World Access to Higher Education Day
28 October 2025: Become a part of this global day of action campaigning for fair access to, and success within higher education
The World Access to Higher Education Day (WAHED) is an annual opportunity for individuals and organisations worldwide to come together to raise global awareness around inequalities in higher education access and success and to catalyse action at the international, regional and local levels.
After a three-year hiatus, WAHED is back and will take place on 28 October 2025. This year’s theme is ‘Opportunity, Innovation and Lifelong Learning’. On the day, a series of WAHED-branded events and activities will take place across the world, and we encourage as many organisations and countries to be engaged in WAHED as possible to create a global conversation on higher education equity.
How to get involved?
All organisations and individuals from across the world who share a commitment to addressing inequalities in higher education access and success can engage in WAHED. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Higher education providers and universities
- Schools and colleges
- Research institutes
- NGOs working on education and on inequality
- Networks of education providers
- Employers and foundations
- Students and student groups
Download our free event packs to help you plan your own WAHED activity—or simply to spark ideas and inspiration:
Hold your own event on, or around WAHED
Organise your online/in-person/hybrid events under the WAHED banner to highlight the inequalities that exist both in your own country and around the world. Your event can be aimed at learners, educationalists or policymakers, and will be promoted on the WAHEN website and social media. The deadline to register your event is 18 October 2025.
Post about WAHED using #WAHED25
A key part of WAHED will be mobilising organisations to contribute to an effective social-media-based awareness raising campaign. You can engage with WAHED through social media before, on and after 28 October 2025. Access our social media pack for message templates and schedule suggestions.
Participate in WAHED Conference 2025
A WAHED conference will be held online and at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa on 28 October 2025, with a range of sessions giving colleagues from all time zones the opportunity to contribute and attend for FREE. Registration is now open. Join us and be a part of the world’s largest annual international event dedicated to equitable access to and success in higher education.
What has WAHED achieved?
200
Over 200 separate events held to recognise WAHED.
1,500
1,500 organisations engaged, including 1,000 universities
107
Delegates to WAHED conferences have come from 107 countries
