NEON Summer Symposium 2025

  • Date

      19/06/2025 - 20/06/2025

  • Time

      10:15 am - 2:00 pm

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The 2025 NEON Summer Symposium took place on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th June at the University of Salford, bringing together leading voices in education, policy, and social mobility.

This year’s theme, “My Hometown – The Importance of Place in Widening Access and Student Success,” explored how geographical identity and local context shape educational opportunities and outcomes. A central focus was the persistent educational divide between South-East England and other regions of the UK – a challenge that must be addressed to ensure fair access and success for all students in higher education.

As the UK’s largest conference dedicated to widening access, the 2025 Symposium once again proved to be an essential gathering for professionals across the sector. It united educators, policymakers, employers, and organisations committed to advancing social mobility through higher education, making it the most significant event of its kind.

Keynote Speakers Included:

  • Professor Nic Beech – Vice Chancellor, University of Salford; Chair, Quality Council for UK Higher Education
  • John Blake – Director of Fair Access and Participation, Office for Students
  • Dr Andrea Laczik – Director of Research, Edge Foundation
  • Professor Chris Millward – Professor of Practice in Education Policy, University of Birmingham; Board Member, Medr
  • Professor Claire Ozanne – Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Liverpool Hope University
  • Dr Kate Wicklow – Director of Policy and Strategy, GuildHE
  • Sarah Dirrane – Co-Founder & Research Director, Cosmos
  • Allan Milne – Director of Apprenticeships & Employer Engagement, Salford City College Group
  • Dr Emily Magrath – Director of Programme Development and Impact, IntoUniversity

Attendees experienced thought-provoking keynote speeches, dynamic panel discussions, and engaging paper and lab sessions. The Symposium offered a unique opportunity to share best practices, connect with fellow practitioners, and gain fresh insights into the critical issues surrounding access and success in higher education.

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