Women in higher education

Tundra swans flying in formation

‘Gender equality is more rewarding than just ticking a box’

A whole-culture change to dismantle structural barriers has included mentoring, promotions workshops, and childcare and family leave support. Here are reflections on 25 years of advancing gender equality at Queen’s University Belfast

Karen McCloskey

Queen’s University Belfast

Young woman on couch with pillow looking at phone

How to choose an app that will encourage reporting of sexual violence on campus

Responsible technology can enhance university responses to gender-based violence reports. Here, Heather Flowe and Laura Stevens share what to look for and demand when choosing an app or platform

Heather D. Flowe, Laura M. Stevens

University of Birmingham

Woman sitting at her laptop with her head in her hands

Playing the promotion game: how to navigate upshifting

Done well, upshifting helps you to gain experience and develop capabilities that support your career development and promotion prospects, write educators at the University of Bristol

Rushana Khusainova, Rachael Lamb, Nicki Newman

University of Bristol

Welcome back to the office

How to manage parental leave for university staff

Parental leave presents challenges for the parent and the workplace, writes Judith Lock. Here are some dos and don’ts for before, during and after the leave period that aim to smooth the return to work and fix academia’s leaky pipeline

Judith Lock

University of Southampton

Two female colleagues discussing some work over a laptop

Eight ways to be a better leader

Being brave enough to make decisions without worrying about failure is important. Lead the way and you can inspire and develop your team, writes Padma Rani

Padma Rani

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Group of young women embracing and smiling at the camera

Strategies for nurturing ambition in female students

Nurturing ambition in female students is crucial for their personal and professional growth. By highlighting diverse role models from various fields and empowering our students to strive for more, we can set them up for success

Geetha Maiya

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Female leader in an office smiling at the camera

Five leadership tips for women in higher education

The first woman of Indian heritage to head a Russell Group business school shares leadership insights for women in higher education, from mentorship and resilience to self-discovery and embracing your unique identity

Palie Smart

University of Bristol

A man helps a woman working at a laptop

Let’s work together to build an environment that women can thrive in

To move up the ladder in academia, women need a strong community around them. May Lim recounts her experiences

May Lim

Singapore Institute of Technology

Close up portrait of black woman

Finding – and raising – my voice as a Black female leader in higher education

Women of colour face a formidable set of challenges in the quest to find their place and voice in higher education. Menah Pratt shares the lessons learned in her journey – from the power of persistence to harnessing her creativity

Menah Pratt

Virginia Tech

Black female engineer working on a drone

How to help young women see themselves as coders, inventors and engineers

Female students can be overlooked in STEM fields. Janille Smith-Colin shares four ways to empower tomorrow’s engineering leaders to find their voice and the determination to use it

Janille Smith-Colin

SMU Lyle School of Engineering

Hispanic woman at desk in thought

Questions for the next stage of university leadership

What do I want my legacy as a woman leader to be? These questions can provide a road map for reflection on and planning an academic career, writes Katia Paz Goldfarb

Katia Paz Goldfarb

Montclair State University

Women in leadership concept

Three principles for leadership in academia

Reflecting on her personal journey, Catherine Moran shares the key guidelines that have shaped her leadership as a woman in higher education in times of change

Catherine Moran

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury

Young female student studying at her laptop with headphones on

Empowering female students is essential for building an equitable future

When we empower women in higher education, we advocate for social change, promote gender equality and enable them to play an active role in their communities

Paulina Vargas

CETYS Universidad

podcast graphic

THE podcast: an interview with Sian Beilock, president of Dartmouth

Sian Beilock, the first woman elected president of Dartmouth in the institution’s 250-year history, speaks about female leadership in higher education and performing under pressure

Sian Beilock

Dartmouth

black female professor working in the library

Effective levers to foster women – specifically women of colour – into leadership roles

Gender and race disparities persist in leadership roles within academic institutions. Here, Menah Pratt shares her advice on effective levers to foster women of colour into leadership roles

Menah Pratt

Virginia Tech

A woman walks up a floating set of stairs

The three key ingredients to female success in academia

The number of female presidents in US institutions is rising, but there’s still work to do for women in leadership to achieve equality. Lisa Eiden-Dillow outlines three ways to empower women in academia

Lisa Eiden-Dillow

Colorado State University Global

Black woman mentoring younger colleague

The tough road to leadership as a woman in higher education

Representation matters, writes Marcheta Evans. Here, she offers advice for institutions and educators about the life lessons they need to pass to female scholars (and one for men, too)

Marcheta P. Evans

Montclair State University

Three young female college students

Empowering ambition: student affairs’ role in supporting women students

Student affairs departments, often the heartbeat of campus life and well-being, can significantly influence the personal and professional development of women university students. Here, Frances Keene looks at proven ways to nurture and support female students

Frances Keene

Virginia Tech

Asian woman working on plane

Advancing women in academia: geographical mobility and the path to success

Hypermobility has brought opportunities for career advancement in academia, but it comes with expectations and gender-based barriers, writes Lily Kong, especially when international events are focused on the Global North

Lily Kong

Singapore Management University

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

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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

Resilience concept

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

The University of Adelaide

Black female academic at desk

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 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

Female leader speaking to her team

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

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

silhouette of woman climbing stairs

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

Women shaking hands

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

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

Empathetic leadership

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

Climate protest in the street

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

Plant growing from seedling to flower

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

Man in wheelchair and woman shaking hands

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

Women in a meeting

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

Student parent

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

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

Joanitt Montano , Chike Aguh

College of Health Care Professions, Harvard University

A woman resting with period pains

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, University of Manchester

Women in a meeting

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

THE podcast: 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