Welcome to The University of Kent’s official Twitter feed 👋 We're ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve.
Canterbury, Medway and Paris
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We're delighted to share we've been awarded Green Flag status for the first time, recognising the care and commitment that goes into managing one of the country's most distinctive university campuses 🎉
Presented by Keep Britain Tidy, the Green Flag Award is the international quality mark for well-managed outdoor spaces. It is awarded to sites that demonstrate high standards of environmental management, biodiversity, accessibility, safety and visitor experience.
Catherine Morris, Sustainability Manager at the University of Kent, said: “This award reflects the work of colleagues across the University, many of whom work behind the scenes every day to make our campus welcoming, safe, beautiful and environmentally sustainable.
“From maintaining our grounds and supporting biodiversity to improving accessibility, protecting our historic landscape and creating opportunities for students, staff and visitors to enjoy the campus, this achievement reflects the care, expertise and pride colleagues bring to their work.
“We're delighted to have achieved Green Flag status for the first time and hope everyone who studies, works or visits the University enjoys the campus as much as we enjoy looking after it.”
A huge thank you to all the teams across the University whose hard work, expertise and dedication have helped achieve this fantastic recognition 👏
Read more at bit.ly/4vw7Bbr
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Last month, our Kent community came together to celebrate colleagues who have made an exceptional impact on the student experience through outstanding teaching and Academic Advising🎉
With 358 student nominations recognising 180 members of staff across two awards, the response highlighted the incredible dedication, expertise and support our academic community provides every day.
Huge congratulations to Chris Shepherd (School of Natural Sciences) and Declan Wiffen (School of Humanities) on winning Academic Advising Awards 🏆
Congratulations also to Christopher Burden-Strevens (School of Humanities) and Emma Hargreaves (School of Natural Sciences), recipients of this year’s Kent Students' Union Teaching Excellence Awards 🏆
Lastly, a shoutout to all our highly commended staff across both categories and all those nominated 👏
Left to right (Winners: Dr Christopher Burden-Strevens, Dr Chris Shepherd and Dr Emma Hargreaves) Photo by Dr Wei-Feng Xue.
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AI-enabled app to turn smartphones into respiratory disease detection devices 📱
Kent sports scientist, Professor John Dickinson, is co-developing an app that can transform a smartphone into a low-cost, non-invasive screening device for early respiratory disease detection to save lives and relieve diagnostics pressures on the NHS.
By utilising AI technology to measure both a person’s chest motion and breathing sounds to understand their breathing pattern, the app will give users the ability to detect abnormal breathing patterns in real time, without the need for internet access or clinical equipment.
Unlike current methods for diagnosing respiratory problems which rely on trained staff in clinical settings, the mobile-first approach will enable patients to accurately detect abnormal breathing patterns at home and in community settings before consulting their GP.
Read more at kent.ac.uk/news/research/381…
ALT A person stands confidently in a laboratory setting with exercise equipment. Two individuals are using stationary bikes in the background. The room is well-lit with ceiling lights and windows.
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University of Kent retweeted
Our targeted vaccination programme is underway in response to the meningitis outbreak in Kent.
Eligible students will have received an invite. Hear from those who took up the offer straight away 👇
More info on the outbreak: ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/18…
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University of Kent retweeted
We're doing everything we can to contain the meningitis outbreak in Kent.
@WesStreeting visited @UniKent to thank @NHSEngland, @UKHSA and university teams who set up a vaccination centre so quickly to protect the local community.
Find out more: ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/18…
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Sports centre clinic update ⚠️
The queue for our on campus clinic is already very busy, and we're expecting that it may close at a similar time to yesterday due to demand.
Students and those eligible can also attend the following locations for vaccination and precautionary antibiotics:
Vicarage Lane Clinic, Ashford (TN23 1NJ)
• Fri 20 March: 8.30am–7.30pm
• Sat 21 March: 9am–4.30pm
• Sun 22 March: 9am–4.30pm
Faversham Health Centre (ME13 8QR)
• Fri 20 March: 9am–5pm
• Sat 21 March: 9am–5pm
Gate Clinic, Kent and Canterbury Hospital (CT1 3NG)
• Fri 20 March: 8.30am–7.30pm
• Sat 21 March: 9am–4.30pm
• Sun 22 March: 9am–4.30pm
Please attend any of these sites if more convenient, and we thank everyone for their patience and understanding.
More information - kmhealthandcare.uk/meningiti…
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University of Kent retweeted
Huge thanks to the @NHSEngland @UniKent team for standing up our vaccination centre in Canterbury so quickly and with such professionalism in challenging circumstances.
They deserve real credit.
Over 600 students through yesterday afternoon and more coming through now.
ALT Wes with nurses at the vaccination centre at Kent University
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MenB vaccine update - 19 March - 2.50pm
The queue for the MenB vaccine is now closed due to capacity.
The queue has been closed as nursing staff are unable to see any more people within the clinic’s remaining opening hours today.
The team have been working incredibly hard to vaccinate as many people as possible.
The clinic will reopen on:
Friday – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm be in the queue by 2pm
Saturday – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm be in the queue by 2pm
Sunday – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm be in the queue by 2pm
#UniversityOfKent
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Important - vaccination eligibility update ⚠️
Following advice from the UK Health Security Agency, we can share that any student or staff member at the University of Kent is now eligible for the MenB vaccination.
The vaccination clinic at our Sports Centre is open until 5pm today and from 9am to 5pm tomorrow (20 March). Students and staff MUST bring their University of Kent IDs to be able to get the vaccination.
#UniversityOfKent
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We would like to thank all in our community for the care, patience and responsibility you continue to show during this difficult time. We know this situation remains worrying for our students and our wider Kent community.
