PROGRESS ON GENDER EQUALITY IN IRISH HIGHER EDUCATION 2016-2021

Higher education legislation requires institutions to promote gender-balance among students and staff, and for the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to promote the attainment of equality of opportunity. While higher education institutions (HEIs) have been engaged in initiatives targeted at addressing gender inequality for a number of years, the report of the expert group established by the HEA in 2016 highlighted a broad range of issues contributing to the ongoing gender imbalance in the sector, particularly at senior levels. The collection of staff data disaggregated by gender showed an astonishing level of under-representation of female staff at the highest decision-making levels in Irish HEIs. While these figures have gradually improved since 2016, the numbers only tell part of the story. The recommendations of the Expert Group and, subsequently, the Gender Equality Taskforce, were intended not only to affect a statistical improvement but also, and more importantly, to bring about a cultural change in Irish higher education (HE) that would lead to a more equal system in which a person’s gender was not a barrier to career progression.
So could say that this literature item focus on the political and social power of women, promoting changes in public policies for gender equality in higher education.

Why it's a good practice: This literature item focus on the political and social power of women, promoting changes in public policies for gender equality in higher education.

Read the full analysis: https://hea.ie/assets/uploads/2022/03/National-Summary-Report.pdf