2025-26 Event Calendar

In 2026, WAHEN will offer a series of online seminars and the return of WAHED – World Access to Higher Education Day.

January 15

January

15

Global Communities Seminar: Disability in a Global Higher Education Landscape

Chaired by Martin Webster, Director of the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON), this seminar explores how higher education institutions worldwide can advance inclusion and accessibility for disabled students. Featuring international perspectives and practical strategies.

Join us for an insightful discussion on global approaches to disability inclusion in higher education, from curriculum design to staff development and assistive technologies.

Desire Chiwandire (University of Illinois at Chicago): Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Curriculum Access for disabled students in Higher Education: From skewed individualistic interdependence to Ubuntu communalism.

Tahera Mayat & Susan Darlington (Go Higher West Yorkshire): Collaborating on student support: e-learning for HE staff to support disabled students.

Adams Onivehu (University of Lagos): Prospects and Challenges of Utilization of Assistive Technology for Sustainable Inclusive Education in Nigerian Universities.
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January 29

January

29

Global Communities Seminar: Institutional Strategies for Advancing Equity and Student Success

Chaired by Sonal Singh, Head of Equity Pathways, Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion, University of Technology Sydney, this seminar brings together global perspectives on how institutions can lead transformative change to promote equity and improve student outcomes in higher education. Speakers will share innovative strategies and collaborative approaches.

Join us to explore institutional leadership, cross-border collaboration, and community-driven initiatives that advance equity and inclusion in higher education.

Joshua Simuka & Professor Quinton C. Kanhukamwe (Harare Institute of Technology): Leading for Equity: University-Wide Strategies for Access and Student Success in Higher Education.

Mike Bennett (King’s College London): Co-creation in action: Building Africa’s first online transnational foundation programme.

Karen Duke, Barry O’Connor & Denis Barrett (Cork Access Network, Cork Learning City): Tackling Educational Disadvantage – a City Perspective.

Adina Fodor, Prof. Alexandra Hughes, Prof. Cecilia Christersson (SGroup): Reframing Access and Equity through the Social Mission of Universities
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February 12

February

12

Global Communities Seminar: Global Perspectives on Lifelong Learning

Chaired by David Lock, Secretary General, Magna Charta Observatory, this seminar explores innovative approaches to lifelong learning and how higher education institutions can create inclusive pathways for adult learners. Speakers will share strategies and experiences from diverse contexts.

Join us for a global conversation on how lifelong learning initiatives can transform access, equity, and success in higher education.

Fiona Chapel (University of Leeds): JumpStart: bridging the gap between adult education and university.

Sithandekile Sibanda (Bulawayo Polytechnic): Innovative Pathways: Successes and Lessons in Lifelong Learning.

Camilla Priede (University of Sheffield): From Life Experience to Academic Excellence – Providing Foundations for Success at Sheffield.

Claudia Guevara (Universidad Siglo 21): Strategic Territorial Engagement as a Driver of Access, Equity, and Lifelong Learning in Higher Education.
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February 26

February

26

Global Communities Seminar: Global Approaches to Innovation and Equity in Higher Education

Chaired by Julian Ledesma, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Equity and Success, Centers for Educational Equity and Excellence at UC Berkeley. This seminar brings together leading voices from across the world to explore how innovation can drive equity in higher education.

Join us for an insightful discussion on global approaches to inclusion and equity in higher education, from curriculum design to network development and the behind-the-scenes work of equity practitioners across the world.

Angela Tavares De Jesus, Researcher and Lecturer, East Timor Coffee Institute (ETCI): Inclusive Higher Education in Resource-Limited Contexts: The Case of ETCI Faculty of Education

Sonal Singh (Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion): Invisible Architects: The Role of Equity Practitioners in Shaping and Driving Student Access Pathways

Clare Gartland ( University of Bath), Ivana Lessner-Listiakova (University of Suffolk) & Tuba Gokpinar (University of Essex): The power of co-creation: the importance of partnerships in developing outreach activity

Mo Malele (The Saville Foundation): Innovation or Isolation: Are We Building Communities or Just Campuses?
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March 12

March

12

Global Communities Seminar: Uncovering Strategies for Inclusive Student Success

This seminar brings together global experts to share innovative approaches for advancing equity and student success in higher education. Join us for thought-provoking talks and practical insights.

This session will explore strategies for inclusive student success across undergraduate and graduate levels, workplace access, and global perspectives on equity in higher education.

Prof. John Gardner (Gardner Institute for Excellence in Higher Education): The Graduate Student Experience: Inviting a Needed Expansion of Student Success Focus Beyond Undergraduate Students to Include Graduate Students

Fiona Hudson (Dublin City University): DCU Access to the Workplace Programme: How a financially sustainable internship programme can support social mobility for underrepresented student groups

Tracy Kitchen & Kelly Vorster (Rhodes University): Access beyond admission: Uncovering the hidden curriculum for student success

Global Forum for Student Success featuring:
Prof. Barry O’Connor (Munster Technological University),
Dr. Andrew K. Koch (Gardner Institute for Excellence in Higher Education),
Dr. Emily McIntosh (Harper-Adams University),
Dr. Nthabiseng Audrey Ogude (Professor of Science Education)
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March 26

March

26

Global Communities Seminar: Innovating Policy for Inclusive Higher Education

Chaired by Ninoslav Šćukanec Schmidt, Executive Director, Institute for the Development of Education (IDE), this seminar explores policy innovations that advance equity and inclusion in higher education across diverse global contexts. Join leading experts as they share research, strategies, and lessons learned.

This session will provide actionable insights into how policy can drive inclusive practices, reduce disparities, and support underrepresented student groups globally.

Ester Macedo (Brazilian National Institute of Studies and Research in Education): Widening access, success and belonging in Higher Education in Brazil

Aung Than Oo (RPC of Makerere University): Bridging Educational and Health Equity Through Social Innovation: Lessons from Conflict-Affected Regions in Asia and Africa

Yan Deng (Yunnan Normal University): China’s Strategies and Results of Addressing Regional Disparity in the Higher Education

Dale Kirby (Memorial University of Newfoundland, Atlantic Canada Tuition Waiver Working Group): Tuition Waivers and Holistic Supports: Advancing Equity in Access for Care-Experienced Youth
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The success of WAHED

WAHEN builds on the work 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.

Learn more about WAHED