knowledge, learning and understanding in the service of society. For this reason, the College is committed to improving the policies and procedures in place to ensure their welfare and support and we are delighted to be recognised for the work we are doing in this area."
Fiona Denney, Head of Graduate Development at King’s said “Many of the issues affecting research staff are unique to this group of staff, underlining the need for dedicated support. We have worked hard over the past few years to improve the experiences of research staff at King’s and to increase the number and range of development opportunities available to them. We are pleased to gain this award in recognition of the work that has been led by Anna Price and colleagues across the College, and the further work that is now set out in the action plan”
As a holder of this award, the University will continue to participate in national and European evaluation and benchmarking.
1 The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, is an agreement singed in 2008 between the employers and finders of researchers in the UK, backed by many of the UK’s leading research funders and learned societies, including Research Councils UK, the Royal Society, the British Academy and the Higher Education Funding Council for England. It aims to increase the attractiveness and sustainability of research careers and sets out the expectations of researchers, their managers, employers and funders.
For further details on the Concordat:
http://www.researchconcordat.ac.uk/
Olympic torch comes to King’s
This Friday 4 November, the Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Tour will be coming to King’s College London, giving people the chance to have their photo taken with the Olympic Torch. The torch tour is part of a dedicated search to find inspirational students – Future Flames – to carry the Olympic Flame during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. King’s is the only London university selected to be part of the 20-university tour across the nation.
Coca-Cola, a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, is calling on nominations for Future Flames: students who use their passion in areas like sport and physical activity, music and dance, and community and the environment; to spread happiness at their institution or in their local communities.
King’s was also one of 30 UK institutions to be approached by Samsung – another Olympic Torch Relay Presenting Partner – to nominate one senior staff representative and two student delegates to become torchbearers.
The relay will set off from Lands End on 18 May 2012 and wind its way around the United Kingdom, taking 70 days to complete its course. A total of 8,000 people will bear the torch across its journey. Both Coca-Cola and Samsung will announce their winning torchbearers in early 2012.
The Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Tour will be at New Hunt’s House, Guy’s Campus from 10am to 4pm on Friday and is open to staff, students and the public.
Franklin-Wilkins Library transformation event
Two events have been organised for staff and students who would like to know more about the plans to refurbish Franklin-Wilkins Library, one of our busiest campus libraries.
During the presentation, you will:
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Learn how the Learning & Teaching Space Improvement Programme is modernising space across the College.
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Hear more about the vision to transform our Library space.
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View architectural drawings of Franklin-Wilkins Library.
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Learn more about the project timescales and the steps the Project Team, in partnership with Ecovert, are taking to minimise the impact the scheduled building works will have on the College.
There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.
The session will take place on:
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Thursday 7 April from 09.30 to 10.30 in the Franklin-Wilkins building, Waterloo Campus, room 1.10
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Wednesday 13 April from 11.30 to 12.30, in K2.31 Raked Lecture Theatre, Strand Campus.
The Learning & Teaching Space Improvement Programme is a five-year £18million investment programme to modernise teaching and learning spaces across all campuses. The programme is playing a major role in helping to improve student experience at King's.
More details about the project is available on the College webpages at:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/visitors/library/transform
China Study Group
‘Study Group’ was created by students affiliated with King’s College London China Institute as a postgraduate forum for peer review and discussion on China-related research of its members.
If you're a postgraduate student involved in any form of research about China or China-related issues and would like to talk about it with others- this is the place! Our meetings put great emphasis on free exchange of ideas and interdisciplinary character of the debate. We discuss wide range of issues related to our research- from methodological problems, through matters of practical adaptation of results to their significance to respective fields of study. Whether your research is purely theoretical of practice-oriented- you'll find your space here. ALL disciplines, methodologies and world views are welcome!
Our meetings take place every Wednesday 4-6pm at China Reading Room, King's College (Strand Capmus). China Reading Room (Q117) is located at level -1 of Quadrangle Building.
If you have any questions about Study Group or would like to join us, please contact Aleksandra Kubat: aleksandra.kubat@kcl.ac.uk and visit our website: http://chinastudygrouplondon.wordpress.com.
So What?
Find out more about a series of talks which will challenge aspiring postgraduates to think creatively about their role within the academy, and within society at large - and which will offer their thinking, methodology and research to a general audience.
To find out more click here
Thanksgiving Dinner with KCLSU
Thanksgiving is fast approaching and to make sure you don’t feel like you’re missing out on the festivities back home we’re putting on a whole host of fantastic events in our venues that celebrate all things American – all things that involve turkey, cranberries and gridiron anyway.
On Thursday 25 November Tutu’s will be open from 5pm to serve you a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. We’re even attempting pumpkin pie and including offers on American drinks to wash it all down with.
Then what better way to relax after dinner than two games from the NFL live on the Tutu’s big screen? First up is the Detroit Lions vs New England Patriots followed by Dallas Cowboys vs New Orleans Saints and if that’s not enough Americana for you then we’ll have American anthems being played from midnight onwards plus Beer Pong hosted by your very own American Society!
