From an MCO partner

WAHED26: AI, Advocacy and Action – Making Equality in HE Happen A free online conference

On Tuesday 24 November 2026, the World Access to Higher Education Network (WAHEN) will bring together policymakers, researchers, practitioners and sector leaders from across the world for WAHED26, a free online conference exploring how we can turn evidence and advocacy into action on equality in higher education.

From the impact of AI and changing models of higher education to the case for widening opportunity, WAHED26 will ask where progress is being made, what is driving change, and what more needs to happen. Featuring speakers including: 

  • Andreas Schleicher, Director of Education and Skills, OECD
  • Anna D’Addio, Chief of Education Policy, UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report
  • Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities
  • Arturo Cherbowski Lask, Executive Director, Santander Universities, Mexico
  • Artūrs Černiševs, Senior Expert, Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia
  • Kimberly Jones, CEO, Council for Opportunity in Education, USA
  • Pauline Essah, CEO, Education Sub-Saharan Africa

And many more

The day will also see the launch of WAHEN’s major new international report, Can AI unlock access to higher education?, drawing on evidence from more than 50 countries to examine whether AI can help reduce, rather than reinforce, inequalities in access and opportunity.

24 November 2026 | 10:00–17:30 GMT | Online | Free

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wahed26-ai-advocacy-and-action-making-equality-in-he-happen-tickets-1999089024085?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

WAHED26xEPHEA: Conference Stream Outline

24 November, “World Access to Higher Education Day stream” held at EPHEA2026.

Provisional Programme overview:

8:40am – 9:20am, Parallel Session 6: Access for the global majority: Innovation in equity practice in the USA, UK and South Africa

-              Mo Malele (Saville Foundation)

-              Julian Ledesma (University of California, Berkley)

-              Fabrizio Mejia (University of California, Berkley)

-              Samina Khan (University of Oxford)

9:30am-10:30am Keynote: Graeme Atherton, Director of WAHEN

11:10am -12:10pm Parallel Session 7: How students lead change: Insights from the Magna Charta Global Equity Essay Competition winners

-              David Lock (Magna Charta Observatory)

-              MCO Essay Winner Students

2:30pm – 3:10 am Parallel Session 8: How will AI transform student equity? Launch of WAHEN Global report

-              Graeme Atherton (WAHEN)

-              Frances Sit (RISE)

-              Imogen Breen (WAHEN)

3:50pm -4:30pm Parallel Session 9: Advocating for change and higher education’s perma-crisis: What can we learn from student equity policy across the world?

-              Noah Sobe (UNESCO) – joining remotely

-              Robert Malee Basset (World Bank) – possibly joining remotely

-              Nino Šćukanec Schmidt (Institute for the Development of Education)

-              Martin Webster (NEON)