Welcome Back to Cosmos Connects

Sarah Dirrane 22 Sep 2025

It’s been an energising start to the new academic year – just yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking at the NERUPI Convention, where the theme of the day was collaboration – what it really means in practice, and how we can do it more effectively across the sector. Something that is coming more into focus against the current backdrop. The conversations were rich, real and challenging, whilst full of possibility. I will be sharing a blog soon with my reflections.

We have also been in the studio recording new episodes of The Student Outcomes Podcast.

Coming soon: a conversation on accent bias, and why something as subtle as the way a student speaks can shape their experiences and opportunities. Looking further ahead, we will also be diving into AI in research methodologies – especially what it means for working with younger students.

As always, our mission remains the same: to bring you the stories, strategies, and evidence that can make a real difference for students. In this edition, you will find brand new resources and practical tools to help you drive change where it matters most.

New Resources

White Paper: The Invisible Barrier – How Trauma Shapes Higher Education Choices

Our latest white paper explores how past experiences of trauma can silently influence decision-making about higher education. Understanding these hidden barriers is essential if we want to level the playing field.

READ THE WHITE PAPER

The ‘Cosmosify’ Framework

Launched at the Boys’ Impact Conference, this framework underpins how we design and deliver programmes, research, and content. It’s a practical guide for creating environments where young people can connect, engage, and thrive.

DOWNLOAD THE FRAMEWORK

The Student Outcomes Podcast

We are back with more conversations that matter.

Expect practical insights and honest discussions from voices across the sector.

Coming up soon: our much-anticipated episode on accent bias – and what it really means for students navigating education.

Listen to previous episodes here 👇

ACCESS ON YOUTUBE

ACCESS ON SPOTIFY

Events – Recent & Upcoming

Boys’ Impact Conference

This September, we joined colleagues from across the UK to highlight how small, evidence-based changes can have a lasting impact on young men in education. It was inspiring to see the momentum building across the sector and the range of positive work taking place to support young men’s success.

Interested in learning more about how to work with young men? Click here for some of our top tips

NERUPI Convention

Last week, I shared insights on a large-scale collaborative project exploring segmentation and the diversity of FE learners at the NERUPI Convention.

It was a great to see colleagues and reconnect after summer. I will be publishing a blog soon with my takeaways from the day.

If we’re not already connected, let’s start the new academic term by connecting on LinkedIn.

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Resources