Board members

Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) is an intergovernmental not-for-profit organisation located in Singapore. Founded in 1997, it is the only institution of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). ASEF promotes understanding, strengthens relationships and facilitates cooperation among the people, institutions and organisations of Asia and Europe. ASEF enhances dialogue, enables exchanges and encourages collaboration across the thematic areas of culture, education, governance, sustainable development, economy, public health and media. One of ASEF’s flagship projects is the ASEF Regional Conference on Higher Education (ARC), the Official Dialogue Partner of the ASEM Education Ministers Meeting (ASEMME) and the only bi-regional multi-stakeholder dialogue platform for university and student leaders, policymakers and ministers to discuss higher education issues and shape the education landscape in Asia and Europe. 

At a time when access and inclusion are unequal, UC Berkeley’s Division of Equity & Inclusion advocates for equity by providing programmes and services that lead to academic access and success for students, pathways to leadership and advancement for staff, building equitable structures with faculty advisors, and closing opportunity gaps for the most marginalized groups. UC Berkeley work to reshape and influence policies and practices that increase opportunities, advance social justice, and create equitable experiences for all students, staff, and faculty. They also lead responsive work that connects systematically marginalized students, staff, and faculty to an ecosystem of supports, resources, and community-building opportunities across campus. Berkeley’s Division of Equity & Inclusion serve as an anchor point for a network of Thriving Initiatives that promote equity-based, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive values. 

The Kresge Foundation is a private, national, endowed philanthropic foundation that works to expand opportunities in America’s cities through grant making and social investing in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services and community development, nationally and in Detroit, Memphis and New Orleans. In collaboration with partners, they help create pathways for people with low incomes to improve their life circumstances and join the economic mainstream. The Education Team leads with equity as they work to increase postsecondary access and success while reducing inequitable student outcomes in the U.S. and South Africa, advance economic mobility and strengthen urban communities. The Foundation does this by funding organizations and networks of institutions that prioritize improving the educational outcomes and experiences of students we care most about – people with low-incomes, especially those living in cities, and underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, including first-generation, Black, Latino, Asian-Pacific Islander, Native American, veterans and immigrant students. 

The Institute for the Development of Education advocates a system of higher education that ensures equal educational opportunities, adheres to the principle of quality assurance, promotes international cooperation, supports lifelong learning and meets both the needs of individual and society. The organisation contributes to the development of higher education policy, provides expert support to institutions, connects domestic and international experts and enables individuals in Croatia and the region to achieve their educational goals.

The values the Institute for the Development of Education upholds are:

• Equity – Ensuring equal opportunities, fighting discrimination and support to disadvantaged social groups as the basis for increasing social inclusion and the development of the society as a whole.
• Participation and transparency – Promoting the principle of participatory democracy in order to strengthen the social responsibility of individuals and institutions. Promoting the principle of transparency in the work of public institutions and including stakeholders in the process of drafting legislation and other regulations.
• Cooperation – Encouraging trust and dialogue between stakeholders in higher education (at the national and international level) through the exchange of information, stances and ideas, in order to reach decisions based on real needs, verifiable data and best practices.
• Quality – Ensuring and enhancing quality as a precondition for establishing an effective higher education system and achieving high quality outcomes for higher education and research.

Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia (EPHEA) is the professional incorporated association for equity practitioners who work in tertiary education throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region. Equity practitioners play an essential role in tertiary education to develop and implement student and/or staff affirmative action programs, manage organisational responsibilities under anti-discrimination legislation, promote cultural change within institutions, and foster an environment which values and respects diversity. 

Lumina Foundation is the USA’s largest private foundation focused specifically on increasing Americans’ postsecondary success. Society’s need for talent has never been more urgent. America needs at least 60 percent of adults to have a college degree, certificate, industry-recognized certification, or other credential of value by 2025. To get there, Lumina Foundation is working with business, community, education, and government leaders to restructure education and training systems that have granted exceptional opportunities to some while leaving many Black, Hispanic, Latino, and Native American adults behind. Lumina is committed to strategies that put racial equity first. 

