Women’s Participation in Higher Education Management Positions in Ethiopia

Abstract

Despite improvements during the last two or three decades, female participation in higher education is generally low, and their participation in higher education management is strikingly low in many countries worldwide. The main purpose of this study was to find out the factors disabling women from participation in university management in Ethiopia. Data was collected from six public universities namely Addis Ababa University, Hawassa University, Wolita Sodo University, Rift-Valley University Hawassa campus, Zion College of Business and Technology, and Info-link College by using questionnaires, interview guides and document analysis. Data was collected from 10 male managers (heads of departments, deans, personnel officers, directors and vicepresidents), 26 women managers (heads of departments, gender officers, finance managers, personnel managers and coordinators of programs) and senior academic staff (20 women and 10 men) with a rank of lecturer and above. These amounted to a total respondent of 66. The respondents were selected using stratified simple random sampling and purposive sampling methods for both the female and male managers as well as senior academic staff members. The findings of the study revealed that women are indeed underrepresented in the management of the universities. There are multiple complex factors at the personal, institutional and societal levels that negatively affect women from participation in higher education management positions. At personal level factors such as child-rearing/childcare, balancing family and career were identified as major challenges faced by women in university management positions. At the institutional level discriminatory recruitment, appointment and promotion procedures, political appointments, unclear promotion criteria, absence of documented staff development policies for senior managers and few opportunities for further training affect women’s participation in university management. In addition, societal factors such as discrimination against female child education and general beliefs about women’s domestic role were identified as eroding women’s self-perception just as those women who succeeded in