Author: PRIA Blog
The world has just last week celebrated International Womenâs Dayâa symbol of womenâs struggles for equality and recognition. In thinking about the many different ways in which womenâs leadership will be exercised around the world in the next 20 years, it became obvious that womenâs leadership in institutions of post-secondary and higher education would be most critical.
In many parts of the world, in institutions of higher education, in higher education councils, ministries and other policy-making bodies, women continue to play important leadership roles. Yet, moreâmuch moreâneeds to happen. Womenâs leadership in higher education will help shape the values and competencies of the next generation of leaders to develop resilience in responding to social conflicts and pressures from climate change. These challenges for the next generation of leaders can be posed to them as they prepare themselves in their years in institutions of higher education; in addition, the next generation of leaders can learn the repertoire of competencies that womenâs leadership inspires and stimulates.
In many countries around the world, special efforts have been made to nurture womenâs leadership in higher education. In India, several womenâs universities and colleges have contributed to development of womenâs leadership in higher education. Avinashlingam University in Tamilnadu and SNDT University in Maharashtra are two examples. A university for women has been opened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last year. Asian Womenâs University in Chittagaon, Bangladesh has been offering courses for young women from Asia and Middle-east regions for the past five years. Many other examples can be found around the world. These institutions of higher education not only prepare women for various professions and careers, they also become incubators of womenâs leadership in higher education.
A couple of years ago, a group of GenX women in higher education launched a network called University of Venus which has become a gathering place for women leaders influencing the future directions and programmes of institutions of higher education around the world. It is a mechanism to motivate women to pursue higher education, take on leadership roles in such institutions and to collectively shape the future of higher education in their institutions and countries. It offers advice to women professionals on such issues as why they should pursue their PhD, and how they should lead the renewal of curriculum.
The humanity has already entered the age of Venus; leadership of women is already influencing many of our colleges and universities. African Women Education Ministers Network has been doing its peer-to-peer advocacy work since late 1990s. It is critical that UNESCO recognises and supports the growing movement of womenâs leadership in higher education worldwide. That will be a fitting salute to the struggles of womenâs struggles, feminist scholarship and intellectual contributions to the development of humanity and society.
Rajesh Tandon March 17, 2012
PRIA’s MobiliseHER team traveled to Bangalore during the week of June, 10 – 14, 2024. The aim of the visit was to gain relevant insights into the civil society ecosystem in Bangalore and meet different organisations to understand the city through a lens of gender and inclusive mobility.
Working at PRIA, often leads us to various cities across the country. Each trip is an opportunity to witness firsthand the challenges and triumphs of different communities.
Mr. Yedukrishnan V has recently joined PRIA after gaining valuable experience in the development sector. Drawing from his journey in the social sector and personal encounters in Kerala, he emphasises the importance of participatory governance and research in empowering marginalised communities.'
