Umeå University invests to hire more female professors
NEWS
Umeå University currently has 299 professors, of which 60 are female. The total number of women professors has been stagnant at around 20 per cent over the past few years. Despite this, the university actually maintains one of the highest numbers of female professors in Sweden. The University Board at Umeå University has declared that these circumstances are unacceptable and have reached a decision to invest SEK 27.5 million to bring about a significant change.
"We hope that this investment helps to increase the proportion of women rather rapidly. This is about supporting and promoting those women that will be competent professors in the upcoming years. Although the proportion of women employed as professors has increased in recent years, it has progressed too slowly. Notwithstanding the fact that we have met the government's recruitment targets, we have not reached the University Board's goal that 40 percent of the new professors hired during 2005-2008 would be female,” notes Göran Sandberg, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University.
However, the investment is not to be perceived as a solution to the gender equity problem.
”There is a need for further action in order to confront the problem in the long-term. Some may perhaps think that what we are doing now is mostly cosmetic, but I am convinced that it is necessary, even if it has a short-term effect. We must begin by addressing the concerns of women, before they leave us, otherwise it will be even more difficult to correct the imbalance in the years ahead,” emphasises Åsa Bergenheim, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for undergraduate and postgraduate education.
During 2005-2008, 34 per cent of the new professors at Umeå University were female. The university precisely met the recruitment goals of the Swedish government for the period. Nonetheless, the University Board raised the goal so that at least 40 per cent of the newly established professors during that period should be female. This goal was not reached, even if the number of newly hired female professors in 2008 jumped to 46 per cent.
The University Board reached a decision on 11 June to commit 15 million Swedish crowns in financial support towards qualified female professors and 12.5 million crowns to be applied for recruiting female guest professors.
This investment represents that during 2010-2012, 20 to 25 women will be able to engage in research full-time, which corresponds to 18 months. They will be free from administrative and teaching assignments, and will be able to focus on the scientific aspects of the qualifications and thus meet the requirements for promotion to professorship in a more accelerated manner.
"The faculties will make an initial assessment of who is eligible for the grant. They will submit the applications to the two university internal scientific councils, advisory boards, who will then assess the applications. Assessments will be based on the applicant's curriculum vitae and research plan,” explains Vice Rector Marianne Sommarin, who is heading the scientific assessment process.
The scientific councils are divided into one representing the humanities and social sciences and one for medicine, technology and science. The first announcement for qualification allowance will take place on 1 September 2009. The first grants will be distributed on 1 July 2010.
The financial support towards guest professors comprises of approximately 10 female guest professors who will have the opportunity spend 2 to 3 months in a year at Umeå University in northern Sweden. The funds will cover employment, travel, sustenance, and mostly likely for a smaller project.
