WAHED 2022 Global, Online Conference – Call for papers

The World Access to Higher Education Network (WAHEN) would like to invite the submission of research papers and examples of best practice for the World Access to Higher Education Day (WAHED) 2022 online, global conference ‘Equity in higher education: building the global knowledge base’. The event will take place on the 17th  of November 2022. It will run from 00:00 (GMT) until 17:00 (GMT) over a range of sessions giving colleagues from all time zones the opportunity to contribute. The conference will concentrate on what we know from across the world regarding extending participation in higher education for those from low-income backgrounds; ethnic groups who have low rates of participation or are disadvantaged in their countries; rural, indigenous and older learners, disabled students and other groups who may be under-represented in their national context.

World Access to Higher Education Day (WAHED) was launched in 2018 and over the past 5 years we have engaged with over 100 organisations from over 100 countries. It is the largest collaborative event focussed solely on equitable access and success in higher education in the world. To celebrate this year’s World Access to Higher Education Day we are delighted to be able to offer opportunities for colleagues across the world to contribute to the event by presenting their work at our online conference. Presenting at the World Access to Higher Education Day online global conference 2022 will enable you to:

• Participate in the only global conference dedicated towards issues of equitable access and success in higher education;
• Share your research and/or practice with a global audience and create opportunities to collaborate and discuss
• Feature your work in our conference proceedings;
• Make new connections with other researchers and practitioners working in similar areas.

We welcome submissions from contributors who are at all stages of their careers. All papers that relate to the conference theme, or to issues of equity in access to, and success within higher education are welcome. Some suggested areas of interest are outlined below:

• How universities and policymakers are building progression routes into higher education for those from minority or disadvantaged majority populations via working with schools; preferential admission arrangements; quota systems etc. and how effective these approaches are.
• Analysis of trends in participation and success in higher education by different minority and disadvantaged majority populations using secondary data on participation, completion and attainment.
• Approaches to opening up international higher education to all learners – how can the international higher education experience be accessible and affordable for all?
• Assessment of Inclusive approaches to learning, teaching and pedagogy which can support students from diverse backgrounds to complete their studies and reach their potential.
• Theoretical considerations of the relationship between equitable access policy and practice and wider theories of social justice, inequality, higher education, individual and collective empowerment/capabilities etc.
• Investigation of policies regarding equitable access and success in higher education at the local, regional and national level including their historical development, relationship the wider policy environment and their effectiveness.
• Exploration of approaches to student finance in terms of national, regional and institutional arrangements where fees, bursaries, subsidies, grants and loans are concerned.
• Analysis of pastoral and other forms of additional support programmes including their theoretical basis and practical delivery.
• Engagement with students and how this can play a role in equitable access and success.

All papers relevant to the conference theme but that may not fit with the areas of interest above will also be considered.

All accepted papers will be included in the Conference Proceedings published with ISBN and ISSN codes. The publication will be sent to be reviewed for inclusion in the Conference Proceedings Citation Index by ISI Clarivate – Web of Science.

Paper presentations should be between 15 – 20 minutes in length with an additional 5-10 minutes allocated for further questions. 

Please note: all presenters at World Access to Higher Education Day are required to register for the event. The cost of registering as a presenter for the conference is laid out in the table below.

Please note that conference fees are EXEMPT of VAT. Please click on the link below to find the income economies classified by World Bank: https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups

Please note that contributors from organisations who are members of WAHEN are exempt from any registration fees and can attend for free. Details about organisational membership of WAHEN can be found here.

Paper sessions will be recorded and made available via the WAHEN website, maximising the audience who will be able to engage with your work.

If you wish to submit a paper proposal, please submit a 500 word abstract by clicking at the bottom of this page.

The closing date for submissions is Friday 30^th September 2022. All of those whose paper is accepted will be informed by the 5th October and then required to register for the conference by 21^st of October for their paper to be included in the conference.