Women in higher education

Female autistic student with noise-cancelling earphones writing in a notepad

A road map to diagnosis and support for autistic women in higher education

From the journey to diagnosis to the laws that protect employees with autism, this resource sheds light on how to navigate the academic world with this disorder

Imogen Varle

De Montfort University

A woman jumps from one rock ledge to another

Use teamwork to erode the glass cliff

As the UK higher education sector battles a perfect storm, Emma Flynn stresses the importance of building strong teams around female leaders

Emma Flynn

The University of Warwick

A woman walks along a path in a grassy meadow

How to clear the path for the next generation of women in academia

The women who come next shouldn’t have to break down barriers or sneak in the back door to succeed in higher education. Sal Jarvis outlines what she wants her legacy to be

Sal Jarvis

University of Westminster

How to face adversity and change in higher education with resilience

In times of stress and uncertainty, university leaders must model calmness, clarity and confidence in their ability to respond to and recover from challenges, writes Sonia Alvarez-Robinson. Here, she offers practical strategies based on her own experience

Sonia Alvarez-Robinson

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

A female student holding a notebook stands in a library

To give female students an equal educational experience, we need to promote women

Female representation in leadership roles is crucial to show young women that success can be theirs too. Catherine Branson explains how her life and career have helped her succeed in a male-dominated world

Catherine Branson

Adelaide University

A woman stands in front of a boardroom table, delivering a speech to colleagues

Women’s leadership is vital in the evolving landscape of higher education

The higher education sector is facing unprecedented changes since the pandemic, with technology evolving at a faster rate than ever. Becky Takeda-Tinker and Jenna Tarleton show that women can play a pivotal role in leading the way through this new normal

Becky Takeda-Tinker, Jenna Tarleton

Colorado State University Global

Improve women’s accessibility to leadership by following these steps

Weaving equity practices into talent and succession planning and creating roles that work alongside personal commitments are just two of the ways you can enhance the diversity of your leadership

Kim Brooks, Grace Jefferies-Aldridge

Dalhousie University

Leaving a legacy as a Black female leader in higher education

Women of colour can leave a legacy that endures far beyond their tenures, writes Menah Pratt. Here, she shares her experience with racism and sexism and describes actions that leave a mark on institutions and students and defy under-representation

Menah Pratt

Virginia Tech

A male and female figure stand atop piles of coins, with the male figure's pile higher

Why have higher education’s female leaders had to wait so long for equal pay?

The higher education sector’s gender pay gap stands at 14.8 per cent, three percentage points higher than the UK as a whole. Janet Jones asks why and what we can do about it

Janet Jones

University of Westminster

Young woman with her palm facing the camera

Addressing sexual misconduct in higher education, part one: prevention

Sexual harassment and violence perpetrated by academic faculty or staff towards students and early career researchers is a complex issue that requires a proactive institutional response, writes Anna Bull

Anna Bull

University of York

In a boardroom, a group of women discuss the charts on the screen

Let’s celebrate the qualities women bring to higher education leadership

Şerife Eyüpoğlu reflects on her experiences in higher education and the benefits women’s leadership styles can offer

Şerife Eyüpoğlu

Near East University

A woman gives a presentation to a seated crowd in front of a whiteboard

Difference matters – and embracing it can change the world for all women

Joy Johnson reflects on her journey from inner-city hospital nurse to president of Simon Fraser University, and offers her advice on being a woman in leadership

Joy Johnson

Simon Fraser University

Three ways to support women’s career progression in higher education

Women outnumber men among university graduates, yet female leaders are in the minority when it comes to leadership positions in higher education. Sandy Jones offers her advice on helping women climb the career ladder

Sandy Jones

Colorado State University Global

When good enough is not enough

Back your own abilities and let your talents be seen, writes Verna Yiu. Here, she shares lessons from her own career journey on how women can increase opportunities for themselves and each other

Verna Yiu

University of Alberta

Female head of department speaking to her employees during a team meeting

I found my voice as a woman in academia; here’s how you can do the same

People want to know that you are competent. If you are not a capable pilot, no one is going to get on your plane, writes Veronica Hope Hailey

Veronica Hope Hailey

The University of Bristol

A lifesaver represents career support for academics on extended leave

Support for faculty on long-term leave is a career lifeline

Institutions and academics both benefit when support frameworks are in place to help extended leavers back into work. Four educators offer a case study in what one might look like

Theresa Mercer , Jim Harris, Ron Corstanje, Chhaya Kerai-Jones

Cranfield University

A sihouette of a woman raising her fist in the air

Gender equality is more than a box-ticking exercise – let’s champion it

The higher education sector is ideally placed to inspire talented women and improve the gender balance in the workplace. Kate Allum advocates for the power of self-belief

