Sharon Wcllcw
True gender equality is not about emphasising the uniqueness of women, it’s about men and women working together to change the system.
Women in higher education continue to face systemic challenges that hinder their career progression.
Despite their growing presence in universities worldwide, they remain underrepresented in leadership roles and high-impact research positions.
And these structural barriers, coupled with societal expectations, contribute to the slow progress of women in academia.
“Women are still underrepresented in top positions and continue to face pay inequalities,” Professor Abigail Gregory MBE, a Higher Education Consultant and Senior Advisor said.
“Universities do not yet recognise teaching expertise as much as research output when it comes to promotion criteria.”
And, as a result, fewer women achieve top-tier academic roles, emphasising a much-needed systemic change within universities, from equal pay to career progression.
‘Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone’: Advice from Industry Leaders
Prominent female academics, such as Anisha Parmar, Regional Manager at Aston University, stress the importance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone.
Coming from a South Asian background, Parmar was raised to value education and encourages women to explore new opportunities fearlessly.
“Women should not sit back and hesitate to ask for what they deserve,” she asserted.
‘There are significant gaps between women and men in careers, and there have been opportunities where I have seen men get positions over women, which should not be the case.
‘Pushing people to ask the reason behind it is important.”
Similarly, Christina Ke, UK Managing Director at Uoffer Global, shares her journey from being a Chinese international student to becoming a leader in the education sector.
She highlights the importance of guidance, confidence, and opportunities in helping women thrive. “
In her team at Uoffer Global, one of their goals is to equip women with the resources and networks they need to succeed,” Ke said.
Her experiences resonate with many international students who face cultural and systemic barriers in their pursuit of success.
Cultural Barriers and Mental Health
For international female students, cultural adaptation poses additional challenges, with mental health being a pressing concern.
Research by UCAS reveals that female students are twice as likely to seek mental health support compared to their male counterparts.
Clementine Pippa Ebel, a Chinese Strategic Studies Scholar and Doctor of Philosophy in English Literature at the University of Oxford, Pippa advocates for culturally sensitive support services.
She explained many Chinese women face being isolated due to the UK social habits “often revolv[ing] around pubs and clubs’, whilst emphasising that providing mental health resources in Mandarin could significantly improve accessibility and effectiveness.
For a better higher education system, and an academic system that serves all to the best extent, we need to break these barriers, so everyone can flourish to the best of their ability.
Featured image courtesy of Unsplash. No changes have been made to this image. Image license found here.
