‘Universities are withholding funds for women’

09 / 12 / 2019 | Hoger Onderwijs Persbureau | Bas Belleman

Universities are not spending hundreds of thousands of euros intended to promote female scientists to associate professors or professors, reports de Volkskrant.

The Dutch newspaper investigated the Aspasia grants awarded by the Dutch Research Council, a research financier. The grants, worth between €50,000 and €200,000, are intended to financially support universities in appointing talented women to permanent positions.

The women referred to in the de Volkskrant article are the recipients or almost recipients of the Vidi and Vici grants of the Dutch Research Council’s talent programme. This programme is intended to right the imbalance between men and women in academia.

Professors

As HOP reported in October, male professors still outnumber female professors by far, although we are slowly seeing a change. However, no rise can be observed in the number of female associate professors.

De Volkskrant approached over 200 scientists and spoke to 126 women who would be entitled to an Aspasia grant. One in five never received the grant, although they would have wanted it.

Universities cite reasons such as tight budgets or their own system for promotions – in some cases promotions would be ahead of schedule.

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'Goede vrouwen worden over het hoofd gezien'

Op papier hebben mensen van alle seksen dezelfde kansen om 'hogerop te komen' in de academische wereld. Toch kloppen de cijfers niet. Momenteel is 21% van de hoogleraren aan de Universiteit Twente vrouw, wat nog wel een grote stijging is ten opzichte van twintig of zelfs tien jaar geleden. Drie vrouwelijke hoogleraren, die al tientallen jaren aan de UT werken, delen hun ervaringen en hun adviezen. 'De situatie was zeker slechter toen ik begon.'

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Nog altijd glazen plafond in wetenschap

Voor vrouwen is het moeilijker dan voor mannen om carrière te maken aan de universiteit. Het aandeel vrouwelijke hoogleraren stijgt gestaag, maar het glazen plafond is niet verdwenen. Op de UT is 20 procent van de hoogleraren vrouw, het doel is 25 procent in 2025.

Still glass ceiling in the academic world

It is harder for women than for men to build a career at a university. The proportion of women professors is rising steadily but the glass ceiling has not disappeared, according to the new Women Professors Monitor. At the UT, 20 percent of professors are women and the goal is to reach 25 percent of female professors by 2025.