Linking London Uni Connect Update - June 2026
June 2026 update from Uni Connect.
BTEC Transition Project Concludes Successful Pilot Phase
This month marked the completion of our collaborative BTEC Transition Project, which brought together 131 students from four partner colleges between January and June, supported by colleagues from four partner universities. The project was designed to support students' transition from further education into higher education through a programme of targeted activities, guidance, and collaborative partnership working. We are delighted to report that the evaluation phase has now been completed, with the final report available in the Partner Area.
We would like to thank all participating institutions for their commitment and contribution to the pilot. We look forward to working together as the project moves into its next phase of development.
Participating colleges:
- College of North West London (United Colleges Group)
- City of Westminster College (United Colleges Group)
- Havering Sixth Form College
- West Thames College
Partner universities:
- University of East London
- St Mary's University
- Northeastern University London
- Birkbeck, University of London
Kick Start Sports Project Reaches Completion
The Kick Start Sports Project also concluded this month following a year-long programme of activity designed to explore how sport can be used to engage underrepresented male students in conversations about higher education, careers, and future aspirations.
A total of 61 students from New City College Epping and Barnet and Southgate College participated in the project, which included in-college workshops, career exploration activities, and campus visits delivered in partnership with universities across London.
Students had the opportunity to visit:
- Middlesex University
- University of West London
- University of East London
The final evaluation report is now available in the Partner Area. The findings highlight positive outcomes among students who remained engaged throughout the programme, including increased confidence, greater awareness of higher education pathways, and improved understanding of sport-related career opportunities.
The project has also provided valuable learning around student engagement and retention, which will inform future delivery and development.
CPD Spotlight Series: Nursing and Midwifery
We recently delivered the final CPD Spotlight Session of the academic year.
Following our popular sessions exploring AI and Cybersecurity, the latest webinar focused on Nursing and Midwifery, providing careers advisers and college staff with up-to-date information about studying and progressing into these highly sought-after professions.
We were delighted to welcome:
- Aneta Polec, Senior Lecturer and Director of Programmes for Adult Nursing, Middlesex University
- Lola Ornato, Midwifery Lecturer, Middlesex University
The session provided valuable insight into course content, application processes, professional requirements, career opportunities, and the realities of studying Nursing and Midwifery today.
Our CPD Spotlight series is designed to support careers advisers, teachers, and college staff by providing current information directly from academic experts, helping them to guide students with confidence and accuracy.
Thank you to everyone who attended this year's series. We look forward to sharing details of next year's programme soon.