Vol. 13 No. SI2 (2025)

This September 2025 special issue of Critical Studies in Teaching and Learning (CriSTaL),  presents a collection of thought-provoking papers on the theme of Trust in Higher Education. Originating from the Higher Education Close-Up (HECU) 11 conference held at Rhodes University in Makhanda, South Africa, from July 3-5, 2024, the contributions address the complex and increasingly fragile nature of trust within the sector. The special issue examines trust as a cornerstone of higher education—essential for collaboration, cooperation, and the functioning of institutions—operating on multiple levels, from students and academics to researchers and the public. Collectively, the three think pieces, nine papers, and concluding poem offer a multifaceted and critical examination of this complex construct, arguing that it is not a simple given but must actively built, earned, and maintained to overcome systemic challenges and foster a more ethical academic ecosystem.