A conceptual model for implementing inclusive higher education at the meso-level: integrating sharing economy and integrated reporting principles

The research designs a conceptual model for implementing inclusive higher education across networks of higher education institutions, drawing on principles from the sharing economy and integrated reporting. The model allows institutions to specialize in different components of program delivery while collectively ensuring inclusivity provision. The model integrates 3P internal quality assurance framework (Purpose, People, Process) and addresses barriers to inclusive education identified via distant reading of a purpose-built corpus. Various sharing economy principles formed the foundation of the model. Centering the learner, the model connects their educational journey to six capitals, while enabling higher education institutions to collaborate via shared infrastructure, credit recognition, and digital tools to deliver flexible, inclusive learning. Sharing economy principles support decentralized resource use, peer empowerment, and value co-creation, while specific mechanisms address systemic barriers such as rigid curricula, technological exclusion, and opaque evaluation. This model systemically organizes inclusive higher education efforts through a coordinated, ecosystem-based structure. It shifts the focus from pedagogical or legal solutions to structural collaboration, enhancing transparency and effectiveness across HEIs networks. This model offers a cost-effective implementation strategy for universities lacking public funding for inclusive education.