WAHEN Quality Mark
The WAHEN Quality Mark recognises organisations that demonstrate a sustained, organisation wide commitment to equitable access and student success. It signals excellence, credibility, and leadership in equity focused work across higher education and development, while supporting continuous learning and improvement. The Quality Mark is both a recognition and a developmental process. It is available exclusively to WAHEN member organisations and is awarded for a five year period.
Why the WAHEN Quality Mark Matters
The WAHEN Quality Mark:
- Recognises excellence and commitment to equity across an organisation’s strategy, culture, and practice
- Provides external credibility, acting as a trusted signal to universities, governments, and foundations
- Strengthens partnership potential, identifying qualitymarked organisations as strong collaborators for equity focused initiatives and funding
- Encourages organisational learning, helping members understand strengths, gaps, and development opportunities
Holding the Quality Mark demonstrates that equity in your organisation is not a peripheral activity, but a core organisational priority.
What the Quality Mark Assesses
The application process begins with a detailed selfassessment questionnaire, requiring applicants to describe and evidence their work across key organisational dimensions:
- Leadership, mission, and strategy
- Staff knowledge, engagement, and commitment
- Evidence of progress and impact
- Continuing professional development (CPD) and staff training
- Activities and initiatives supporting access, retention, and student success
- Use of resources to achieve equityrelated outcomes
- External testimony from partner organisations on equityrelated collaboration
- Student engagement, including evidence of student involvement and testimony on organisational commitment to equity
This holistic framework ensures that equity is embedded across the whole organisation, not limited to isolated projects.
Take the Next Step
Only WAHEN members are eligible to apply for the Quality Mark.
Join WAHEN to embed equity across your organisation, strengthen your credibility, and position your work for longterm recognition through the WAHEN Quality Mark.