Beyond Borders – widening access to higher education through international co-operation
World Access to Higher Education Day
UK Hub Conference
Aston University, Birmingham, UK
28th November 2018
Beyond Borders, a unique event
Beyond Borders is the UK hub conference for the first ever World Access to Higher Education Day, a new day of awareness that aims to bring global attention to inequality in access to higher education and accelerate action. This conference will bring together, for the first time in the UK, organisations engaged in widening access and equity work from across the world.
This is a unique opportunity for delegates to strengthen their existing work by learning about policy, research and practice in widening access work for home and international students from Europe, Asia, Australia and the US. It is crucial that if we are to continue to reduce inequalities in access to higher education in Europe, we connect with those from across the world who are addressing this challenge and share ideas and experiences.
Why attend Beyond Borders?
- Learn about international practice in the delivery of widening access work at leading global universities.
- Connect with those leading cross-sector widening access partnerships in different countries.
- Build new international partnerships.
- Understand how to make international education accessible to those from lower socio-economic groups.
- Become part of a global conversation on how to make higher education accessible and exchange ideas and practice with those from four different continents.
Who should attend Beyond Borders?
- Vice Chancellors/Pro-Vice Chancellors
- Senior managers and team members with responsibility for widening access
- Senior managers and team members with responsibility for international recruitment
- Educational researchers with an interest in widening access to higher education
- Voluntary sector organisations working on social mobility
Speakers
The event will feature fascinating presentations and discussions on key access issues by the following speakers, with more to be confirmed very soon.
- Gillian Golden, Lead Analyst, Directorate for Education and Skills, OECD
- Julie Anderson, Policy Officer, European Commission, speaking via Skype
- Chris Millward, Director for Fair Access and Participation, Office for Students
- Professor Sue Trinidad, Director, National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE), Australia
- Professor Helen Higson, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Aston University, Welcome address
- Dr Daniel Jones, Senior Strategy Manager (PADILEIA Partnership), King’s College London
- Dr Rebecca Ward, Senior Technical Advisor, Higher Education, IREX
- Celia Partridge, Assistant Director, Partnerships and Mobility, Universities UK International (UUKi)
- Cliona Hannon, Director of Trinity Access Programmes, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Anthony Gartner, , Associate Director, Student Equity and AccessAbility Services, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
- Professor N.V. Varghese, Vice Chancellor NIEPA and Director, Centre for Policy Research in Higher Education (CPRHE), India
- Dr Arnel Onesimo O.Uy, Vice Chancellor for Administration, De La Salle University, The Philippines
- Jamie Merisotis, Director, Lumina Foundation
- Ged Lerpiniere, Director, LEAPS, Scotland
- Milagros Morgan, Vice Rector of Academic Affairs and Research, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), Peru
- Dr Graeme Atherton, Director, National Education Opportunities Network (NEON)
Programme
Registration and Welcome
09:00: Registration
09:45: Welcome, Chair, Dr Graeme Atherton, Director, National Education Opportunities Network
09:50: Welcome, Professor Helen Higson, Aston University
The Global Picture 1
10:05: Equity and access in HE in Australia – Live discussion with Australian World Access to Higher Education Day conference, presented
Professor Sue Trinidad, Director, National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE), Australia
10:20: European initiatives to foster access to higher education
Julie Anderson, Policy Officer, European Commission
10:40: Policy Options for Closing the Access Gap in Higher Education
Gillian Golden, Lead Analyst, Directorate for Education and Skills, OECD
11:00: HE inequalities in Asia and in India
Prof N. V. Varghese Vice Chancellor NIEPA and Director, Centre for Policy Research in Higher Education (CPRHE), India
Director of the Centre for Policy Research in Higher Education (CPRHE), India
11:20: Speaker Q&A
12:00: Break
12:15: Breakout sessions 1: Widening access and Participation – Sharing practice
Widening Access to Study Abroad (and more) – Research and Response:
Celia Partridge, Assistant Director, Partnerships and Mobility, Universities UK International (UUKi)
Challenges and Pathways to Higher Education Access in Asia and Australia:
Anthony Gartner, Associate Director, Student Equity and AccessAbility Services, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
Dr Arnel Onesimo Uy, Vice Chancellor for Administration, De La Salle University, The Philippines
