Higher Education Taskforce

The voice of higher education in the Commonwealth

In 2024 The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and the Commonwealth Secretariat launched the Higher Education Taskforce, formed to represent the voice of higher education in the Commonwealth and drive forward progress on education policy commitments.

The Taskforce is a group made up of Commonwealth university vice-chancellors. It will support Commonwealth member states to realise the education policy commitments made at the 21st Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and drive forward policy implementation.

The group is focused in on five thematic areas where the ACU should work with and across its membership and with Ministerial groups such as CEMAG/CADME to support member states through practical action including developing recommendations, sharing policy and research insight and good practice, and acting as an advocate.

The high-level focus areas of the Taskforce will be:

Making the case for sustainable higher education funding and finance
Bridging the gap: Improving access and inclusion in HE
Fostering sustainable and inclusive research ecosystems
Navigating the digital frontier: Digital access and AI
Developing future-ready graduates: Advancing employability, entrepreneurship, and skills in HE

The ACU will convene five working groups to oversee a programme of activity within each thematic area.

In 2022, Education ministers at CCEM in Nairobi, Kenya, issued a joint statement in which they recognised the urgent need to increase investment in education and skills at all ages, with particular focus on ensuring foundational skills for all. The meeting marked the first time Ministers recognised the important role of higher education in meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The new ACU-led Taskforce will discuss these policy issues and others from the 21CCEM Ministerial declaration to develop a programme of activity to support Ministers in realising each commitment ahead of the next Education Minister’s Conference in 2025.

A report published by the Taskforce in 2024 highlighted five key themes and presented recommendations for action to be pursued with Commonwealth Governments, including at the Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October 2024 and the 2026 Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM).

As an accredited representative body for higher education, the ACU will represent and advocate for the sector and its members at Commonwealth Ministerial meetings including CCEM and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The ACU-led Taskforce is one of four working groups that the Commonwealth Secretariat has commissioned to address Ministerial recommendations. These working groups will be an important vehicle for ensuring member states can realise their commitments made and drive forward global progress in SDG 4 – ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Meet the Taskforce

Professor Abdul-Rasheed

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Professor Sir Hilary Beckles

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Professor Sir Hilary Beckles is Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies. He is a distinguished academic, international thought leader, United Nations committee official, and global public activist in the field of social justice and minority empowerment. Sir Hilary is a director of SAGICOR Financial Corporation PLC, the largest financial company in the Caribbean region, Chairman of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), the former chairman of The University of the West Indies Press, Chairman of the Caribbean Community [CARICOM] Commission on Reparation and Social Justice, President of Universities Caribbean, an editor of the UNESCO General History of Africa series and a Director of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre. He has also served as an advisor to the UN World Culture Report and Advisor to the Secretary General of the United Nations on Sustainable Development. He is a past Vice President of the International Task Force for the UNESCO Slave Route Project and a past consultant for the UNESCO Cities for Peace Global Programme. He is a member of the Council of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the United Nations University. He has received numerous awards, including Honorary Doctor of Letters from Brock University, the University of Glasgow, University of Hull, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, in recognition of his major contribution to academic research on transatlantic slavery, popular culture, and sport. In 2017, the Town of Hartford in the state of Connecticut (USA), declared 21st March, 'Sir Hilary Beckles Day' in recognition of his global contribution to social justice and human equality. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Award for global advocacy, academic scholarship and intellectual leadership in support of social justice, institutional equity, and economic development for marginalised and oppressed ethnicities and nations.
Under his leadership as Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, the institution established a fifth Campus – the Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda, and debuted in the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Ranking in 2019 when it was ranked in the top 4% of the world’s best universities. In 2020 The UWI earned a “triple first” accolade – as the number one university in the Caribbean, among the top 1% in Latin America and top 1% of worldwide universities between 50 and 80 years old. Continuing its upward trajectory, in 2021, The UWI was ranked among the top 1.5% of universities ranked globally by the THE. Sir Hilary has spearheaded an aggressive global reputation building strategy, which has resulted in ten global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe. He also forged strategic industry partnerships to allow for the widened penetration of The UWI brand through new media channels and 24/7 cable television programming made possible by the creation of a public information and education service – UWITV. Sir Hilary has lectured extensively in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas and has published over 100 peer reviewed essays in scholarly journals and more than 20 academic books.