5th Global Higher Education Forum 2016 (GHEF 2016)
Date: 5 – 7 April 2016
Venue: St Giles Wembley Hotel, Penang
Theme: The Role of Higher Education in Developing Societal Resilience and Sustainability
Organizers: Ministry of Higher Education, Universiti Sains Malaysia in collaboration with UNESCO Bangkok, LH Martin Institute, Commonwealth Tertiary Education and Management and Science University.
The Global Higher Education Forum (GHEF) in its 2016 edition seeks to continue the tradition of engaging a wide range of stakeholders through dialogue and debate to examine the role of higher education in developing resilience and ensuring sustainability. Scholars, representatives and professionals from government agencies, higher education institutions, humanitarian and civil bodies, private business entities, nongovernmental organisations and media will congregate in this biennial forum to discuss and share experiences of developing various facets of sustainability and resilience, including societal and economic resilience, through case studies of specific countries and how academic intent is translated into action. While the higher education community has a role to play in developing societal and economic resilience and sustainability, the ability of higher education to cope with the changes and disruptions internally and externally is equally vital. Hence, another thematic focus of GHEF 2016 will focus on understanding how higher education systems, universities and the academic community responds to these ever present changes and disruptions. Participants will be able to draw from each other’s experiences and adapt best practices in strategising for the future.
Forum
Forum 1: Higher Education and Resilience: From Ideas to Practice
This presentation will focus on various country perspectives based on actual experiences of stakeholders in sustaining peace and coping with conflict situations. Speakers will discuss the ways in which considerations such as voice, trust, human rights, social and economic inclusion as well as good economic governance and sound institutions can play a role in cultivating a resilient society and economy.
Forum 2: Higher Education and Its Resilient Future
This forum will focus on resilience within the backdrop of higher education. It will focus on the role of academia in building egalitarian, just, democratically free and cohesive societies as well as highlight the role of academic freedom in such endeavours. Speakers will also discuss the ways in which higher education institutions and the academic community can be more resilient to internal and external changes and disruptions.
Forum 3: Peaceful, Resilient and Inclusive Societies for Sustainable Development
The main focus of this session will be on inclusive sustainable development. This inclusiveness is a goal that attempts not only to ensure the participation of all levels and groups of current society, but also to extend sustainability to the future generations. Therefore, our development should not be at the expense of future generations. The inclusive participation receives benefits and contributes to sustainable development.
Forum 4: Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
This session focuses on forging meaningful collaboration and partnerships in higher education to impact sustainable societal development and capacity building. Local and international cooperation among all stakeholders is essential in being proactive in the face of an increasingly transient higher education landscape. Deliberations will reveal the strategies and approaches in higher education networking and building on expertise, while also respecting the policies and practices of the individual nations in overcoming adversity.
There will also be a conference session related to higher education.
Key Dates
Submission of abstract: 1 Jan 2016
Notification of acceptance: 15 Jan 2016
Submission of full paper: 1 Mar 2016
Closing date for registration: 15 Mar 2016
Registration fees (Local – International)
Early bird (before 15 Feb 2016): RM 1,200 – USD 400
Normal rate: RM 1,200 – USD 400
Group rate per person (3 or above from same organization): RM 1,200 – USD 400
Student: RM 750 – USD 250
Further details can be obtained from http://www.gheforum.usm.my/ or
GHEF 2016 Secretariat
National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN)
Universiti Sains Malaysia, Block C, Level 2, sains@usm,
No. 10, Persiaran Bukit Jambul, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
Tel: 604-6535755/5763/5754/5758