Towards gender equality: transforming leadership and careers in HE

In higher education, women make up only 19% of the Presidents of the top 200 universities globally, with a recent UNESCO report on higher education (2021) concluding that inequalities run deep and glass ceilings remain high. Concerns are growing too about the future of diversity, equality and inclusion programmes across many countries, which may further impede progress.

This two-day interactive symposium will explore the barriers and facilitators of women’s leadership and career development in higher education across the global south and north.

On Day 1, senior academics from India, Ghana and Scotland will share their experiences of career development, explore structural and cultural barriers to advancement and consider what steps can be taken now to promote positive change.

Day 2 involves a series of activities for early career scholars across the arts, humanities and social sciences, including coaching and skills development, and bespoke career guidance.

The symposium forms part of a comparative network project, funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, exploring women’s leadership across three sectors: politics, industry and higher education. It is being undertaken by the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland; the Maria Sibylla Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA) at the University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; and the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences (CSSS), Kolkata, India. Find out more about the project here: https://www.iash.ed.ac.uk/gender-equality-transforming-leadership

The symposium is online only, and free to attend.

Confirmed speakers include:

· Ghana: Professor Grace Diabah; Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo

· India: Professor Jyotsna Jalan; Professor Rosinka Chaudhuri; Dr Asha Singh; Dr Debdatta Chowdhury

· Scotland: Professor Lesley McAra; Dr Omolabake Fakunle; Professor Susan Murphy; Professor Fiona MacKay

Those participating in Day 1 will be invited to take part in a focus group to understand more about their own journeys in higher education. When signing up for the symposium , you also have the option to participate in a focus group. The focus groups will be run at teh end of Day 1, and a separate non-recorded discussion session will be held for those who choose not to participate in the focus groups. Further information and the consent form for the focus groups can be found here: https://edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cTFPSkU1dnQilHU.