News

On 19 June 2025, the DEAR Centre and WAHEI project co-hosted a special presentation at the University of Warwick titled "Exploring the Role of Academics in Guiding Higher Education Access and Choice in India." The event was part of a UK visit funded by an ESRC IAA grant and the Fair Chance Foundation, and was held in the Ramphal Building (https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ces/desresearch/dear/19june2025/Link opens in a new window )

This event marked the first in-person presentation of key findings from the WAHEI studyLink opens in a new window – a four-year collaborative research project between the University of Warwick and NIEPA (National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration). The project explores the informal but impactful role of academics in widening access to higher education (HE) across six states in India: Haryana, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

The session featured a dynamic line-up of speakers, including core team members Prof Emily Henderson, Dr Nidhi Sabharwal, Dr Ann Stewart, and S. Arokia Mary, as well as state research teams who presented insights from Haryana, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Assam. Presentations focused on how faculty across different institutions support prospective students – particularly those from marginalised backgrounds – in navigating HE choices and making informed decisions.

Discussions also highlighted the institutional variations in outreach engagement and the distinct roles played by university leaders, college faculty, and staff members in enabling access to HE.

Special attendees included Dr James Burford, Deputy Director of the DEAR Centre, and Dr Devasmita Chakraverty, Associate Professor at IIM Ahmedabad, further underscoring the event's international significance.

The event concluded with reflections on future directions for the WAHEI project, including building frameworks for formal HE outreach in the Indian context.