The 9th Education International Higher Education and Research Conference will take place in Accra, Ghana from 10 to 12 November 2014. The event is a unique opportunity for representatives of EI’s higher education and research affiliates to discuss key trends in the sector and to develop effective strategies to defend the professional rights of academic and general staff working in colleges and universities around the world. This year's conference will include a focus on the state of higher education and research staff in Africa, the role of ICTs and massive open on-line courses (MOOCs), the need to build inclusive unions, and the impact of privatisation and commercialisation on research integrity.