UNESCO and partners launch the joint statement for Transforming Higher Education in Emergencies

At the 11th biennial World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) held on 29 November 2023, in Doha, Qatar, UNESCO and the Education Above All Foundation (EAA) co-organized two roundtable discussions addressing systemic fragilities in higher education, advocating inclusivity, and emphasizing the importance of strengthening higher education institutions to be crisis-resilient. Most notably, the Joint Statement on Transforming Higher Education in Emergencies was launched, urging the implementation of transformative actions and sustainable solutions.

The Joint Statement recognises the obstacles faced by marginalised populations in accessing higher education and demands a systemic approach to address the inclusivity of higher education. Specifically, the Joint Statement “calls upon countries to improve policies and legislation, strengthen data system, integrate crisis considerations into national higher education systems, and ensure equitable inclusion of crisis-affected individuals”. It “urges the international community to rally behind this Joint Statement, to champion a higher education system that is resilient, inclusive, and equitable”.

At the high-level roundtable session chaired by Ms Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, commitments and endorsements to the Joint Statement were made by Member States and implementation partners. 

The policy-level roundtable, on the other hand, brought together key implementation partners to form consensus to tackle systemic barriers through various channels, such as the recognition of prior learning and knowledge, i.e., the establishment of adequate recognition mechanisms at the national level through initiatives like the UNESCO Qualifications Passport and other relevant actions that ensure the sustainability of the solution and its ownerships to relevant national authorities. 

The two roundtables were attended by Ministerial and high-level representatives from the Ministry of Education from Qatar, the Ministry of Education of Zambia, Zambia Qualifications Authority, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Iraq, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kurdistan region of Iraq, Ministry of Education and Sport from Uganda, Kenya National Qualifications Authority, Council of Europe, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNHCR, the Institute of International Education, Qatar Foundation, Sciences Po, University of Pennsylvania. 

Moving forward with the 2030 agenda, as for the next steps, UNESCO will work jointly with the champion Member States, partners as well as higher education institutions, in co-designing a roadmap for the implementation of the Joint Statement with concrete actionable solutions. 

• More on UNESCO’s work in education in emergencies and crises