| 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 |
