UNESCO-IESALC

Main Menu

  • The Institute
  • Priorities
    • Internationalization and Academic Mobility
      • Recognition of Academic Degrees
      • New Regional Convention
      • Practical information for recognition by country
    • Quality and relevance
    • Equity and Inclusion
    • Innovation
    • From #CRES2018 to #WHEC2022
      • Regional Consultation for the #WHEC2022
  • Programs
    • Research
      • Academic Mobility
      • Digital Transformations
      • Futures of Higher Education
      • Response to COVID-19
      • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
      • The Right to Higher Education
    • Capacity building
      • Campus IESALC
      • Change Management Program and Agile Methodologies
      • EDS Bootcamp 2023
      • Leadership, Management and Training Program for Sustainable Higher Education 
      • Quality Management Programme
      • Strengthening Programme for Improvement Plan Projects
      • Sustainable University Leadership and Governance. Towards the 2030 Agenda
      • Teacher Competency Development Programme (TCDP)
      • Technical Competency Development Programme
    • Technical cooperation
      • Educational continuity in Peru (PMESUT)
    • Concerted advocacy
  • Publications
    • IESALC Publications
    • ESS Open Journal System
    • CRES 2018 Collection
  • Events
  • Español

logo

  • The Institute
  • Priorities
    • Internationalization and Academic Mobility
      • Recognition of Academic Degrees
      • New Regional Convention
      • Practical information for recognition by country
    • Quality and relevance
    • Equity and Inclusion
    • Innovation
    • From #CRES2018 to #WHEC2022
      • Regional Consultation for the #WHEC2022
  • Programs
    • Research
      • Academic Mobility
        • Virtual Student Mobility
      • Digital Transformations
      • Futures of Higher Education
      • Response to COVID-19
        • Reopening maps
      • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
      • The Right to Higher Education
    • Capacity building
      • Campus IESALC
      • Change Management Program and Agile Methodologies
      • EDS Bootcamp 2023
      • Leadership, Management and Training Program for Sustainable Higher Education 
      • Quality Management Programme
      • Strengthening Programme for Improvement Plan Projects
      • Sustainable University Leadership and Governance. Towards the 2030 Agenda
      • Teacher Competency Development Programme (TCDP)
      • Technical Competency Development Programme
    • Technical cooperation
      • Educational continuity in Peru (PMESUT)
    • Concerted advocacy
  • Publications
    • IESALC Publications
    • ESS Open Journal System
    • CRES 2018 Collection
  • Events
  • Español

Equity in access and success in higher education at crossroads – new report shows

A new collection of articles from 17 leading figures in the field of higher education equity from across the world argues that we are at a critical moment where access to higher education for those from minority and disadvantaged majority groups is concerned. The articles, covering the impact of the pandemic on students in Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil, Australia, Asia, Austria, Thailand, Ireland and the USA show that there is a real risk that inequalities in higher education access will become further entrenched as we emerge from the pandemic without concerted, collaborative action by policymakers and university leaders. ‘Perspectives on […]
students
©
24 September, 2021

A new collection of articles from 17 leading figures in the field of higher education equity from across the world argues that we are at a critical moment where access to higher education for those from minority and disadvantaged majority groups is concerned. The articles, covering the impact of the pandemic on students in Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil, Australia, Asia, Austria, Thailand, Ireland and the USA show that there is a real risk that inequalities in higher education access will become further entrenched as we emerge from the pandemic without concerted, collaborative action by policymakers and university leaders.

‘Perspectives on the challenges to access and equity in higher Education across the world in the context of COVID’ draws its contributors from the World Access to Higher Education Day (WAHED) 24 event on November 17th 2020. World Access to Higher Education Day (WAHED) is the platform to raise global awareness around inequalities in access and success in higher education (HE), and act as a catalyst for international, regional and local action. As well as those working in individual countries the collection includes articles from the World Bank, the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).

This collection shows how the shift to digital delivery poses huge challenges for learners from low income and other minority background especially in small states, how it has forced such learners out of higher education as they have domestic responsibilities and how the pressure on governments has constrained the support they can provide for equity. However, the collection also describes how new initiatives such as the Partnership for Enhanced and Blended Learning (PEBL) led by the ACU is extending access to higher education in east Africa and how governments such as that in Austria and institutions across continents are increasing their commitment to this agenda.

As the editor of the Perspectives publication and Director of the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) UK who convene World Access to Higher Education Day (WAHED), stated: ‘This important collection shows that if we to avoid progress in equitable access and success in higher education spiralling backwards, then it is essential we work together across borders connecting universities and policymakers together’.

In the chapter entitled “Higher education must be on the international education agenda,” Francesc Pedró, Director of UNESCO IESALC, stresses the importance of public investment in higher education and its documented contribution to socio-economic development through health and civic outcomes, direct effect on the labour market and its strong contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition, Pedró states that “developing countries need to enlarge their professional and scientific capacities, both in the public and private sectors, to generate and manage their avenues to socio-economic development; again, no other sub-sector is better positioned to do this than higher education”. To conclude invites to a more thoughtful approach to consider what the effects of not embedding higher education in the international development agenda could potentially be, not only for economic recovery and development but also for equity in post-pandemic higher education.

Notes

  1. There will an online launch event on for ‘Perspectives on the challenges to access and equity in higher Education across the world in the context of COVID’ on the 24th of September from 2.00pm to 3.30pm GMT. To register please go to: https://worldaccesshe.com/launch-event-perspectives-on-the-challenges-to-access-and-equity-in-higher-education-across-the-world/
  1. World Access to Higher Education Day (WAHED) will be on the 17th November 2021. To find out more about how to participate in this year’s WAHED please go to: https://worldaccesshe.com/
  2. The full report will be available from 8am on Friday 24th September

SHARE

RELATED ITEMS

TagsPublications

Other recent press releases

  • Academic Mobility

    New report “Moving minds: Opportunities and challenges for virtual student mobility in a post-pandemic world”

    27 February, 2022
    By Sara Maneiro
  • Futures of Higher Education

    Reflections on a new educational social contract

    17 March, 2022
    By Claudia Delgado Barrios
  • Covid19Publications

    NIFEDE Newsletter: the response of the Educational World to the pandemic Covid-19

    20 July, 2020
    By Sara Maneiro
  • News

    Cours en ligne encourage la nouvelle Convention régionale de l’UNESCO sur la reconnaissance des études, des titres et des diplômes

    16 April, 2021
    By Yara Bastidas
  • News

    Rodolfo Tuirán, academic and official in favor of the right to education

    4 September, 2019
    By Yara Bastidas
  • NewsPublicationsWebinar

    Webinar Financial support for higher education students in Latin America and the Caribbean during the pandemic: challenges and responses

    8 July, 2021
    By Yamel Rincon

  • Regional

    Convocatorias para el intercambio de buenas prácticas en el fortalecimiento del Sistema de Aseguramiento de la Calidad de la Educación Superior en Colombia

  • InternationalNews

    Three volumes to commemorate the centenary of the University Reform

  • PmesutUNAMBA

    UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL MICAELA BASTIDAS DE APURIMAC

UNESCO IESALC applies a zero tolerance policy against all forms of harassment

OUR NEWSLETTER

  Subscribe to our newsletter   

FOLLOW US

  •   Facebook
  •   Twitter
  •   Linkedin
  •   Instagram
  •   Youtube
  • © UNESCO IESALC 2021
  • Disclaimer of use
  • Website Privacy Notice
  • Opportunities
  • Contact us