The Duchess of Sussex Writes A Passionate Letter About Access To Education

The Duchess of Sussex has penned a letter of support for World Access to Higher Education Day.

Meghan, who is the royal patron for the ACU (Association of Commonwealth Universities), explained how vital it is for everyone to have access to education, “regardless of gender or socioeconomic background”.

Since joining the royal family, the duchess has been outspoken about education and wants to work towards everyone having the opportunity to study.

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In the letter, Meghan explained “how important it is for all people, regardless of gender or socioeconomic background, to have the opportunity to access this higher education”.

The royal clearly feels passionate about education diversity. During a visit to the ACU in February, she was shocked about the lack of women and people of colour in professional roles within higher education, according to The Times.

She’s also supporting the campaign to “decolonise the curriculum” and deal with racism that occurs on university campuses.

Read her letter in full below.

Today, on World Access to Higher Education Day, we are able to celebrate the vital role that colleges and universities play in society and how important it is for all people, regardless of gender or socioeconomic background, to have the opportunity to access this higher education. The value of this cannot be understated. Because education expands mindsets, and those minds can then expand the scope of the world at large. From a micro to a macro level, it is with education that we see great change.

Earlier this year I met Simon Kiongo from Kenya, who grew up on a small family farm, and traded vegetables as a means of covering tuition costs. It struck me as such a prime example of how so many around the world yearn for education and do whatever they can to afford themselves that opportunity. Now, with support from the ACU, he is doing remarkable cancer research for his country, specifically looking at fertilisers in the food supply and the carcinogenic links that has on community health. Simon is higher education in action.

The ACU highlights journeys to belonging—looking at how universities can support access to higher education for those who are most vulnerable—be it refugees or those displaced. Additionally the ACU continues to create opportunities for those within the university structure—the faculty and staff who require grants to maximise the impact of their research studies, and enabling students to exceed even their own expectations of what they can achieve.

I am proud to be patron of the ACU and all that it stands for, as we champion those seeking a higher education and commit to making this world a better place—together.

HRH The Duchess of Sussex, Patron of the ACU

This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR UK.

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