Kate Allum

University of the West of Scotland

How to support your staff during personal crises

A little-discussed aspect of leadership is how to support faculty and staff during times of trouble. Here, Helen Norris offers advice for making space and effective communication

Helen Norris

Chapman University

Empowering women leaders in fighting climate change: a call to action

Achieving gender balance goes beyond mere representation, writes Tahseen Jafry. Tackling the climate crisis necessitates a profound shift among the next generation of leaders towards gender-sensitive decision-making processes

Tahseen Jafry

Glasgow Caledonian University

An illustration of a woman held back by red bindings

The challenges facing female leaders in higher education – and how to address them

Women still face many hurdles on the road to leadership in higher education. Qiuling Chao outlines how we can overcome them

Qiuling Chao

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Two office workers having a conversation

How to turn down a promotion without losing face

Being offered a promotion might be satisfying, but if it doesn’t align with your career goals, you should not feel obligated to accept the job, writes Shwetha Mudabagilu Krishnapp

Shwetha Mudabagilu Krishnapp

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

How academics can ‘stay put’ without ‘staying still’

Moving universities for career advancement is a common practice in academia. But what happens if you want to remain in the same institution? Here, Doune Macdonald shares how to keep progressing into new roles and responsibilities

Doune Macdonald

The University of Queensland

Black male job candidate in a wheelchair shaking hands with mature white woman

How to embed inclusive recruitment practices in a higher education setting

Hiring practices – from job posting to interview – are key to creating a diverse workforce. Here, Damien Page offers advice on how to drive university-wide inclusivity from the classroom to the community

Damien Page

Buckinghamshire New University

How can universities increase diversity in spin-out founders?

Ensuring that all talented researchers can participate in spin-out leadership is core to translating world-leading discoveries into innovative and impactful businesses, writes Simonetta Manfredi in her response to the UK spin-outs review

Simonetta Manfredi

Oxford Brookes University

A woman curled up in a self-protective upset posture

Eight ways to improve responses to sexual misconduct in universities

Measures to enhance UK universities’ response to sexual misconduct cases and create a more compassionate and effective system

Melissa Hamilton , Ioana Enany , Amy Knight

University of Surrey, St George’s, University of London

Childcare remains a barrier for too many learners. Here’s how institutions can help

Universities can design programmes that meet student-parents where they are with their childcare needs. Here, Joanitt Montano and Chike Aguh outline three ways

Joanitt Montano , Chike Aguh

College of Health Care Professions, Harvard University

Menstruation, maternity, menopause: making space in the academy for all elements of womanhood

Do women’s health policies in higher education meet the needs of those they are meant to serve, and how might the stigma relating to aspects of womanhood be addressed?

Christina Dzineku, Devon Oakley-Hogg

Leeds Trinity University, University of Glasgow

A parenting student studies with her daughter in the background

Twenty per cent of US undergraduates have children – we must do more to support them

Dedicating funds and resources to parenting students, most of whom are mothers and single, is also an investment in the prosperity of future generations, writes Sara Goldrick-Rab

Sara Goldrick-Rab

Education Northwest

Woman with prosthetic arm helping colleague

How to promote disabled women in academia

Disabled women are significantly under-represented in senior roles within universities. Here’s how – and why – institutions can and should support them better for career progression

Meredith Wilkinson, Kelly Pickard-Smith

De Montfort University, The University of Manchester

How can universities disrupt the gender investment gap?

Engaging with stakeholders beyond higher education and debunking myths around women and innovation can open spin-out opportunities to more women, writes Simonetta Manfredi

Simonetta Manfredi

Oxford Brookes University

Podcast discussing building resilience and protecting well-being among university staff and students

Campus talks: an interview with Ngiare Brown, chancellor of James Cook University

Ngiare Brown is the first female and the first Indigenous chancellor of James Cook University. Here, she shares what she hopes to achieve during her tenure, including making higher education a place for Indigenous students

Ngiare Brown

James Cook University

Campus interview: Eve Riskin, Stevens Institute of Technology

Eve Riskin, dean of undergraduate education at Stevens Institute of Technology, talks about the power of mentorship, diversity in excellence and what she, as an electrical engineer and computer scientist, thinks about the emergence of generative AI

Eve Riskin

Stevens Institute of Technology

A month of highs and lows: the impact of menstruation on HE

Universities need to better accommodate the challenges faced by menstruating students to promote educational equity, write Mays Imad and Kerri Maron

Mays Imad , Kerri Maron

Connecticut College

A Black woman lecturer speaks to a university class

What we can learn from Black women academics in the UK

As a Black female lecturer, Shelley McLetchie-Holder outlines lessons she has drawn from other Black women academics working in the UK and explains how institutions can best support these staff

