National Conference 2026 Resources

An uplifting session by award-winning storyteller and rapper Alim Kamara, inviting delegates on a powerful journey of self-belief through stories, raw truth, rhythm, and practical tools.
In a world where self-doubt and comparison are running rampant, this session challenges you to see yourself as a worthy individual — on a journey, with power and purpose already within you.

The session explored:
Finding the greatness in your story
Steps to success – little by little, bit by bit
Recognising that you are enough

This practical workshop explored how universities and colleges can use CRM systems to track and optimise the entire student recruitment journey. From the first outreach moment, whether online or in person, through to application and acceptance, we will show how using CRM tools with AI-driven insights can reveal hidden patterns in applicant behaviour.

This interactive session saw delegates learn about the qualifications and HE systems in Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales as well as an insight into the student finance differences. Myths were busted, prizes were won, no Welsh nor Gaelic/Gaeilge was required!

Colleague from UCAS presented an in-depth session on how to harness the power of UCAS data dashboards to elevate your events
strategy and maximise return on investment. This session included a live demonstration of the dashboards and practical guidance to help make smarter, student-focused decisions

This session provided insight about how UK International recruitment works, why it sometimes sits across both home and international recruitment (and why no institution has it fully figured out!), and get some top tips on how to interact with international students in the UK.

Matt and Alex presented findings from a year-long pilot partnership between Jesus College at the University of Oxford and Zero Gravity. They described how the University’s WP goals have been efficiently met in rural and coastal Wales, without sacrificing a humane approach to outreach on digital platforms.

This session covered the importance and impact of summer school activities for WP students. Discussion around the design and aims of individual summer schools, addressing the balance between keeping activities fun but providing opportunity for skills/knowledge development. Sharing best practice from evaluations and continual improvement reflections

In this Taskmaster-style session, delegates competed in fun, interactive challenges and discussions to help design accessible events. Gold stars were up for grabs, and no one got the wooden spoon!

This interactive session focussed on three key areas: effective school prioritisation, challenges to impactful partnerships, and approaches to overcome these challenges. After hearing from the group about their approaches taken to school prioritisation, Vicky shared The Brilliant Club’s approach, combining sector evidence with the charity’s own learnings.

In this session, Jack and Jess talked through their collaborative approach to designing and delivering high-impact subject outreach to build meaningful relationships with schools and colleges, helping students to access Higher Education.

This session explored how practitioners can develop an advanced understanding of barriers to education related to race and class, to better integrate inclusion into our offering.

Drawing on examples from USW, this session examined how to tailor subject-specific event content to different audiences, balance academic and admissions input, and use data to evaluate success. Delegates left with practical insights and ideas to take back to their own institutions, whether they’re refining established events or starting something new.

In an increasingly competitive and discerning HE landscape, the power of authentic voices to cut through the noise is undeniable. This session explored how genuine student and alumni narratives can transform your recruitment campaigns.

This session delved into FindAUniversity’s postgraduate expertise and Keystone Education Group’s unique breadth of search and survey data to identify key trends for domestic and international audiences and look more closely at differences within and between them

This session unpacked how to bypass blockers and boost enrolments through face-to-face, guerrilla-style recruitment tactics, designed to connect meaningfully with prospective students and prioritising human connection over polished comms.

Think your marketing approach is personalised? This interactive session put that to the test. Delegates explored what personalisation really means to students today using real data from Prospectus Plus. Myths were busted and delegates were asked a few curveball questions to challenge assumptions.

*Please note that due to the interactive nature of this quiz, some slides have been removed from this presentation*

In this interactive session, Unifrog shared exclusive insights into the subject trends shaping university shortlists across the UK. Delegates reflected on the motivations, behaviours, and emerging interests of the 2026 cohort, drawing on data to explore what’s resonating with students as they research their options.

In this session, Aryan looked at student recruitment trends utilising London as a case study area. Drawing on real-time applicant behaviour and regional data, the session explored how London students are engaging with higher education in 2026. From borough-level trends to shifts in subject and destination preferences, this session unpacked how national changes in policy and economy are reshaping outreach effectiveness, while also highlighting early indicators from the 2027 cycle.

By their very nature, events professionals are solution-focused and adaptable to deal with complex operational and stakeholder demands. But now, they must also be more skilled in crisis management, change management and resilience strategies. This session took a deep-dive into the changing skill set of events professionals in successfully managing large-scale events.

They say it’s tough at the top, but what about the middle? This session delved into the art of middle management and how to effectively work up and down. Delegates explored how to keep the morale high whilst facing the challenges of the academic cycle and the changes that come with it.