Access and geopolitics: Next steps in tackling the equity crisis in global Higher Education

A free one-day hybrid research conference hosted by WAHEN, CGHE and SKOPE.

Ruskin College, Oxford and online, 3rd June 2025

Across the world, policies promoting equitable access to higher education are facing a populist backlash. Existing inequalities are themselves fuelling suspicion and resentment of equity and diversity policies. At the same time fewer than 20% of states have specific policies or have set targets for tackling inequalities in participation, progression and success. Fewer still are addressing the needs of the most marginalised, such as people with disabilities. The costs of funding fair access initiatives are often prohibitive, and the rise of private HE provision presents new challenges.

This one day fully-hybrid research workshop, held in Ruskin College, Oxford, will bring together scholars working on equitable access, participation and progression within higher education from across the globe.

Short (15 minute) papers are invited on the following topics:

1. The politics – and geopolitics – of widening participation
2. The challenge of financing access
3. Private provision and higher education as a public good
4. Populism and the equity ‘backlash’
5. The challenge of generating meaningful participation data

Talks should be based on empirical research, whether detailed case studies, country-level analyses or regional comparisons.

Email your proposed title and a 250 word abstract to david.mills@education.ox.ac.uk

Submission deadline: March 31st 2025.