WAHEN Board Meets Essay Competition Winners to Discuss Global Higher Education Challenges

David J. Lock, Secretary General of the Magna Charta Observatory with the winners of the MCO Essay Competition 2025 (Okechukwu Izuchukwu unable to attend in person)

On 26 October 2025, the University of the Western Cape hosted a significant gathering of the WAHEN Board and the winners of the Magna Charta Observatory 2025 Global Student Essay Competition. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to engage directly with students whose insightful essays addressed pressing challenges in higher education worldwide.

This year’s essay prompt invited students to reflect on their personal experiences and respond to the question:

“Drawing on your own experience, how might your university engage more effectively with stakeholders both to improve access to higher education for all and enhance the learning experience of students?”

An impressive total of 94 essays were submitted from students representing 37 countries. Each entry was independently reviewed by a panel of nine judges, who collaborated to determine the final winners (listed alphabetically by country):

• Subin (Bella) Kang – University of Toronto, Canada
• Harleen Kaur – University of Toronto, Canada
• Meghan Lai – McGill University, Canada
• Okechukwu Izuchukwu – University of Uyo, Nigeria
• Hajra Raheel – Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan

The winners were awarded the opportunity to travel to Cape Town, South Africa, to attend both the WAHEN Board Convening and the WAHED 2025 Conference, in recognition of the exceptional quality of their writing and the insight demonstrated in their essays. Their contributions reflect not only personal experience but also a deep understanding of the broader challenges and opportunities within global higher education

During the event, each winner presented their work and shared reflections on their experiences within diverse higher education systems. Their perspectives illuminated the real-world impact of global shifts in education and underscored the importance of equitable access and inclusive learning environments.

This celebratory occasion not only honoured the achievements of these exceptional students but also reinforced WAHEN’s commitment to amplifying student voices and promoting equity in higher education across the globe.