In an analysis of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, released last month, female leadership of top ranking higher education institutions continues to grow—albeit slowly.
Of the top 200 universities, as listed in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 18% (or 36) are now under female leadership, a 1% increase on last year. Sweden, for the second year running, comes out on top. In the 6 Swedish universities featured, 4 of those are being led by women. It is an impressively high percentage which only reinforces the Nordic countries demonstration of continued leadership on gender diversity. With 57% of Sweden’s governmental cabinet being female, it is no surprise that in the latest Global Gender Gap Index, compiled by the World Economic Forum, Sweden sit 4th, behind only Norway, Finland, and Iceland.
While Belgium has 1 of its 3 representatives under female leadership, and Switzerland 2 out of 7, the US has the highest number with 12. In weighted terms against their dominance of the top 200 institutions, the percentage for the US remains comparatively small at 33%, whilst also representing a 3% fall against last year—despite the number of US institutions remaining the same. UK institutions make up 17% of those under female leadership, including the world’s highest ranked institution, the University of Oxford, with Vice-Chancellor Louise Richardson. However, gender diversity in leadership in the world’s two leading higher education countries remains little better than the overall average for the top 200, at 19% compared to 18%. Whilst the advancement of female leaders within top ranked institutions continues to grow slowly, the UK and US remain far from demonstrating real leadership on the issue.
The figures make for better reading when widened to the UK specifically. Between 2013 and 2016, 29% of new Vice Chancellors were female. Compared to the FTSE 100 companies, higher education institutions perform well, with 10% more female directors, 17% more female CEOs and 14% more chairs. However, behind these aggregate numbers are individual institutions whose performance varies when it comes to advancing women into leadership roles. Almost 25% of UK institutions have no women among their top tier academic heads, and 20% have one or no women on their executive teams.
Whilst the Times Higher Education World University Rankings give cause for celebration, it also highlights the continuing work that needs to be done in the further advancement of females into leadership roles within, and across all areas of, senior management in higher education institutions. In our position as one of the leading countries in higher education, it remains for us to demonstrate leadership on the issue of gender diversity. Of 28 countries to feature in the top 200, 17 of those have no female university leaders at all. To be a leader in higher education must mean to be a leader in gender diversity.