The Magna Charta Observatory is a global organisation that speaks for universities as a whole and particularly for the signatories of the Magna Charta Universitatum (MCU) on matters of fundamental values. The original MCU was first signed by 388 universities from around the world in 1988 on the 900th anniversary of the founding of the University of Bologna. The document contained the fundamental principles of academic freedom and institutional autonomy. Since then, universities and the environments in which they operate have changed greatly, and in 2020 a revised MCU was adopted which recognises the more global nature of what universities do and the wider range of local responsibilities which they have in serving local communities.  

NEON is the professional, member-based organisation for widening access to higher education (HE) in the United Kingdom. Founded in 2012 NEON grew from the need for a strong, coherent community of professionals that could support learners from underrepresented backgrounds to enter HE and succeed within it. NEON brings together higher education institutions, schools, colleges, the voluntary sector, professional bodies and employers, and is made up of over 150 member organisations with 3,000 individuals from those organisations. It is a registered charity in England and Wales and has its office at the University of West London. Since 2012 over 12,000 delegates have attended NEON events, ranging from its flagship annual Summer Symposium and one-day summits to capacity building sessions and working groups. 

The University of Oxford is a world-leading centre of learning and research, offering rigorous, intensive and intellectually stretching degree courses, equipping their graduates with the skills to make outstanding contributions to society. The University aims to attract talented students who have the potential to succeed, whatever their background, and are working to ensure that their outreach programmes and admissions process support this aim. Determined to improve equality of opportunity at each stage of the student journey, Undergraduate outreach exists to encourage prospective students to apply to Oxford University, especially those from under-represented groups and those who do not have as much support.  A range of approaches is used to reach prospective applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. As a collegiate University, Oxford runs a wide range of outreach events and initiatives to provide information and support.  

SEAMEO RIHED is the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Centre specialising in higher education and development. Conceived as a Regional Institute for Higher Education Development (RIHED) in 1959 by UNESCO and the International Association of Universities (IAU) in collaboration with the Ford Foundation, the Institute was later re-established in 1993 under SEAMEO in Bangkok, Thailand, where they are currently hosted by the Royal Thai Government and continue to serve as the region’s partner in higher education.  SEAMEO RIHED works with SEAMEO Member Countries and partners across the world in areas essential to progress in higher education, including building policy platforms and opportunities for dialogue, and enhancing mobility and linkages. Through engagement with regional and international partners, the Institute promotes inclusive education and enhance mobility and linkages to develop global citizens and lifelong learners. 

Arising out of almost two decades of lived/actual experiences, deep reflection and open-minded analysis within the higher education sector, The Saville Foundation has progressed into an agile entity which has gained the experience, perspective and capacity to support initiatives or institutions that globally advance positive change through cultivating a balance of the inner and outer worlds to create programs that enable productive self-driven learning. As a result, the foundation is now actively pursuing the vision of a world of higher education where in every country, more people from previously excluded populations can benefit from meaningful participation in higher education. This involves work that will promote equity of success at both a student and systemic level. Strategies may vary, but an intentional focus on student development and students’ self-belief lies at the core. 

The UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) was created by the UNESCO General Conference in 1997, replacing the Regional Center for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean established in 1974. It is the sole specialized institute of the United Nations system with the goal to contribute to the improvement of higher education in member States. UNESCO IESALC is headquartered in Caracas, Venezuela and also counts on a number of international, remote-working teams. Its mission is to promote the right to higher education through capacity development for the formulation and implementation of quality, equitable, and inclusive higher education policies at the national, regional, and institutional levels in Latin America and the Caribbean Member States, with a view to global outreach. 

(UWL) is a dynamic, student-centered institution based in London, offering a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Known for its strong focus on employability, UWL integrates practical experience with academic learning, preparing students for successful careers. The university boasts modern facilities, excellent industry connections, and a diverse, inclusive environment. It offers courses in areas such as business, health, law, media, and the arts, with a particular emphasis on nurturing students’ skills and potential. UWL is committed to providing high-quality education, with a strong track record of graduate employment outcomes and industry relevance. 

The World Bank promotes equity in Higher Education providing funding, leadership and technical expertise for projects related to post-secondary education reform initiatives around the world.   With an active investment portfolio of over $9 bln, the Africa region accounts for 40% of the portfolio, followed by South Asia (24%). Equity interventions in World Bank higher education projects aim to improve access and success for underserved groups. Key strategies include providing information, targeted outreach, secondary school partnerships, student loans, need-based and merit-based scholarships, and campus-level support to enhance retention and progression for disadvantaged students.