WAHED 2025: A Global Milestone in Advancing Equity in Higher Education

The World Access to Higher Education Day (WAHED) 2025 Conference, held on 28 October in hybrid format at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and online, marked a significant moment in the global movement for equitable access and success in higher education. Despite a campus-wide power outage leading to a short notice change in programming, the event brought together leaders, researchers, students, and policymakers from over 20 countries to share insights, evidence, and strategies for change.

Rector Professor Robert Balfour delivered the welcome speech, saying: “Access and equity are central to our identity. Founded in 1960 within a divided, racially segregated system, UWC quickly transformed into an institution committed to the struggle against apartheid – and, ever since, to widening participation and advancing knowledge for the public good“

At the heart of the conference was the launch of Drawing the Global Access Map 2, the most comprehensive study to date on inequality in higher education. The report, supported by the Lumina Foundation, draws on data from more than 200 countries and territories and highlights persistent disparities in participation and attainment, particularly among low-income, first-generation, and marginalised students. It calls for stronger international collaboration, improved data sharing, and national targets for equity.

Celebrating Success and Innovation

WAHED 2025 showcased a wide range of successful initiatives and reforms:

• Mauritius is leading regional efforts to expand access through micro-credentials and flexible learning pathways, supported by UNESCO and the Commonwealth of Learning.
• Brazil’s quota system has significantly diversified its federal universities, with students admitted under affirmative action performing as well as their peers.
• Australia’s UNSW Gateway programme has doubled enrolments from disadvantaged schools, with retention and success rates now exceeding national averages.

South Africa’s own efforts were a focal point. The Siyaphumelela (“We succeed”) network, supported by the Kresge Foundation and implemented by Saide, now includes 20 of the country’s 26 public universities. It has trained over 1,000 staff in evidence-based student success strategies and is recognised as one of the most advanced national movements of its kind.

Voices of Transformation

Muleka Ilunga and Ivan Hirwa, postgraduate students at UCT and UWC respectively, spoke on their experiences as alumni of the DAFI scholarship programme, administered by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

The conference also amplified the voices of students whose lives have been transformed by access to higher education. Refugee scholars, rural graduates, and young leaders shared powerful personal stories that underscored the human impact of inclusive education. Their journeys, from displacement to postgraduate study, embodied the conference’s theme: Opportunity, Innovation and Lifelong Learning.

A Shared Commitment

Throughout the event, speakers emphasised that equity in higher education must go beyond access. Success, belonging, and institutional transformation are essential. Leadership, collaboration, and data-driven strategies were identified as key drivers of change.

As Professor Peter John, WAHEN Chair and Vice-Chancellor of the University of West London, noted:

“Any meaningful change must come from the top.”

WAHED 2025 reaffirmed WAHEN’s commitment to making equity a defining measure of progress in higher education. As the world looks beyond 2030, the message is clear: access and success must be rights, not privileges.

The full conference slide deck can be viewed here.