Sensus Access is an amazing online conversion tool that will enable the conversion of almost any electronic document in to a more accessible format.

SensusAccess is a self-service solution that automates the conversion of documents into a range of alternative formats including Braille, mp3, Daisy and e-books. The service can also be used to convert otherwise inaccessible documents such as image-only pdf files or scanned images into more accessible formats.

SensusAccess is intended as a self-service solution for print-impaired students at universities and colleges and complements the accessibility services usually offered by educational institutions. The service can also be used by faculty to convert lecture notes and other educational material into accessible formats.

SensusAccess is powered by the award-winning RoboBraille service and supports a multitude of languages beyond English. As such, SensusAccess can also be used as a learning technology for everybody: As a language learning tool, as a tool to convert academic papers into e-books or editable documents or as a way of turning textbook material into mp3-files.

Come along to the International Student Experience Fair on Tuesday 21 October from 1-3pm in the Darwin Conference Suite on the Canterbury campus.

You can learn how you can enhance your studies and improve your wellbeing during your time at Kent. You can also enjoy an afternoon of cake and refreshments, and find out more about the support services available to international students.

Perhaps you need help with your studies, or you’d like to attend workshops to enhance your employability? Would you like to take part in wellbeing activities? Find out more at the fair. There will be a prize draw and the opportunity to win Amazon vouchers. An event not to be missed!

This event is for international students only.

**There is no need to book the event, just turn up on the day.**

For further information, contact International Development Office.

This year’s T.S. Eliot Lecture titled ‘O City city: T.S. Eliot and the Metropolitan’ is by Professor Mark Ford from University College London.

The lecture starts at 6.30pm on Tuesday 14 October in Grimond Lecture Theatre 1, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NZ.

Admission is by free ticket from Meredith Johnson, Room W4.8, Eliot College:

• Email: m.l.johnson@kent.ac.uk
• Tel: 01227 823141

There’s still time to join a Language Express course, but the places are limited so please hurry!

Courses start in week 3 and you can choose from Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. We also offer German at Medway.

For information on classes, times and fees and to sign up for a course, go to the Language Express webpages.

Apply for funding through the Graduate School’s Postgraduate Experience Awards and it could turn it into reality.

Funding of up to £1,500 is available for applications to run events or projects which have an interdisciplinary and/or external focus and which enhance the experience of postgraduate students at Kent.

All events or projects must take place at Kent and be held by the end of the 2014-15 academic year.

Examples of previous initiatives funded through the Postgraduate Experience Awards include:

• Take the Floor! – an innovative workshop on improving presentation skills
• Homelessness – an interdisciplinary conference
• Short-story reading group
• Shut up and Write – a project to encourage academic writing.

Applications for funding are invited from postgraduates (both taught and research) and postdoctoral researchers (up to two years).

The 2014-15 application deadline is Friday 28 November 2014.

How to apply

Download the application form.

Or, email graddean@kent.ac.uk for more information.

The Global Skills Award (GSA) Programme is unique to Kent and consists of a series of lectures and workshops for postgraduate taught master’s students; designed to enhance employability and increase awareness of global issues.

The lecture series will broaden your understanding of current affairs and issues of global significance while the skills training workshops provide career development opportunities and the skills needed to succeed in the work place, such as team-working, networking and leadership.

During the 2013-14 academic year over 200 students successfully completed the award.

Positive feedback and comments from those who completed the Award include: ‘Attending the GSA Programme was a priceless experience [that] I strongly recommend for all taught Master’s students, regardless of experience’ and ‘The GSA taught me how to lead others, but more importantly how to lead myself. The lectures were diverse, interesting and a pleasure to attend’.

Students who complete the award are presented with a certificate from the Dean of the Graduate School at an end of year ceremony where the students come together to share their experiences at a drinks reception.

For more information visit the Global Skills Award webpages.

KEW-NET is an online mentoring/networking tool for Kent students and graduates to meet, support one another and help each other get ahead.

From KEW-NET, you will be able to access a variety of mentors from a range of subjects and locations that could help you by reviewing your CV, talking about getting into certain industries, offering work experience or just advice.

In order to maximise your success on the system, follow these tips:

• Be professional – these are potential employers, so be courteous and slightly formal
• Be proactive – you will get nowhere being nervous or shy. Contact everyone that might be useful and ask questions
• Be purposeful – have a reason for contacting the alumni, they are busy people that want to help you. Think about how they can do that

If you would like any help with setting up a profile, or with how to approach other users of the system, please email careerhelp@kent.ac.uk and we can arrange support.

Don’t miss Blean Village Londis Fireworks Extravaganza on Wednesday 5 November at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Old Dover Rd, Canterbury CT1 3NZ.

Gates open at 5.30pm with entertainment starting at 6pm on the stage. The fireworks display starts at 7.15pm.

Kent student and staff prices:

• Adults £5
• Children £2.50
• Family ticket £12.50

These are pre-buy prices only.

Buy your tickets online and enter ‘UKC’ into the promo code box.

All the prices will automatically change. There’s no limit on the number you can purchase.

General public prices:

• Adults pre-buy £6.00 (on the night £8.00)
• Children (5 – 14 years) pre-buy £3.00 (on the night £4.00)
• Family ticket – two adults, two children £15.00 (on the night £20)

We’re giving you the chance to eat for free in seven different catering outlets before 31 October.

In return we’ll ask you to give us feedback on each of your visits.

If you’re a student based in Canterbury and would like to get involved (and haven’t done so before) email catering@kent.ac.uk telling us why you’d be a good Mystery Diner.

Researchers from the University of Oxford are conducting a national online survey on health behaviours in first year university undergraduate students.

This is a 10-15 minutes questionnaire which you will kindly be asked to complete up to two more times in the next year. Each time, you could win one of the many £20-£50 Amazon vouchers!

To participate, you must be a first year undergrad university student.

Take part

For further information, please email claudia.Vadeboncoeur@dph.ox.ac.uk