Women leadership in higher education: exploring enablers and challenges from middle-level academics’ perspective
Abstract The scarcity of literature in higher education addressing the enablers or challenging factors influencing the progression of women academics from middle-level to senior leadership roles is noteworthy. This study aims to explore the factors that enable or impede the advancement of middle-lev...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer Nature
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04278-6 |
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| author | Lei Mee Thien Hooi Lian Lim Ahmad Firdaus Ahmad Shabudin Rahimi Che Aman Aziah Ismail Wan Fatma Zuharah Muhammad Muftahu |
| author_facet | Lei Mee Thien Hooi Lian Lim Ahmad Firdaus Ahmad Shabudin Rahimi Che Aman Aziah Ismail Wan Fatma Zuharah Muhammad Muftahu |
| author_sort | Lei Mee Thien |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The scarcity of literature in higher education addressing the enablers or challenging factors influencing the progression of women academics from middle-level to senior leadership roles is noteworthy. This study aims to explore the factors that enable or impede the advancement of middle-level women academics and identify recommendations for promoting women leadership in higher education institutions. This qualitative study has collected interview data from 17 informants from five Malaysian public universities. The thematic analysis revealed four enablers and three challenges faced by women in academic leadership. The thematic analysis revealed four enabler factors - gender-neutral policies, management of multiple roles, core personal competencies, and the presence of mentors and role models. Conversely, traditional women’s roles, social stigma, and personal factors were identified as factors that hinder women’s leadership in universities. The findings underscore the importance of implementing gender-neutral policies to foster inclusivity, the establishment of formal mentorship programmes, and cultivating multitasking skills among women. Understanding the dynamics from the perspective of middle-level women academics is essential for crafting a more equitable and supportive institutional environment to equip them with the necessary resources and support to transition into senior leadership positions smoothly, ultimately strengthening the leadership pipeline within the institution. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea3e57300f7549b0b447559dc8287c4d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-9992 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea3e57300f7549b0b447559dc8287c4d2025-02-02T12:13:17ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-01-0112111210.1057/s41599-024-04278-6Women leadership in higher education: exploring enablers and challenges from middle-level academics’ perspectiveLei Mee Thien0Hooi Lian Lim1Ahmad Firdaus Ahmad Shabudin2Rahimi Che Aman3Aziah Ismail4Wan Fatma Zuharah5Muhammad Muftahu6National Higher Education Research Institute, Universiti Sains MalaysiaSchool of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains MalaysiaNational Higher Education Research Institute, Universiti Sains MalaysiaSchool of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains MalaysiaSchool of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains MalaysiaCommonwealth Tertiary Education Facility, Universiti Sains MalaysiaFaculty of Education, Kaduna State UniversityAbstract The scarcity of literature in higher education addressing the enablers or challenging factors influencing the progression of women academics from middle-level to senior leadership roles is noteworthy. This study aims to explore the factors that enable or impede the advancement of middle-level women academics and identify recommendations for promoting women leadership in higher education institutions. This qualitative study has collected interview data from 17 informants from five Malaysian public universities. The thematic analysis revealed four enablers and three challenges faced by women in academic leadership. The thematic analysis revealed four enabler factors - gender-neutral policies, management of multiple roles, core personal competencies, and the presence of mentors and role models. Conversely, traditional women’s roles, social stigma, and personal factors were identified as factors that hinder women’s leadership in universities. The findings underscore the importance of implementing gender-neutral policies to foster inclusivity, the establishment of formal mentorship programmes, and cultivating multitasking skills among women. Understanding the dynamics from the perspective of middle-level women academics is essential for crafting a more equitable and supportive institutional environment to equip them with the necessary resources and support to transition into senior leadership positions smoothly, ultimately strengthening the leadership pipeline within the institution.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04278-6 |
| spellingShingle | Lei Mee Thien Hooi Lian Lim Ahmad Firdaus Ahmad Shabudin Rahimi Che Aman Aziah Ismail Wan Fatma Zuharah Muhammad Muftahu Women leadership in higher education: exploring enablers and challenges from middle-level academics’ perspective Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| title | Women leadership in higher education: exploring enablers and challenges from middle-level academics’ perspective |
| title_full | Women leadership in higher education: exploring enablers and challenges from middle-level academics’ perspective |
| title_fullStr | Women leadership in higher education: exploring enablers and challenges from middle-level academics’ perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Women leadership in higher education: exploring enablers and challenges from middle-level academics’ perspective |
| title_short | Women leadership in higher education: exploring enablers and challenges from middle-level academics’ perspective |
| title_sort | women leadership in higher education exploring enablers and challenges from middle level academics perspective |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04278-6 |
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