Beyond the Western Lens: Pathways to Decolonising Higher Education

The Conference builds on a decolonial approach which asks us to examine how the legacy of colonialism still shapes what is recognised as valid knowledge, whose perspectives are prioritised, and how universities reproduce these patterns. It encourages us to question the dominance of Western knowledge systems while recognising and valuing a wider range of histories, worldviews, and ways of knowing.

Rather than simply adding new perspectives to existing structures, a decolonial approach invites deeper reflection on how curricula, teaching practices, and institutional policies are designed, and how they shape who feels included and represented. Yet this perspective remains significantly underrepresented in European Higher Education.

This gap has implications for curricula, pedagogy, institutional policies and practices, and for fostering a shared sense of belonging in an interconnected world. At a time of global crises, migration, and growing cultural interdependence, the limitations of relying on a single knowledge tradition are increasingly visible.

We invite the university communities across Una Europa to come together for discussion on decolonial knowledge and practices. By fostering dialogue across disciplines, roles, and regions, the Conference invites participants to challenge their prior knowledge and practices, amplify various ways of knowing, and collectively explore concrete pathways toward decolonial inclusion in higher education institutions.

The Conference places particular emphasis on perspectives from outside Europe and the West, while welcoming contributions from all transnational and diasporic contexts.

We invite researchers, teaching staff, professional services staff, doctoral researchers, Master’s and Bachelor’s students, and practitioners to contribute to the Conference programme.

Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Decolonising What – and From What?

Critical analyses of colonial legacies in higher education, including knowledge production, governance, curricula, and institutional practices.

• Pluriversality, Unlearning, Delinking, and Alternatives

Theoretical and empirical explorations of how multiple ways of knowing and being can coexist, how colonial legacies can be unlearned, and how alternative academic imaginaries can be fostered.

• Curricula, Pedagogy, Community, and Institutional Transformation

Decolonial approaches to teaching, learning, assessment, university structures, and inclusive community building.

• Quality, Access, and Human Rights

Comparative perspectives on higher education as a public good, including tuition-free versus fee-based models and differing understandings of education, access, and equity.

• From Reflection to Action: Best practices

Practice-based contributions highlighting concrete tools, best practices, and strategies for advancing decolonial inclusion in academia.

The Conference is organised in a full hybrid format. Presenters and participants can join in person at the conference’s location at Helsingin yliopisto/Helsingfors universitet or online.

We value everyone’s contribution, diverse views, and reflections on the topic. We encourage diverse participants to initiate sessions from their perspective and contribute to discussions with the community for mutual learning.

Proposal types include:

• Individual presentation

20 minutes to present a research paper, practice-based case study, student thesis results or other initiative.

• Panel discussion

Composed of of 3–4 individual presentations following a common theme, guided by a Chair.

• Roundtable discussion

Composed of 3–6 participants discussing a common problem/issue with a moderator.

• Workshop, interactive or co-creative session

Focused on a practice-based task.

For individual presentations:

• Abstract: 250–300 words
• Language: English
• A short biography with an affiliation (maximum 150 words).

For panel, roundtable and workshop proposals:

• Abstract for the panel, roundtable or workshop: 500–700 words, explaining the cohesiveness of the speakers.
• List of participants (with titles of their presentations for a panel discussion).
• Biographies of participants.
• Clear indication of session Chair or moderator.

If you have any questions regarding the submission guidelines and proposal requirements, please contact Conference Secretary Yuliya Brin (yuliya.brin@helsinki.fi).

The deadline for submitting proposals is 22:59 CET on 15 May 2026.

The Conference organising committee will review all submissions and notify applicants of the results by 15 June 2026.

Early acceptance is possible in case of visa processes. Please contact Conference Secretary Yuliya Brin (yuliya.brin@helsinki.fi) for more information.

The Conference is free of charge for participants.

Participants are responsible for funding and organising their own travels to Helsinki if they wish to attend the conference on-site. Please note that online participation is also an option, and sessions can be hosted online.

The Conference will follow the guidelines of the Una Europa Code of Conduct.

Further details on registration and the conference programme will be announced on this webpage following the review process.