On November 3, HEQCO’s ninth conference will bring together attendees from across the higher education sector to share best practices, develop ideas and challenge traditional approaches to equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization and accessibility in our postsecondary education system.
Access Reboot: New Directions for Higher Education will take place at the Delta Hotel in Toronto. Register here. Special thanks to promotional sponsor Academica Group.
Since the last HEQCO conference in 2018, we’ve seen considerable change in postsecondary education both in Ontario and across Canada. The tremendous growth in international students, the rapid expansion of online and hybrid learning, and the growing calls for equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization — these are just some of the significant shifts seen at colleges and universities. It has never been more vital to reach outside traditional silos and connect directly with the stakeholders who shape student success.
Our conference has long been a place to gather and hear presentations about exciting new research and programs happening within the sector. Access Reboot: New Directions for Higher Education is an opportunity to engage with others working to address access and equity challenges in higher education. But HEQCO’s role is to be the convenor, not the star. Our goal is for attendees to leave with new connections and concrete ideas they can implement in their own spaces.
Access Reboot takes a broad approach to understanding access in postsecondary. With a diverse range of panels and speakers, we aim to move beyond conversations about who gets in the door of our colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes. We need to also consider the equity of opportunities for students to succeed in our system. Supporting positive outcomes for all students is a critical component of the access conversation, and the panels, workshops and speakers at Access Reboot reflect this expanded view. Attendees can expect a wide range of sessions, including on international student wellbeing, Universal Design for Learning, employer expectations, work-integrated learning, student mental health, access and transition programs, the impacts of destreaming, the power of linked data to inform decision making and PSE non-completion.
The day will begin with our keynote speaker, Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa. One of TIME magazine’s “2021 Next Generational Leaders,” Dr. Oriuwa is a medical trailblazer who’s spearheading change in healthcare and beyond. She is an accomplished physician, spoken-word poet and advocate for racialized and marginalized populations. Dr. Oriuwa draws on her personal and professional experience to share insight and actionable strategies into transformative leadership, mental health and wellness, and ways to build a more equitable future for all. This opening keynote will start the day with thought-provoking and energizing ideas that will resonate through the day’s activities.
(And if that’s not enough of a boost, be sure to stop in for the mental health break later in the day to learn about multi-sensory therapies, the value of play and reflection and a chance to interact with Sunshine Therapy Dogs.)
Each session at Access Reboot has been thoughtfully curated by our conference team to reflect the spectrum of experiences and perspectives in Ontario higher education. Our goal is to ensure that attendees learn about emerging best practices and new research and leave with practical ideas and creative strategies they can put into action.
On a personal level, this event means a great deal to the conference team here at HEQCO. The relationships we develop and the conversations that happen at these conferences impact our work directly. High-quality research and policy advice comes from a thorough understanding of the experiences of students and institutions. We believe that Access Reboot will be a place to engage in meaningful discussions that have the power to make change. And we hope you will join us.