The WAHEN Vision.
A world where, in every country, more people from minority or from disadvantaged majority populations are able to benefit from participation in higher education..
Imagine there is no inequality – a vision for better higher education
WAHEN’s Strategic Aims
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Capacity Building– To facilitate equity in higher education through the sharing, professionalisation and enhancement of practice related to higher education equity..
- Collaboration – To enable and lead new shared partnerships between organisations working together, on a global basis, to achieve shared goals around equity in higher education.
- Convening – To bring together those from across countries and sectors to affect change higher education equity.
- Campaigning – To advocate to and work with policy-makers and governments around the world to make higher education more equitable.
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Critical thinking – To create a space where research and scholarly activity related to higher education access, equity and success globally can be produced.
WAHEN builds on the work over the last 5 years of World Access to Higher Education Day (WAHED) – the international day of action which acts as a catalyst to address inequalities in higher education access and success. WAHED has engaged over 1000 organisations since 2018.
Why is access to, and success in 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
What is equitable access and success?
Access to higher education refers to participation by students from all backgrounds. Equitable access refers to participation by students who are either in the minority in a particular country, or come from a ‘disadvantaged majority’ who on average earn less/experience greater social/economic challenges than a minority population.
Equitable access only becomes a desirable policy goal if it is associated with productive outcomes and ‘success’ for those who attend higher education from minority or disadvantaged majority populations. What constitutes such ‘success’ needs to be seen in the broadest terms though. While employment related outcomes such as higher earnings, occupational progress and employment in graduate occupations is extremely important it is not the only metric of a successful higher education experience. Developing the capabilities of students to be productive citizens and their ‘humanistic ‘ identities is also very important and evidence also shows that increased higher education participation can lead to greater civic engagement, improved health outcomes etc.
The nature of the specific minorities, or disadvantaged majority, is defined by the social, economic and political context of a particular country. These groups are usually (although not exclusively) drawn from one of more of the following categories: a low income/socio-economic group, students belonging to ethnic and religious minority backgrounds, female,students, students with disabilities, students belong to sexual or gender minorities, older students or those from rural backgrounds.
Who is leading the World Access to Higher Education Network?
WAHEN has been convened by the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) based at the University of West London (UWL). NEON is the professional organisation, in the United Kingdom, supporting those involved in equity in higher education (HE). NEON enables those working to address equity issues in HE to affect change in their own organisations and communities. WAHEN will continue to be co-ordinated with a secretariat function based at UWL which is supported by an advisory group constituted by representatives from the WAHEN membership. WAHEN is not funded or subsidised by any government, university or other benefactor. WAHEN will only be sustainable if it is supported by membership subscription and income from events, activities and projects.