Only 13 of India's 431 universities have women VCs
The prestigious Oxford University last week announced that Professor Louise Richardson, subject to approval, could go on to become the university's first woman vice-chancellor in its 800-year-old history .
Down in India, things are not too different. Multiple studies reveal the percentage of women vice-chancellors here is a shocking 3%, with just 13 universities of the 431, a UGC study surveyed, having women running a varsity . This, despite girls outdoing boys year after year in exams, and women constituting more than 50% of teaching posts in universities.
According to a British Council commissioned report titled `Women in Higher Education Leadership in South Asia: Rejection, Refusal, Reluctance, Revisioning', the percentage of women teaching staff drops drastically at higher levels. “Women constitute only 1.4% of the professoriate, though there are many at other positions like readers, lecturers etc,“ the report released in February 2015 notes.
Adding that even of the 13 women VCs, six are from allwomen universities, the report flags the culture of discrimination. “There are many reasons -from the way selection committees are constituted to the way women and men think. Most women academicians are more passionate about teaching than running institutions, which is why many of them, although qualified, do not choose to apply for such posts,“ Meena Rajiv Chandawarkar, VC , Karnataka State Women's University, told TOI.
Quoting a UGC-constituted task force in 2013, the report says, “Glass ceilings and fears over promotion must receive more attention, the feedback indicates widespread practices of discrimination and harassment among women working in higher education institutions.“
Berin Lucas, sociology professor of St Joseph's College of Arts and Science says, “Higher education must open its doors to new learning, but it is only a reflection of the patriarchal fabric of society , which operates in every spectrum of life, not even exempting education.“ The report, though, paints a bright picture at the under-graduate level for women.
For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com
Adding that even of the 13 women VCs, six are from allwomen universities, the report flags the culture of discrimination. “There are many reasons -from the way selection committees are constituted to the way women and men think. Most women academicians are more passionate about teaching than running institutions, which is why many of them, although qualified, do not choose to apply for such posts,“ Meena Rajiv Chandawarkar, VC , Karnataka State Women's University, told TOI.
Quoting a UGC-constituted task force in 2013, the report says, “Glass ceilings and fears over promotion must receive more attention, the feedback indicates widespread practices of discrimination and harassment among women working in higher education institutions.“
Berin Lucas, sociology professor of St Joseph's College of Arts and Science says, “Higher education must open its doors to new learning, but it is only a reflection of the patriarchal fabric of society , which operates in every spectrum of life, not even exempting education.“ The report, though, paints a bright picture at the under-graduate level for women.
For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com
