The first ever World Access to Higher Education Day is taking place on 28th November 2018.
World Access to Higher Education Day will be a platform to raise global awareness around inequalities in access and success in higher education (HE), and act as a catalyst for international, regional and local action.
The case for World Access to Higher Education Day is striking. UNESCO have recognised the importance of access to HE by making equal access to education, including university, one of its Global Goals for 2030. World Access to Higher Education Day can act as a platform to help make sure this goal is met by:
- Adding value and providing support for local and national work
- Strengthening efforts to achieve national objectives by encouraging the setting of common global targets
- Building global widening access networks
What does ‘access to higher education’ mean?
The terms and definitions used to describe access to higher education and widening access are often varied. But it is important that ‘access to higher education’ should not simply mean entering higher education.
A person from a marginalised group may be able to enter higher education but could have fewer options in doing so, have difficulties completing their course, find themselves unable to achieve a comparable level of attainment to other students and then struggle to get a good job.
Access to higher education should include the completion of quality higher education and progression into post-higher education study or work.
Why is access to higher education important?
- Ensures opportunities are shared fairly
- Has the potential to boost economic growth
- Gives people a chance to transform their lives
- Helps to create a society where we all work together to build a better world
Who is leading World Access to Higher Education Day?
World Access to Higher Education Day is organised by the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON), the UK’s professional organisation for widening access to high education, and is supported by NCUK, the trading arm of the Northern Consortium charity.
However, as a genuinely global event, the individual conferences and other events taking place on World Access to Higher Education Day will be led by their hosts.
World Access to Higher Education Day is also supported by educational institutions from around the world, some of which are involved in planning for the day. You can find a complete list on our Become a Supporter page, where you can also register your own organisation as a supporter.
