Open Call for Contributions

▪ Context
The current health crisis that we are experiencing due to Covid-19, and the economic and social crises that are already on their way, put ourselves in a new, unexpected and complex context. Issues and challenges that we were already discussing such as the contradictions of globalization, technological development and power, environmental crisis, crisis of democracies and the welfare state, poverty and rampant inequality, crisis of international institutions, crisis of values, … All of them will become more apparent and widespread. 

The world will not be the same after this crisis, we will not be the same after this crisis, and higher education institutions and higher education systems will not be the same after this crisis. New expectations will be put on higher education institutions in terms of the links in the communities, in terms of teaching, in terms of international strategies and mobility and in terms of values themselves. Evidently, higher education institutions will have to operate in a very different economic, social and political climate. The crisis might as well give us the opportunity to improve and grow, with a stronger focus on public service and social responsibility. 

At the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi), we have set out to create a special section for joint reflection given the current context that demands new questions and answers, and probably new values and criteria for teaching, for research and for the internal governance and organization of HEIs. The reflections and ideas developed will be key for the edition of the Higher Education in the World Report-Special Issue on “The Future of Universities and the Universities of the Future” that will be published in late 2021. 

▪ Joint Reflections - Open Call for Contributions:
To start with this process, we would like to kick off a joint reflection on the current context:

• What is or should be the role of higher education systems and institutions in this context?
• How are higher education institutions shaping the response to the crisis?
• How will higher education be affected by this crisis and its aftermath?
• What kind of pressures will higher education systems have to bear and overcome?
• In what ways will higher education institutions need to transform their current ways of operating?
• What are the implications for teaching and learning and for knowledge and science? 
• How the global context will determine the internationalization of universities?
• How can higher education institutions prepare themselves for future global crises?

GUNi works as a space for reflection and exchange of ideas. By means of this Call, we would like to engage you in sharing your views on the current situation and how the future of universities and the universities of the future will (or should) look like.

▪ Submission Types and Submission Process

Submission Types:
- Short articles: 1,000- 1,500-word reflection articles 
- Short videos: 3’ max videos. Can be recorded using any type of device. 
- Short podcast: 3’ max recordings. 
Submission process and guidelines:
- Please send your contributions at info@guninetwork.org  stating "HE after Covid-19" in the subject. Include a short bio (200 words max.) clearly stating your affiliation. 
- Texts should be sent in Word format, videos in .MPEG and recordings in audio files. *Please take into account that videos will not be edited by the GUNi team, so a minimum quality standard will be necessary for publication. 
- Contributions should be original and can be sent in the following languages: English, French, Spanish and Catalan. Other languages will be accepted as long as the translation into English is provided.

All contributions should be guided by academic values, academic integrity and respect to each other's opinions and views. All arguments should be grounded on evidence and citations need to be dully referenced.
Submission does not guarantee publication. The GUNi team will get back to you as soon as possible with feedback and further instructions.

The Call will be open until further notice. 

▪ Who can participate?

GUNi members
Any other higher education institutions and research centers 
Higher Education Networks and Associations
Governments 
NGOs
Private Firms 
HE experts
HE Students