So you can really let your hair down and salute the Star Spangled Banner in style no matter what side of the Atlantic you’re on!
Prices are £8 for dinner (starts at 5pm), football and the American Anthems club night or £3.50 if you just fancy the football and music (entry from 8.30pm onwards).
Tickets are available from http://www.kclsutickets.com/eventinfo/312/Happy-Thanks-Giving
We hope to see you there and Happy Thanksgiving from KCLSU!
Christmas Lunch
King's Graduate & Mature Student Society is organising a Christmas dinner for all postgraduate students on 6th December 2010 from 6.30pm at LVPO. If interested please email kclgmss@googlemail.com by Thursday 18 November 2010.
For further details please click here
Silent Disco in Tutu’s
KCLSU will be hosting a Silent Disco in Tutu's night club, Macadam Building, Strand Campus on Thursday 18 November 2010.
The event is for those more sophisticated party goers who enjoy something a bit different from a night out.
If you’re not sure of what a Silent Disco is, then click on the following link for an explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_disco
This will be a fantastic event to unwind at and give you the opporutnity to dance to your own beat.
Silent Disco tickets are £8 (plus 70p booking fee) and are on sale here: http://www.kclsutickets.com/eventinfo/285/Silent-Disco
So come down to Tutu’s, enjoy the silence and leave your inhibitions at the door!
Induction for new research students
The Graduate School held an induction event for new research students on Wednesday 6 October 2010 at 2pm, Franklin-Wilkins Building, Waterloo Campus.
Over 250 research students attended. If you were unable to attend this event, please note that a midsession induction programme will be held in April 2011, Further details will be made available towards the end of December.
Free tickets to London Citizen Cyberscience Summit
London Citizen Cyberscience Summit
2-3 September 2010
King’s College London
The world's first summit on citizen cyberscience will be held at King's College London on 2-3 September www.citizencyberscience.net/summit
Postgraduate students from the four universities organising the event - King’s College London, Imperial College London, Queen Mary, University of London, and University College London - are invited to register for a limited number of free tickets that will be made available starting Monday 23 August.
This event is about public web-based participation in research, ranging from topics like crowdsourcing for digital archive annotation to the search for new quasars using distributed volunteer computers and online multiplayer games to predict protein folding.
For a full programme of the event please visit http://www.citizencyberscience.net/summit/CCC-programme.htm
Researchers in Residence
‘Maximise the impact of your research group with Researchers in Residence’
Maximise the impact of your research and develop your team’s transferable skills by engaging 11-19 year olds via the RCUK-funded Researchers in Residence scheme.
Research Councils UK (RCUK) would like you to encourage your research group to participate. Aimed at PhD students and early stage post-docs across the UK this school placement scheme provides an opportunity to inspire the next generation of researchers (11-19 years students) about their work.
Researchers that have been involved benefit by developing their public engagement, communication and teaching skills that help show experience on their CVs whether they continue on the academic career path or enter the jobs market.
Participation in RinR has also helped some researchers when completing Pathways to Impact due to RinR helping them to think about the wider social and ethical implications of their research.
All participating researchers receive free, expert communication training is provided and each placement lasts between 14 to 24 hours.
Interested researchers should apply via www.researchersinresidence.ac.uk
THE free 3-month trial for postgraduates
The Times Higher Education (THE) magazine have put together a new offer of a free 3-month trial specially for postgraduate students at the university.
'THE is the only magazine to provide news and features on policy development for both taught and research postgraduates. We provide articles on what makes a good supervisor, improving the structures that support doctoral students, completion rates, changes to masters degrees and the expansion of graduate schools as well as advice to PhD students on topics such as how to survive a viva.'
To subscribe, simply log on to www.subscription.co.uk/the/OA23 or call 01858 438805 quoting OA23 to start receiving THE direct to your door every week for 3-months, absolutely free!
New RDP Twitter account
The Graduate School now have a new Researcher Development Programme (RDP) Twitter account which will keep researchers at King's updated on spaces on courses and other skills development news and events. Go to Twitter and search for "KingsRDP". Do sign up and follow us!
Language courses for postgraduates
The Modern Language Centre and Graduate School at King’s have launched an innovative scheme to offer all PhD students the opportunity to sign up for an assessed, intensive, language course free of charge.
Professor Vaughan Robinson, Director of the Graduate School said: ‘For some time, King’s has had a very exciting programme designed to internationalise its students, its research and its staff. The new collaboration between the Graduate School and the Modern Languages Centre takes this a step further. Now all PhD students registered with the College will have the opportunity to learn a foreign language free of charge, providing they are willing, and able, to commit to an intensive assessed course including timetabled seminars’.
Some Masters students may also be eligible for the same courses but they should check that their timetable allows them to attend the compulsory seminars and that their department allows them to enrol for these courses. Practice does vary between departments, with some allowing you to use the credits gained from successful completion of the language courses towards your degree. Others do not. And if this is not the case, the courses are not free. Enrolment is also subject to places being available.
For more details click here