Creative Campus
- Canterbury labyrinth Further information
- Poetry on the busesLabyrinth inspired poems
- Higher Education Academy (External website)
The University of Kent is poised to launch an exciting new initiative: the Creative Campus. Kent was one of only 16 universities chosen this year to take part in the prestigious ‘Change Academy’, led jointly by the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education and the Higher Education Academy.
Six members of staff from across campus with responsibilities for learning and teaching, estates, the Arts, conservation and the environment were joined by the education sabbatical officer from the Kent Union for this 4 day retreat.
The outcome is a cultural change programme aimed at combining and coordinating initiatives in these areas, to enhance opportunities for staff, students and the local community to take part in creative events across the campus. Dr Louise Naylor (UELT) who chairs the project commented that Kent is in an ideal position to engage with this initiative.
By building on strengths and existing resources, the Creative Campus seeks to coordinate and integrate best practice to mark out Kent as a highly creative university. This will take the University forward as a creative place to be: to work, study, play and visit
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Julia Goodfellow, walking the Canterbury Labyrinth
As a first step in this venture, the Canterbury Labyrinth was launched by the Vice Chancellor on Friday 17th October, in the presence of staff, students and members of Council. The culmination of Labyrinth Week (13-19th October) was a 2 day event for the community as part of the Canterbury Festival and the production of material for the ‘Poetry on the buses’ series by students on the MA in Creative Writing programme.
Other Creative Campus initiatives this term have involved work with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers – Dr Ian Bride (DICE) and the student Conservation Society have engaged with practical wildlife conservation projects, including coppicing, hedge-laying, pond and path management. Such work will be extended to the redevelopment of the University nature trail, in collaboration with Estates.
The Creative Campus team plan to run a ‘World Café’ event in January to draw both students and staff into further consultations about the Creative Campus, by providing an opportunity to share creative opportunities and ideas. If you would like to be involved or have ideas to contribute, please email creative-campus@kent.ac.uk
