Monash recognised for academic gender equity achievements
Monash HR Executive Director, Karen Haywood
Monash University’s commitment to gender equity has propelled the Group of Eight institution into the finals of the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) Awards.
Monash has been named as a finalist in the The Hon. Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO Award for Gender Equity in the Workplace.
The University’s commitment is articulated through a range of programs and initiatives, which address the gender imbalance, in particular in the more senior academic roles such as Associate Professor and Professor.
In 2001, the percentage of women in academic leadership at Monash - at 13.8 per cent - was well below the University’s key benchmarking groups – other Group of Eight (GO8) universities and the fellow holders of the Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation. However, over the past five years, Monash has taken a strong lead over G08 institutions and, from 2011 onwards, exceeded the national average in the percentage of women in senior academic roles.
Lower numbers of women in senior academic roles is a significant challenge throughout higher education sectors globally. Growth has been slow across the sector and Monash’s numbers have increased exponentially relative to other universities in Australia.
Research shows that the underrepresentation of women in senior academic roles generally occurs as a result of the fundamental structures that support academic success.
To address this challenge, gender equity strategies were embedded across the employee lifecycle. These strategies included building the leadership pipeline for academic women, supporting the career progression of female academics with carer responsibilities via grant funding, and introducing a more equitable approach to measuring productivity. The cumulative effect of these initiatives has led to an improved gender balance at senior academic roles and shifted cultural mindset to treating gender equity as a core business imperative.
Monash HR Executive Director, Karen Haywood said significant results have been realised and to be named as a finalist in the AHRI awards is acknowledgement of that.
“We are very honoured to be recognised for our commitment to gender equity, particularly where our challenges are global and solutions are local. It adds another dimension to how we address our strategies. To achieve a finalist position is also opportunity for us to promote our success to female academics everywhere and to encourage them to include Monash in their career journey.”
“Monash’s commitment to research, and teaching and learning, is renowned. We’re now pleased to say that our strategies provide tangible support to our valued academics in their quest for excellence in a global market,” Ms Haywood said.