The vaccination programme for students living on-campus accommodation continues to be rolled out. If you have been emailed and have been identified as an eligible student, you can receive your vaccination from 9am in the Sports Hall on the Canterbury campus today.
We recognise that there are students who are not currently eligible for the vaccine that may feel concerned. The programme is being delivered in line with national public health advice. We will continue to share updates if there are any changes.
If you live in the Canterbury campus halls of residence but have already returned home, arrangements are currently being developed to ensure that you can receive the vaccines nearer home. Further information on how you can receive the vaccination will be provided in due course.
Today, we are also welcoming the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, @wesstreeting MP, to campus. He will be meeting with students and staff involved in the vaccination programme and seeing first-hand the work taking place to support our community.
Please continue to remain aware of the symptoms of meningitis and sepsis and seek medical advice promptly if you or someone around you becomes unwell.
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Meningitis B vaccination programme rolled out
Following the recent Government announcement, a vaccination programme is being implemented for students living in our on-campus accommodation in Canterbury, with a vaccination centre now open for eligible students who have been contacted directly with further details.
student.kent.ac.uk/news/2276…
#UniversityOfKent
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Update – Meningitis – 17 March - Precautionary antibiotics and vaccination programme
Following advice from public health colleagues, students living in our on-campus University accommodation are being asked to attend the Senate Building to collect precautionary antibiotics.
If you have already been contacted by the UK Health Security Agency and have collected your medication, you do not need to attend again. To help manage queues and distribution, the Senate Building will be open from 9am to 8pm on Tuesday 17 March and Wednesday 18 March.
We are also aware the government has announced a vaccination programme for students at Kent. We will let everyone know how this will operate when we have received guidance from the UK Health Security Agency.
Further information will continue to be shared via your student email, so please keep an eye on your inbox. If you have any concerns, please be aware of the symptoms of meningitis and seek medical advice if needed.
For more information, including symptoms, alternative exam arrangements, please visit:
bit.ly/3NtIAO7
#UniversityOfKent
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University of Kent retweeted
Cases of invasive meningococcal disease have been confirmed in Kent. Sadly, 2 people are known to have died. It's important to know the signs of symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia. Get more info from @NHSuk.
🔗 nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis
ALT MENINGITIS SYMPTOMS: fever a very bad headache (this alone is not a reason to get medical help) being sick stiff neck dislike of bright lights rash (DO NOT wait for a rash to appear before seeking medical advice) confusion, delirium severe sleepiness, losing consciousness SEPTICAEMIA SYMPTOMS: fever and shivering severe pains and aches in limbs and joints cold hands and feet pale or blotchy skin very rapid or difficulty breathing diarrhoea, stomach cramps red or purple “blood spots” or blotchy rash on skin that does not fade under pressure – do the GLASS TEST. On dark skin, check other places such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, inside the mouth (roof), and the whites of the eyes confusion, delirium severe sleepiness, losing consciousness If you become worried about yourself, your child, or a friend, particularly if symptoms are getting worse, seek medical help urgently. EARLY TREATMENT CAN BE LIFE-SAVING.
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We are deeply saddened to confirm that one student from the University of Kent has died following a case of invasive meningitis.
Our thoughts are with the student’s family, friends and the wider university community at this extremely difficult time.
The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We are working closely with public health teams and are in touch with staff and students to ensure they get the advice and support they need.
We will continue to monitor the situation and keep our community informed at blogs.kent.ac.uk/student-new…
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Update - 11:30am - 16th March
We are continuing to work closely with public health colleagues as well as our partners in the local area as this situation develops.
We have contacted all our students and staff to ensure they have all the latest advice and support they need, and we will continue to update via email and social media. These communications are shaped by the advice from the UKHSA who have oversight of the overall situation. They have also been contacting known contacts of any cases in our community with advice on what to do and any next steps.
Further information about meningitis, symptoms and vaccination is available via the link below.
A reminder that there will be no in person assessments or exams this week, and Schools will be in direct contact with students to provide details on alternative arrangements.
We recognise that this is a very sad and worrying time for many members of our community. Please remember that support services are available, and we encourage anyone who needs support to reach out to our Student Support and Wellbeing team.
We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
student.kent.ac.uk/news/2276…
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Did you get a drone for Christmas? 🕹️
As of the 1st January, anyone looking to fly drones or model aircraft weighing 100g or more outside must complete a Civil Aviation Authority (CCA) online theory test to get a Flyer ID.
University of Kent Law Lecturer, Dr Alan McKenna, recently spoke to the BBC about the changes and how they may be enforced.
He told the BBC while he believed most people would seek to abide by new UK requirements for flying drones outdoors, some may look to "fly under the radar".
"You're always going to get people who make mistakes or can't be bothered," Dr McKenna said - adding concerns about the impact of rising drone use on the environment, privacy and safety were "wider issues" at play.
Read more at bbc.in/3N5fuUL
#UniKent #Law
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New partnerships to supercharge electric ferry travel from Kent ⚡
Two Government-funded projects supported by Kent researchers are bringing the electrification of ferry journeys between Dover and the French coast one step closer to reality.
Funded through Innovate UK’s latest Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, the two projects will our Kent Business School and the School of Engineering and Digital Design work with local and international partners to overcome operational and skills barriers to introducing fully-electric ferries at the Port of Dover.
More at bit.ly/4aNZDDE
#UniKent
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Funding boost for Kent-led regional health and social care research 🏥
We're pleased to share we've secured funding, from April 2026, to continue to deliver applied health and care research that responds directly to the most urgent health and case issues within the South East of England.
Read more at bit.ly/48Du90p
#Health #SocialCare #UniversityOfKent #Kent
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