Gender imbalance warning to colleges

Minister hopes to avoid funding penalties for colleges over equality

Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan hopes the Government will not have to impose funding penalties on colleges to get them to reverse gender imbalances in leadership roles.

The higher education sector has been in the spotlight lately over the low numbers of females in top academic positions at universities and institutes of technology in recent months.

At an event aimed at promoting science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers to girls, the minister acknowledged that academia has been slower than other areas on gender equality, but said there has been real progress.

Asked whether there should be restrictions on public funding to colleges that do not meet equality targets, as proposed to get colleges to enrol more mature students or students with disabilities or from poorer backgrounds, she said there have been no proposals in that regard.

“I would hope that it wouldn’t be necessary to take such a step. But certainly it’s something that we will be strongly monitoring in terms of progress. I think there’s a dynamic in the institutions themselves that inevitably is improving the situation,” she said.

Ms O’Sullivan referred to the fact that all 21 universities and institutes of technology are now signed up to the Athena Swan initiative, an international charter that commits them to advancing women’s academic careers in science, technology, engineering, maths, and medicine.

“It’s not just words on a piece of paper, you actually have to reach certain targets in order to get to the different levels within the Athena Swan [charter].

“I would encourage the higher education institutions to engage in this, I think they realise that it’s something that is positive for them as well,” she said.

The minister earlier addressed female students from some of the 40 Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford schools at the IWish event at Cork City Hall, where women showcased their own successful careers in engineering, technology, science and maths.

She said it was good to see stress being put on the job opportunities in STEM subjects and getting rid of stereotypes that these subjects are more for boys than girls.

But, she said, the education system is playing its part through changes to maths and science courses to make them more interesting, and encouraging girls in particular to take an interest in them.

The proportion of female entrants to STEM courses at universities fell from 47% to 40% between 2005 and 2013, despite increased encouragement of girls towards related subjects.

Women account for just one-in-six of entrants to computer science programmes, and only one-in-five starting degrees linked to engineering, manufacturing and construction.

“We are giving young girls the choice, and the chance, to make changes that could impact their future careers,” said Cork Chamber president Gillian Keating, one of Cork’s business leaders behind the IWish initiative.