Talent shines at Solent conference and national innovation reception

Students showcased original research, live innovation concepts and applied project work across two significant events this month, reflecting the University’s commitment to practice-led education, enterprise and real-world learning.

The Southampton Solent University Student Conference brought together students, academics and staff to celebrate student-led research and applied inquiry across a wide range of disciplines.

Student projects covered an ambitious spread of themes including AI and emerging technologies, robotics, investment platforms, gaming, virtual production, social movements, consumer behaviour, intercultural leadership, engineering materials and logistics.

The event featured two keynote sessions. Associate Professor Richard Scullion opened the day with a thought-provoking session on “‘Knowledge’ at Risk”, inviting students and staff to interrogate assumptions about what knowledge is and how it is communicated. Guest speaker, Professor Yehuda Baruch also delivered an insightful keynote on careers, global mobility and the future of work.

The conference closed with awards recognising outstanding student contributions. The Best Presentation Award went to Tommy Rowe, a BEng Electronic Engineering Apprenticeship student, with Harvey Clarke, studying International Business Management, named Runner-Up.

The Best Poster Award was presented to Jonathan Hutchins, studying Mechanical Engineering, with Jay Bak, studying Business Management with Digital Technologies, named Runner-Up. All four were Level 6 students.

The awards highlighted excellent individual contributions, but the strength of the event was visible across the full programme, with students presenting thoughtful, applied and engaging research throughout.

That same spirit of students testing ideas and taking their work into new spaces was also evident when Solent student Anugra Chavan, a Level 7 Global Master of Business Administration student, represented the University at the Universities UK Future Reception, held at The Royal Society in London.

The event brought together leaders from academia, industry, government and investment to celebrate the role universities play in driving innovation, commercialisation and economic growth across the UK.

Anugra presented Quickle, a student innovation concept exploring on-demand last-mile delivery for Southampton. The concept centres on a digital platform connecting small businesses, customers and local drivers to make local delivery faster and more accessible.

At the reception, Anugra received valuable feedback from investors and industry experts, with conversations throughout the evening helping to challenge and strengthen the concept and provide first-hand experience of how student innovation can connect with wider enterprise and investment networks.

Dr Akash Puranik, Deputy Dean of Research and Knowledge Exchange in the School of Business, Law and Society, accompanied Anugra to the reception.

He said: “This is exactly why these opportunities matter. They help students see where their ideas can go, build confidence in spaces they may not have imagined themselves in, and connect university learning with real conversations about enterprise, investment and impact.

“It was a proud Solent moment to see Anugra step into that space with ambition and confidence.”

Together, the two events highlight how Solent students are being supported to develop the confidence, skills and experience to share their work with academic, professional and industry audiences. By placing employability, adaptability and real-world experience at the heart of every degree, Southampton Solent University is positioning itself at the forefront of a new model of higher education, one that puts students’ futures first.