Dear UNESCO Chair-holder / UNITWIN Network Coordinator,
We are pleased to inform you that UNESCO will hold the Third World Higher Education Conference (WHEC) in Barcelona, Spain, on October 7-9, 2021, organized in close collaboration with the Government of Spain, the regional Government of Catalonia, the City Hall and the Regional Authority of Barcelona, and is supported by the GUNi/ACUP (Global University Network for Innovation/ Catalan Association of Public Universities). The WHEC2021 aims at breaking away from the traditional models of higher learning and opening the door to new, innovative, creative, and visionary conceptions that not only serve the current global agendas for sustainable development, but also pave the way for a future learning community that speaks to all and is inclusive of all lifelong learners.
The conference-related events will mobilize diverse stakeholders within and outside the HED systems and institutions to approach major challenges faced by humanity and the planet, including those derived from the COVID-19 Pandemic and other recent crises.
In the framework of the conference, a variety of initiatives will take place throughout 2021: generation of data, information & knowledge; formulation of updated policy recommendations; identification and dissemination of good practices; networking and strengthening of partnerships; broad participation of stakeholders (nationally, regionally, globally); engagement of students & youth; identification of priorities and launch of a HED Roadmap framed in the 2030 Agenda, its pledge to leave no one behind, and The Futures of Education (please, see more details in the attached Concept Note and Executive Presentation).
As a valuable component of WHEC2021, all UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks are invited to participate before and during the conference’s main event by producing and sharing knowledge as well as promoting policy dialogue. UNESCO Chairs may participate in at least three ways (please, see details in the attached guidelines and templates):
• Activity A. Encouraging policy dialogue by organizing consultations through focus groups and producing the correspondent consultation reports.
• Activity B. Elaborating one or more policy briefs under one of these modalities:
o Individual (elaborated by one UNESCO Chair)
o Collective (elaborated by two or more UNESCO Chairs or by one UNITWIN Network)
• Activity C. Produce one or more short videos on a higher education relevant issue.
These contributions will enrich the process of updating knowledge and recommendations on higher education and prepare its road map in the framework of the 2030 Development Agenda.
Attached you will find a guideline that explains in detail the opportunities for collaboration and participation in this important initiative. You will also find in annexes the corresponding templates to use when sending your collaboration to UNESCO.
In sum, keep in mind these resources (all attached to this email):
· WHEC2021 Concept Note (Pdf file).
· WHEC2021 Executive Presentation (Pdf file).
· 1_WHEC2021 Guidelines for UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks (Pdf file)
· 2_WHEC2021 Consultation Form for UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks (Word file)
· 3_WHEC2021 Policy Brief Form for UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks (Word file)
We’ll be happy to hear from you and receive your contribution at your earliest convenience (and no later than the deadlines indicated in the guidelines) via email to the email address whec2021@unesco.org.
With much appreciation for your time and consideration.
WHEC2021 Concept Note (EN) – 03.02.21;
WHEC2021 – Executive Presentation (EN) – 03.02.21;
1_ENG WHEC2021 Guidelines for UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Net. 25.01.21;
2_ENG Consultation Form for UNESCO Chairs UNITWIN Net WHEC2021 25.01.21;
3_ENG Policy Brief Form for UNESCO Chairs UNITWIN Net WHEC202125.01.21.
Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa
Director, Division for Education 2030