Are you passionate about higher education and its role in shaping our future? Do you believe that it’s time to engage in critical conversations that challenge the status quo and drive positive change in academia?

We invite you to submit your book proposal for “Critical Conversations in Higher Education,” an upcoming publication that aims to ignite a transformative discourse within the academic community.  This follows the CHEC Higher Education Leadership Academy’s work on Professional Development, Masterclasses, and Critical Conversations and the popular Book on COVID-19 management and responses.  Lessons learnt for the future.

Book scope: In today’s rapidly evolving world, higher education faces multifaceted challenges, from shifting pedagogical paradigms to issues of equity, accessibility, and the impact of technology. This book seeks to explore and dissect the pressing issues in higher education through a critical lens. We aim to provide a platform for scholars, educators, administrators, and policymakers to engage in meaningful dialogues about the future of higher education.

We welcome contributions that address critical issues in higher education, for instance:
  • The engaged university. How do we respond to addressing the needs of society and our relevance?
  • Diversity and inclusion. How can higher education institutions become more inclusive and diverse, both in terms of student populations and faculty representation?
  • Pedagogical innovation. What are the latest innovations in teaching and learning that can enhance the quality of education in higher institutions? How does generative AI impact our academic model?
  • Ethical and responsible leadership: How can academic leaders navigate ethical dilemmas and create a culture of integrity within our institutions?
  • Digital transformation and technology. What role should technology play in the modern classroom, and how can it be harnessed effectively for pedagogical purposes?
  • Global perspectives: How can higher education institutions prepare students for a globalized world, fostering intercultural competencies and global citizenship and become future-ready?
  • Sustainability and environmental awareness: What steps can universities take to address environmental challenges and promote sustainability in their operations and curricula?
  • Assessment and accountability: How can we ensure that higher education institutions are held accountable for student outcomes while maintaining academic freedom and creativity?
  • Human-centricity in HE. How do we approach our most important resource in HE?
  • Financial sustainability: Strategies for addressing the financial pressures on higher education and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Why contribute:
  • Share your expertise and research with a global audience of academics, administrators, and policymakers.
  • Contribute to the development of critical dialogues that have the potential to shape the future of higher education.
  • Be part of a collaborative effort to tackle the most pressing issues facing academia today.
Blind peer review system:

The book chapters will follow a rigorous double-blind review process with contributing authors receiving a letter of confirmation of the process at completion.

Submission guidelines:
  • Please submit your chapter proposal by [insert submission deadline].
  • Proposals should include an abstract, table of contents, author bio, and a brief explanation of how your work aligns with the book’s theme.
Chapter abstract guidelines:
  • Abstract should be in English (UK style), Times New Roman (font 12, spacing 1.5)
  • Chapter title should be simple, descriptive and contain all the important key terms and phrases that relate to the chapter topic. Chapter topics should be within the scope of the book.
  • Author(s): title, name(s), qualification(s), affiliation(s) and email addresse(s)
  • Brief author(s) biography (maximum 100 words)
  • Abstract word limit: 100 to 150 words
  • Abstract should provide a brief review of the main content and theme of the chapter:
    • Introduction and background should identify a particular issue or problem and propose to offer it a solution.
    • Methodology: This may be theoretical, qualitative research, quantitative research, or mixed approaches.
    • Key premises (theoretical approaches), findings or results.
    • Specific implications for both future research and practice.
    • New insights contributed to the subject theme.
    • Provide five (5) keywords.
    • Abstracts should be submitted by the deadline to the corresponding editor.

Expressions of interest and submissions of abstracts can be sent to the corresponding editor ahead of the submission deadline.

Submissions should be sent to:

E-mail chapter abstract proposals (maximum 150 words) with short author biographies (maximum 100 words) to:

The editor
Prof René Pellissier
rene.pellissier@chec.ac.za and Ms Sisipho Zweni (sisipho.zweni@chec.ac.za)

Important dates:
  • Chapter abstract deadline: [15 October 2023]
  • Notification of acceptance: [1 November 2023]
  • Manuscript submission deadline: [31 March 2024]
  • Chapter peer review completion & feedback to author(s): [7 May 2024]
  • Final chapter submission deadline: [4 June 2024]
  • Manuscript submission to Publisher: [17 June 2024]

Do not miss this opportunity to contribute to the critical conversations that will shape the future of higher education. We look forward to receiving your innovative ideas and perspectives to enrich our HE field.