International and Domestic Adaptation of Access Programmes
Cliona Hannon, Director of Trinity Access Programmes, Trinity College Dublin – Widening access in Ireland
13:00: Lunch
14:00: Breakout sessions 2: Widening access and Participation – Sharing practice
Transnational Education and Global Development
Dr Rebecca Ward, Senior Technical Advisor, IREX – Higher Education, Access and Global Development
Widening Access in Scotland: Making Partnerships Sustainable
Ged Lerpiniere, Director, LEAPS – Widening access in Scotland: Making partnerships sustainable
Higher Education And The Syrian Crisis: Why digital learning shows promise
Dr Daniel Jones, Senior Strategy Manager (PADILEIA Partnership), King’s College London
14:45: Break
15:00: Launch of research report ‘The Global Higher Education Equity Policy Barometer’
15:20: The Global Picture 2
Panel discussion featuring:
Dr Arnel Onesimo Uy, Vice Chancellor for Administration, De La Salle University, The Philippines
Jamie Merisotis, President, Lumina Foundation (USA), by Skype
Chris Millward, Director of Access and Participation, Office for Students,
Milagros Morgan, Vice-Rector for University Services, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC) in Peru
16:20: Chair’s Closing remarks
16:30: Finish/ NCUK Student Awards ceremony, immediately followed by Drinks Reception
Who is organising the Beyond Borders conference?
The Beyond Borders conference is being hosted by the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON). NEON is the UK’s professional organisation supporting those involved in widening access to higher education and social mobility. NEON aims to enable those working to widen access to higher education at all levels and in all sectors to affect change in their own organisations and communities.
Secure your place now
Places at Beyond Borders are strictly limited as we have reserved a number of places for colleagues from across the world – please book now to avoid disappointment. An early bird discount is available until Monday 15th October.
A truly global event
Beyond Borders will form part of World Access to Higher Education Day on 28th November 2018 and events will be taking place around the world to support access and success in higher education on the same day. In addition to speakers from Europe and beyond, the opening of Beyond Borders will feature a link-up with the Australian hub conference hosted by the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE) at Curtin University, Perth – this will be a truly global event.
Where is the Beyond Borders conference taking place?
Beyond Borders is taking place at Aston University in Birmingham. With its green, compact campus in the heart of the city, the university will be a fantastic venue. Easily accessible using UK transport links and located a short distance from an international airport, this is a convenient venue for both UK and international delegates.
How do I get to Aston University?
By car
From whichever direction you are approaching Birmingham, Aston University is best reached from the M6 motorway and A38M (not the M6 Toll, which bypasses the city). The address for your satnav is Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET. Read full details on the Aston University page.
By coach or bus
Coach services, including motorway services to London, operate from Digbeth coach station, which is a short taxi ride or 20-minute walk from the campus through the city centre. To plan your journey visit http://www.nationalexpress.co.uk/ or call National Express enquiries: +44(0)990 80 80 80.
Bus services pass close to the Aston University campus due to its central location. To plan your journey, visit the Travel West Midlands website.
By train
Birmingham New Street Station is the nearest main station to Aston University, a short, flat 10-to-15-minute walk away. The station has direct lines to most parts of the UK and many local services.
Some regional and national services arrive at Birmingham Snow Hill and Birmingham Moor Street stations, which are a short ten-minute walk from the Aston University campus.
For full details, including detailed directions from Birmingham New Street Station and information on taxis, please visit the Aston University page.
By plane
Birmingham Airport offers international flights and convenient travel options for getting to Aston University. A free shuttle service runs between Birmingham Airport and Birmingham International train station – several trains an hour run from Birmingham International train station directly to New Street Station and take less than 10 minutes. A taxi from the airport to the university is approximately a 20-minute journey.
Aston University can also be accessed by coach and rail from other airports in the UK.
Accessibility
The Aston University campus is accessible for those with disabilities, with lowered kerbs, lifts and adapted facilities, in addition to a generally flat and compact campus. Disabled car parking is available but needs to be booked in advance – please contact the Aston University Disability Team on +44(0)121 204 5015 for more information.