In advance of International Women’s Day, on March 1, Tbilisi time at 17:00, EUA is organising a webinar: „Women in academia: breaking the glass ceiling or rebuilding the house?“, dedicated to the dynamic role that women are increasingly playing in the leadership of higher education institutions.
East European University is a full individual member of the European University Association (EUA), therefore EEU academic staff are invited to attend the webinar.
The webinar will present the latest statistics on female leadership across the EUA membership, providing participants an opportunity to compare the findings to the realities they encounter at home.
The profile of institutional leaders in the higher education and research and innovation landscape has evolved significantly over the past decade in terms of gender, ethnic diversity, age and professional background – ranging from business to industry. The 2021 NEWLEAD report underlines that the most striking change regards gender when selecting executive heads of universities.
Indeed, there has been a significant increase in women assuming leadership positions, serving as rector or vice-rector, across the European University Association membership. In the past there was evidence of a growing number of women in leadership positions linked to fine arts and education sciences. However, in the last two years there has been an increase in women taking on high-level roles in universities focused on various disciplines, including in the most prestigious ones.
In 2019, the EUA INVITED report highlighted the importance of inclusiveness as a strategic question for higher education institutions across Europe, impacting learning and teaching, research, innovation and institutional cultures. Beyond the gender issue, many have taken action to find new ways to enable people from various backgrounds to find their place in higher education. The idea that diverse learning environments may better prepare students for a diverse society and diverse research environments has been gaining ground.
In the meantime, research funders are pushing for more diversity and inclusion. While gender is only one factor, it is now part of broader commitments universities are expected to make in their activities to ensure diversity. The European Commission has introduced, for example, the necessity to have a gender equality plan for all public bodies, research organisations and higher education institutions applying to the Horizon Europe programme.
This webinar will offer a discussion on the state of play in Europe, as well as inspiring best practices in the field. It will address questions such as:
- Is gender parity now a reality in academia?
- Are more women from all backgrounds taking on leadership positions in academia?
- How can academia benefit from this cultural change?
To attend the webinar make registration on the link.
The European University Association (EUA) is the largest and most comprehensive organisation representing universities in Europe. EUA represents more than 800 universities and national rectors’ conferences in 48 European countries. EUA plays a crucial role in the Bologna Process and in influencing EU policies on higher education, research and innovation. Member universities support the development of the continent’s cultures, societies and economies.
For more information, visit the link.