Kent has received commendations for two awards at the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) Awards 2025.
The University has been recognised with a commendation for ‘Higher Education Institution of the Year’, for its commitment to widening access for underrepresented groups throughout the student lifecycle, from senior management actions and support through to outreach activities with young people. NEON recognised the University’s inclusive, data-drive approach to removing barriers and empowering students to strive, making Kent a ‘leader in access and equity’.
Secondly, Joni Chase, Widening Participation Partnerships & Programme Development Manager at Kent, has been commended with a NEON Contribution to Widening Access Award. NEON praised Joni’s dedication to widening participation across her two-decade career in education, championing social mobility through innovative outreach and partnership work. Joni’s impact is widely recognised including a NEON award-winning programme.
The NEON awards took place on Thursday 5 June at the Palace of Westminster. The Awards provide a platform to celebrate the successes and accomplishments in supporting learners from underrepresented groups to access and succeed within higher education.
Clare Allison, Head of Widening Participation and Outreach at Kent, said: ‘I feel privileged to have been invited alongside Kent colleagues to the Palace of Westminster for the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) Awards. To receive a commendation for the fiercely competitive ‘Higher Education Institution of the Year’ award really was the cherry on top for us. I was delighted for Joni to receive an award for her achievements too. I am so proud of the collective hard work of all of my colleagues at Kent in making higher education more equitable, and for this to be recognised and celebrated by the sector feels like a huge achievement.’