Open Call for Working Group Members

WG on the UNESCO World Higher Education Conference (WHEC2022) Student Consultation Policy Briefs and Declaration

Here the whole document in PDF: open call wg members whec unesco 2022

The Steering Committee of the Global Student Forum is launching an open call for volunteers to be part of the Working Group on UNESCO WHEC2022 Student Consultation, which will be working for drafting GSF-led transnational policy briefs and a global student declaration as part of participating in and follow-up on the WHEC2022 activities by producing and sharing knowledge as well as promoting policy dialogue.

Objectives and Motivation. 

In view of the global health crisis, the UNESCO World Higher Education Conference, initially planned to be held in 2021, will take place from 18 to 20 May 2022. The goals and strategic scope of the WHEC remain, and the new time frame represents an opportunity to deepen and expand our common efforts of knowledge production, policy dialogue, exchange, and networking. The Global Student Forum aims to prepare policy briefs, expected to synthesise relevant theory and practice on a specific issue relating to one of the ten themes of the WHEC2022. UNESCO asks that final versions of policy briefs are submitted via email to the WHEC2022 Secretariat as soon as they are ready and no later than March 15, 2022 (11:59 pm, Paris time). Although all policy briefs complying with the requirements will become available on the Conference’s participant page, based on the assessment and recommendations provided by these teams, a board of UNESCO experts will select 10 to 15 outstanding policy briefs. This selection will be published as a working document and delivered during the Conference’s main event: this opportunity could improve the possibility of effectively influencing and lobbying according to the claims of students around the world the work of the WHEC2022.

In order to achieve this crucial commitment, the GSF working group will be composed of up to 15 individuals from the membership and a member of the GSF Secretariat who is mandated to chair the group. The mandate of the working group starts on the 15th of February 2022 and remains active for the duration of the period of writing briefs and the global student declaration, which we expect to carry out no later than the 15th of April, 2022.

The purpose of this Working Group is to:

  • Collect information and suggestions on topics indicated by UNESCO from the online student assemblies in progress, allowing the collection of ideas for a sustainable higher education. 
  • Collect the inspirations and the best policy claims of national unions, regional platforms and the transnational network of the Global Student Forum, implementing the consistency of common claims to strengthen a global advocacy strategy for students.
  • Write policy briefs according to UNESCO guidelines, collecting student consultations towards WHEC2022 about one or more main Conference themes: Impact of Covid-19 on Higher Education; Higher Education and the SDGs; Inclusion in Higher Education; Quality and Relevance of Programmes; Academic Mobility in Higher Education; Higher Education Governance; Financing Higher Education; Data and Knowledge Production; International Cooperation to Enhance Synergies; The Futures of Higher Education.
  • Include in the policy briefs requests consistent with the democratic, independent and progressive spirit of the Global Student Forum, in order to influence the final outcomes of WHEC2022, thus obtaining that they can be presented and discussed at the final conference in Barcelona.

Responsibility and Outcome:

The Working Group will work to increase mutual learning and knowledge sharing concerning best practice for students in the wider student movement. The group aims to strengthen current representation initiatives, commenting on and advocating in current campaigning to advocate for our rights in the frame of the WHEC2022, improving GSF proposals for social and human rights in the field of higher education.

Application: 

The GSF is committed to geographic diversity, gender balance and area of research diversity in this Working Group. The Steering Committee would like to encourage individuals to apply in order to ensure diversity amongst the Working Group members and support a balanced and differentiated approach in the Working Group outcomes. 

The application should consist of a short motivation letter and a CV resume. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible, but no later than the: 15th of February 2022. Applications should be sent to steering.committee@globalstudentforum.org. The work of the members of the Working Group is on a voluntary basis. Meetings of the Working Group will take place online, making use of online tools provided by GSF.

Expectations and Considerations 

Working Group members are expected to: 

  • Be enrolled in advocacy, policy and lobbying activities of national unions or GSF member regional platforms. 
  • Have experience in drafting research, policy, and advocacy documents in the field of higher education institutions. 
  • Be capable of discussing and writing in English. 
  • Engage wider networks of student organisations and movements as well as relevant stakeholders in their respective regions. 
  • Participate in regular working group meetings held online (workload: no more than 5 hours per week). 
  • Work on a voluntary basis but can expect to gain valuable policy and networking experience. 
  • Attend meetings and events on behalf of the Working Group when applicable. 
  • Ensure that information is widely distributed within national and regional organizations and movements.

Reporting 

Participation in the preparation of reports to the Global Student Forum Steering Committee is expected from Working Group members. 

Selection and Deadline 

Applicants are asked to send a CV and will be selected according to the rules of selection adopted by the Steering Committee, taking into account regional, gender and research diversity. Deadline for Applications is the 15th of February 2022, 23:59 CET. If you have any questions regarding this call and the Working Group at large, do not hesitate to contact GSF’s Secretariat member and working group chair, Ettore, at ettore@globalstudentforum.org.