Shelley McLetchie-Holder

King’s College London

Gender equality at universities is crucial for society

Strategies for higher education institutions to strengthen gender equality

Gender equality can only become possible when harmful gender norms are challenged and equality is actively promoted. Perçem Arman provides key starting points for universities

Perçem Arman

Near East University

Middle-aged woman with laptop looking out office window

You’re not alone: tips to help academics avoid social isolation

Connections with colleagues matter – without them, support during periods of reappointment, promotion or tenure can feel tenuous. And those unwritten expectations of collegiality become opaque, explains Karen Z. Sproles

Karyn Z. Sproles

United States Naval Academy

Podcast discussing building resilience and protecting well-being among university staff and students

THE podcast: how to navigate HE as a woman of colour

To mark International Women’s Day, we spoke with two female academics about their journey through higher education and the biases and assumptions they have overcome

Henrika McCoy, Didar Zowghi

University of Texas at Austin, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

A female and male researcher conducting interdisciplinary research

How to encourage gender equity in interdisciplinary research

A study into gender balances of interdisciplinary research teams shows that the presence of women is beneficial up to a point. Elisabeth Browning suggests ways funders and institutions can encourage their participation

Elisabeth Browning

Elsevier

Campus webinar: The keys to a successful academic career

Three female academics in Europe, the UK and Australia give their advice on how to land a promotion, networking for introverts, how much you should be publishing – and answering the question: ‘Should I quit?’

Sarah Ivory, Catherine Léglu, Kylie Message-Jones

Australian National University, University of Luxembourg, The University of Edinburgh

Illustration showing profiles in different pastel colours

Intersectionality is the only way to nurture academics of colour

Finding the blind spots in EDI efforts will more effectively support academics sitting at the intersection of minority identities. Here are three places to start

Wajeeha Aziz , Raheela Awais, Melody Obeng , Ellie Harrison

University of Sussex, University of Liverpool, University of Sheffield

The pronoun y'all as inclusive language in universities

Embracing inclusivity with ‘y’all’: why this pronoun deserves a fresh look

In a recent online meeting, a colleague told me that using that word made me sound uneducated. So I set out to see if it is really sending a bad message

Stone Meredith

Colorado State University Global

The power of gender-sensitive mentoring

Mentoring is a powerful tool to enhance job satisfaction and work-life balance. This guide aims to help mentors adopt a gender-sensitive approach to support women and people who identify as women in teaching-focused roles

Marion Coderch

Durham University

How to encourage women entrepreneurs at universities

How can we help academia produce more women entrepreneurs?

The key change required to help female academics found spin-out companies is rebalancing the gender diversity of the investment community, but universities have a part to play, too

Simonetta Manfredi

Oxford Brookes University

Universities must consider family friendly employment policies and practices

Universities need policies and practices to tackle work-life balance

Broadly speaking, some countries do family-friendly policies and practices better than others – but there are great benefits to be had for everyone, says Siu Oi Ling

Siu Oi Ling

Lingnan University

Collective voices, zero tolerance

Universities can use their ability to engage with students to effect cultural change, as the Bystander Intervention initiative to combat sexual abuse has shown. Louise Crowley explains how they did it

Louise Crowley

University College Cork

Image showing networking and peer support

Three cornerstones of a successful research career

Success in academia requires much more than topical expertise. Jackie Carter shares three vital areas of focus for building a research career

Jackie Carter

The University of Manchester

Gender-specific health issues need to be tackled in academia

Breaking barriers for women: closing the gender health gap in academia

In the final part of their ‘breaking barriers for women’ series, eight female academics propose ways to tackle the stigma and career deficits caused by women’s health issues

Nicola Hemmings , Ellie Harrison , Jo L. Fothergill

University of Sheffield, University of Liverpool

Peer mentoring at university can make a difference to student confidence

As a black, female student, I wish I’d had a peer-mentoring scheme

Asking more experienced students to volunteer to help first-years navigate their university journey can make all the difference in terms of belonging and confidence

Bernadine Idowu

University of West London

Higher education needs to be rebuilt from the ground up to make it a fairer place to work for women

Breaking barriers for women: enough talking, time for action

In the second part of their ‘breaking barriers for women’ series, seven female academics outline key changes to help remodel a fairer HE system from the ground up

Ellie Harrison , Tiffany B. Taylor

University of Sheffield, University of Bath

Woman holding up her hands against someone or something

What does ‘taking sexual violence seriously’ look like at universities?

Rates of sexual violence in universities are the highest in society, ONS data show. So what actions must universities take if they are serious about tackling this pernicious problem?

Graham Towl

Durham University

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