Call for Papers: Reinventing Higher Education?

In May 2022 UNESCO is convening the third World Higher Education Conference (WHEC2022)) under the overarching theme: Reinventing Higher Education for a Sustainable Future.

The conference concept note introduces the very complex context in which higher education institutions operate worldwide. This context is one of rapidly changing economies, one faced with important environmental challenges, one shaped by the rapid pace of technological developments.

These are just some of the current trends that require new solutions to shape a sustainable future. In this rapidly changing context, the: “WHEC2022 aims to break away from the traditional models of higher education, opening doors to new, innovative, creative, and visionary conceptions that not only serve current agendas for sustainable development but also pave the way for future learning”.

The assumption is that a new vision is needed, a reinvention of what higher education will mean in the future and for society’s future. UNESCO is framing the conversation around the following questions: If higher education and the university appeared today – What would they look like? Who would participate and complete their higher education? How would participants learn? Where would they learn? What knowledge, skills, competencies, and values would they need to develop to work, become global citizens, and live with dignity? What would meaningful research and knowledge production involve? Who would guide these changes: institutional leaders, policy makers, researchers, students, professors, employers, community leaders, civil society groups?

The UNESCO World Higher Education Conference is a multi-stakeholder event, yet, it remains a governmental process. As such, the International Association of Universities (IAU) contributes to this conversation and discussion in the next In Focus section of the Association’s magazine, IAU Horizons, by offering university perspectives on the selected themes.

What needs to change to shape higher education for the future? How would you reinvent higher education? Or question the need to reinvent it? What are the key issues that policy makers must address when they discuss and re-imagine higher education? This is an opportunity for Members worldwide to contribute to the conversation about the future of higher education, which will be part of the IAU response to the World Higher Education Conference.

The articles can address issues related to the governance of higher education at the national or international policy level or discuss topics to be addressed at the institutional level.

Contribute to shaping the conversation on the future of higher education by sharing your aspirations and views or by identifying key challenges. Please submit a short abstract (100 words) explaining the focus of the article.

The deadline for the expression of interest is 15 January 2022. The articles are short opinion pieces of a maximum of 800 words. They are to be submitted to IAU no later than 15 February 2022.

Submit the expression of interest here

For any questions, please contact Trine Jensen

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