Global Communities

Connecting global expertise to advance equitable higher education

WAHEN Global Communities are internationally focused networks that bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers and advocates committed to improving equitable access to, and success within, higher education.

Each community provides a structured, collaborative
space where members can share evidence, practice and ideas, learn from global perspectives, and work collectively towards more inclusive systems worldwide.

Grounded in a communities of practice model, these groups move beyond discussion to support meaningful action: strengthening the global evidence base, influencing policy, and shaping institutional strategy in ways that respond to diverse regional contexts.

WAHEN Global Map
student-interaction
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Education network interaction

What do the Global Communities do?

Each WAHEN Global Community focuses on a key equity theme, meeting regularly online to:

  • Facilitate international dialogue and peer learning
  • Share research, data, policy insights and practice
  • Explore how inequalities in access and success manifest differently across systems
  • Codevelop ideas, resources and outputs that can inform practice and policy

Led by experienced cochairs who are leaders in their fields and supported by the WAHEN Secretariat, our global communities are inclusive, flexible and sustainable.

Members may join one or multiple communities, depending on their interests.

Our Global Communities

WAHEN’s Global Communities currently explore themes including:

Building the evidence base for equitable access and success

Disability and inclusive practice

Equity and diversity: Understanding policy approaches across regions and countries

Leadership and strategy for advancing equity

Supporting low income and first-generation students: Innovation in practice

Driving student success

AI, data and new frontiers for higher education equity

Participation, access and success for refugee students

Why do global communities matter?

Inequities in higher education are shaped by local realities, but they are also influenced by global trends, from data and policy frameworks to technology, labour markets and social change. WAHEN Global Communities recognise that no single country or institution has all the answers.

By connecting expertise across borders, these communities:

  • Enable comparative learning across regions and systems
  • Help identify shared challenges and innovative responses
  • Strengthen the global evidence base for equity focused decision making
  • Support more informed, context sensitive policy and practice

Together, they contribute to building higher education systems that are not only more inclusive, but more effective and resilient worldwide.