Cambridge University

* Cambridge University is considering plans for compulsory staff training in equal opportunities to tackle the dramatic under-representation of women.

Only 6.4 per cent of Cambridge professors and 10.4 per cent of readers are women, figures out this week show. Although this is an improvement, it compares with the 46.2 per cent of women in the undergraduate population.

The plan to introduce compulsory training for all who supervise graduate research students is being considered as part of the university's action plans under the Opportunity 2000 campaign.

Its annual progress report shows some improvements since the project's launch four years ago. Women now make up 14.5 per cent of all staff in main academic grades, compared with 11.8 per cent in 1994.

The biggest rise is among readers, where woman made up just 3.2 per cent in 1994, compared with 10.4 per cent today. Now 17.4 per cent of lecturers are women, compared with 13.8 per cent in 1994. The report says far fewer women apply for Cambridge jobs.