Free Online Launch Conference of World Access to Higher Education Network & UNESCO Right to Higher Education Report

Despite its pivotal importance, the fundamental right to higher education remains far from universal. Global and collective action is necessary to address these disparities and ensure equitable access and success for all learners regardless of their background.

Building on the success of the World Access to Higher Education Day (WAHED), the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON), the national organisation for equity in higher education in the UK, has been establishing the World Access to Higher Education Network (WAHEN), the first global network focused on addressing inequalities in access and success in higher education across the world. WAHEN will deliver capacity-building activities, work with policymakers and governments, produce research and collate knowledge on global best practice.

We are excited to announce that WAHEN will be
officially launched on 10th December 2024.

With key partners including the World Bank, UNESCO, the Asia Europe Foundation, the European Commission, Magna Charta Observatory, The Kresge Foundation, University of Oxford and University of California, Berkeley serving on its Board, WAHEN is poised to ignite a fresh wave of global, collective action on higher education equity. 

Join us at this FREE online launch conference and be a part of this important movement. 

At the event, the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean will also be launching their important ‘Reaching for the Right to Higher Education: Evidence from 15 Countries’ report. 

Participants will gain key insights into:  

• The broad picture of higher education access and success around the world today;
• The reasons behind inequalities in higher education access and success;
• The steps different countries are taking to tackle these issues;
• What more can be done to create lasting change;
• What WAHEN will be doing to address global inequalities in higher education in 2025 and beyond.

Supported by the University of West London, Lumina Foundation and The Saville Foundation, this landmark conference brings together global thought leaders, policymakers and advocates who are shaping the future of equitable access and success in higher education. Speakers include:

• Dr Jamil Salmi, Global Tertiary Education Expert
• Dr Emma Harden-Wolfson, UNESCO IESALC’s Right to Higher Education Lead and Assistant Professor at McGill University, Canada
• Dr Roberta Malee Bassett, Global Lead for Tertiary Education and Senior Education Specialist, World Bank
• Ninoslav Šćukanec Schmidt, Former Co-Chair of Working Group on Social Dimension within the Bologna Follow-Up Group and Executive Director and Founder of the Institute for the Development of Education, Croatia
• Dr Romyen Kosaikanont, Centre Director, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO RIHED)
• John Blake, Director for Fair Access and Participation, Office for Students, England
• Annette Palmer, Head of HE in FE and Widening Participation, Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland
• Professor John McKendrick, Commissioner for Fair Access in Scotland
• Dr Jandhyala B. G. Tilak, Distinguished Professor, the Council for Social Development, New Delhi; Adjunct Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, and Visiting Professor at Kautilya School of Public Policy
• Sonal Singh, Vice-President, Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia (EPHEA) 
• Fabrizio Mejia, Acting Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion, and Julian Ledesma, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion (Interim) and Executive Director, Centers for Educational Equity and Excellence, University of California, Berkeley
• Dr Cristina Fioreze, Professor, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Brazil, and Visiting Researcher, Universidad Diego Portales, Chile
• Mo Malele, Student Development Advisor, The Saville Foundation
• William Moses, Managing Director, Education at The Kresge Foundation
• Professor Graeme Atherton, Director, National Education Opportunities Network (NEON)

Register for FREE below.

If you encounter any issues during your booking, please contact Frances Sit at frances.sit@uwl.ac.uk .