Celebrating Student Success: How SUN Helps Unlock Russell Group Opportunities

3 February 2026

By Grace Kendall, SUN Outreach Co-ordinator

Every year, young people across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight work tirelessly to fulfil their academic potential. This year, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on some truly exceptional achievements — and on the critical role played by the Southern Universities Network (SUN) in helping students reach their desired educational goals.

The News Portsmouth reported this month on the recent successes of students in the Havant area, in particular those from Havant and South Downs College. The SUN have been working for several years in a collaborative partnership with Havant and South Downs College, through the work of our SUN progression Mentor programme.

Employed by the college and funded by SUN, Progression Mentors are dedicated to supporting and delivering the aims of the Uni Connect programme and are tasked with supporting Uni Connect students in their progression towards HE via impartial advice and guidance. SUN Progression Mentors are located within their respective college, and some across multiple sites.

This article written by Tom Lowe at News Portsmouth, highlights the progression of 73 Havant students to Russell Group universities, with Uni Connect playing a key role in supporting 16 of these students*. Notably, two students involved in SUN support achieved places at Oxford and Cambridge, an incredible milestone that reflects both personal determination and the strong support structures at the college.

We are very proud of our long-standing partnership with the Southern Universities Network. This incredible achievement by two of our Havant Uni-Connect students in securing places at Oxford and Cambridge is a direct testament to the power of that collaboration. It not only reflects the talent and hard work of our students and teachers but also the fantastic, dedicated support provided by our Careers Advisers, who guide them through the application and interview process.

Kate Creswick, HSDC’s Careers Manager

We are delighted to see the impact of the work that is being done by our SUN Progression Mentors alongside their college career teams. The achievements highlighted here show the importance of the collaborative work within our partnerships, and we hope to continue supporting students reach their dream educational pathways, and widen access for students who might otherwise face barriers to Russell Group, and other university opportunities.

Congratulations to all the teachers, advisors and mentors who have been part of these students journeys — and here’s to many more stories of young people’s success in our local community.