Ninth Level Ireland

“Gender balance in higher education institutions is on the way, but not fast enough. This, in a nutshell, is the argument for female-only professorships. But will they make a difference? The recent report of the gender equality taskforce concluded that, based on current trends, it could take 20 years to reach a situation were 40% of professors are women …” (more)

[Muireann Lynch and Selina McCoy, Irish Times, 15 July]

“In the almost two years since Mary Mitchell O’Connor became the country’s first Minister for Higher Education, it can hardly be disputed that gender equality has been the issue to dominate her time in office. From establishing a dedicated Gender Equality Taskforce to creating 45 new senior posts in higher education institutes that are gender-specific, Mitchell O’Connor has been insistent in her commitment to championing women in academia, and to ushering in a new era of gender equality in higher education …” (more)

[University Times, 30 June]

“I’ve been so busy over the last week or so that I forgot to mention that on Friday (21st June) the Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor announced a new scheme to improve the gender balance in senior academic roles in Irish universities …” (more)

[In the Dark, 27 June]

“Summer solstice 2019: the day higher education in Ireland changed forever. I officially opened the call to higher education institutions to apply for new professorial and senior lecturer posts – gender-specific posts. The third-level sector in Ireland is underpinned by gender inequality, gender discrimination and instructional bias …” (more)

[Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Independent, 27 June]

“This week saw a sober assessment of the impact – both positive but also depressingly negative – of schemes to improve gender equality. As the Athena Swan Review Group wrestles with how to improve their own awards, it is important to learn from mistakes as well as successes. In years gone by I spoke up for Athena Swan …” (more)

[Athene Donald’s Blog, 22 June]

“The first of up to 45 women-only professorships aimed at tacking gender inequality in higher education are due to be made before the end of this year. Minister of State for higher education Mary Mitchell O’Connor on Friday officially opened applications to the what is called the ‘senior academic leadership initiative’ …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 21 June]

“Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are invited to submit applications for funding under the Senior Academic Leadership Initiative (SALI) Call 2019, in line with the requirements set out in the Call for Applications. This Call is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills (DES) …” (more, download)

[HEA, 21 June]

“The opening up of women-only posts in Irish higher education – which takes place from today – is not about keeping men out of high-powered positions, said Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor. ‘But there is no reason why women should continue to play second fiddle when it comes to seniority’, she added …” more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 21 June]

“The IUA welcomes the announcement of the Call for Proposals for the Senior Academic Leadership Initiative (SALI). Our member universities are enthusiastic about engaging in this positive initiative to address the gender imbalance at senior academic level …” (more)

[IUA, 21 June]

“With women making up just 24% of professors in Irish universities, new gender-specific academic posts are to be launched to achieve diversity at a senior level in the third level sector. A call for applications to a new ‘Senior Academic Leadership’ initiative has been announced this Friday, which aims to accelerate gender balance among senior positions within Irish higher level institutions …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 20 June]

“As someone who studies academic organizations and their efforts to encourage equality, I believe that dedicated programmes to address inequalities are essential. I also worry they might not be designed to provide support to the very people who need it …” (more)

[Charikleia Tzanakou, Nature, 18 June]

“The influential collection of biographical essays by Eric Temple Bell, Men of Mathematics, was published in 1937. It covered the lives of about 40 mathematicians, from ancient times to the beginning of the 20th century. The book inspired many boys to become mathematicians. However, it seems unlikely it inspired many girls …” (more)

[Peter Lynch, Irish Times, 16 May]

“Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor today came out fervently in favour of consent education in universities speaking at the launch of the Systematic Action for Gender Equality (SAGE) Charter launch today …” (more)

[Eleanor O’Mahony, University Times, 15 May]

“Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD Minister of State for Higher Education today (15th May 2019) formally launched a Charter to promote gender equality in the University sector. SAGE – Systemic Action for Gender Equality – is an EU-Horizon 2020 funded project designed to seek stronger action on gender equality in higher education and research …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 15 May]

“Women are listed as authors of just 30% of academic research from British universities, according to a major new ranking of higher education institutions. Although the number of women named as authors is gradually increasing, the slow pace was described by one expert as ‘disheartening’ …” (more)

[Dalmeet Singh Chawla, Guardian, 15 May]

“More than two thirds of women who work in the home and have a third level education do not want to return to a paid job, according to a survey issued today. In research conducted by SOLAS on 218,000 women on ‘home duties’, not participating in the labour force and aged between 20–64, the majority of women – regardless of their education level – said they did not wish to return to the labour force …” (more)

[Sorcha O’Connor, Independent, 1 May]

“Fifteen students at Queen’s University Belfast have requested to change their gender on official records. Almost 100 students across the UK’s top third-level academic institutions have done so at a time when universities are being accused of ‘disturbing’ failures to protect trans students from abuse …” (more)

[Claire McNeilly, Belfast Telegraph, 22 April]

“Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) has commenced its preparations to submit an application for the Athena SWAN Bronze Award – the gender quality benchmark – to the Advance Higher Education’s (HE) Gender Equality Charters Team. The submission is an institution-wide initiative led by the Research Office at DkIT …” (more)

[Talk of the Town, 13 April]

“Almost half of female economists have experienced gender discrimination, according to an American Economic Association survey that also included hundreds of reports of assault and harassment. 48% of women reported unfair discrimination based on sex and 22% experienced bias for their marital status or caregiving responsibilities …” (more)

[Jeff Kearns, Bloomberg, 18 March]

“Fewer girls than boys are choosing to study Stem subjects in college due to the choices they make at Leaving Cert level, new research has shown. The Understanding Gender Differences in STEM study, published by the UCD centre for economic research, reveals that the subjects female students choose to study during the Leaving Cert cycle strongly influence whether or not they will go on to study courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) at third level …” (more)

[Sorcha Pollak, Irish Times, 18 March]