PRESS RELEASE: Addressing Female STEM Lecturers’ Underrepresentation in Leadership in Technical Universities in Ghana – New Initiative Aims to Break Down Systemic Inequalities

Accra, Ghana, March 5, 2025 – Ho Technical University (HTU), The University of Nottingham (UoN), and the Association of African Universities (AAU) announce the commencement of a new project targeted at addressing the underrepresentation of female STEM lecturers in leadership positions in Ghana’s 10 technical universities.

Significant gender-based inequalities continue to persist in Sub-Saharan Africa, thwarting the aspirations of female academics seeking leadership positions and hindering their career progression. Women in academia still face substantial barriers to career progression, including slower promotion rates, under-representation in senior roles, and constraints in publishing and disseminating their research, which can impact their visibility and career advancement. The challenges are particularly pronounced in technical universities, where women in STEM fields encounter unique barriers.

To address these disparities, the ‘Addressing Female STEM Lecturers’ Underrepresentation in Leadership’ project targets bridging the existing knowledge gap and providing targeted support to female academics with background in STEM fields in Ghana’s technical universities. This project is funded by the British Council and aligns with global efforts to promote gender equity in academia. The specific aim of the project is to explore the experiences of female STEM lecturers in Ghanaian technical universities in attaining leadership positions and to identify the macro and micro level processes that perpetuate the inequities they face in academia. Additionally, the project will examine the impact of capacity-building strategies, including writing workshops and mentorship, in addressing gender-based obstacles.  It aims to also put forward recommendations to redress the disparities and achieve gender equity in technical universities in Ghana.

Running through January 2025 – February 2026, the project targets achieving these goals through undertaking research-driven interventions to deepen understanding of the underlying issues impeding women’s progression to leadership, inform evidence-based policy, foster supportive mentorship, and deliver a targeted capacity-building workshop and a mentorship programme. Upon completion, this project is poised to achieve far-reaching outcomes, notably enhancing research output and visibility of female academics, and significantly boosting leadership capacities among female STEM lecturers in Ghana’s Technical Universities. This transformation will be marked by increased representation in leadership positions, amplified voices in policy formulation, and greater recognition within their institutions. The project will also generate actionable research insights, informing evidence-based policies and institutional practices that promote gender equality, ultimately paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable academic environment in Ghana’s Technical Universities.

Prof. Ben Q. Honyenuga, the Vice-Chancellor of Ho Technical University said that “this British Council funded initiative addresses a core challenge in academia in Ghana and across Sub-Saharan Africa. At Ho Technical University (HTU), we have remained committed to excellence and inclusivity in technical and vocational education and training (TVET).  Through this initiative, HTU in collaboration with the implementing partners is hopeful that systemic barriers affecting female STEM lecturers would be addressed. HTU remains resolute in its commitment to implementing the project’s recommendations, integrating them into policies, and ensuring that they lead to sustainable change in the academic landscape of Ghana’s technical universities”.

“This project exemplifies the University of Nottingham’s commitment to global engagement and partnership. By collaborating with Ho Technical University in Ghana and the Association of African Universities, with the support of the British Council, we are fostering meaningful knowledge exchange and contributing to the advancement of gender equity in Ghanaian Technical Universities.  We are confident that the project will have a significant impact on the lives of female STEM lecturers, helping them overcome obstacles and advance in their careers,” said Professor Volker Wedekind, Head of School (Professor in Education), Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nottingham (UoN)”.

Prof. Olusola Oyewole, Secretary General of the Association of African Universities commented “At the AAU, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive academic environment by advancing gender equity through research, capacity building, and collaborative initiatives. This project represents a pivotal step in addressing the structural barriers that hinder female STEM lecturers from attaining leadership positions. Through our extensive network of higher education institutions across Africa, we will leverage this initiative to not only support women’s professional growth but also to advocate for evidence-based policies that promote gender inclusivity. By partnering with Ho Technical University and the University of Nottingham, and with the support of the British Council, we are reinforcing our commitment to empowering female academics and ensuring their voices shape the future of technical education in Ghana and beyond.” This project is a critical step towards breaking systemic barriers and fostering a more inclusive academic environment.

About the Project Funder

This project is supported by funding from the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships Programme. Going Global Partnerships supports universities, colleges and wider education stakeholders around the world to work together towards stronger, equitable, inclusive, more internationally connected higher education, science and TVET.

Through international partnerships, system collaborations and opportunities to connect and share, we enable stronger transnational education, more collaborative research, higher quality delivery enhanced learner outcomes and stronger, internationalised, equitable and inclusive systems and institutions. This leads to stronger higher education, research and TVET systems around the world that can support fairer social and economic growth and address national and global challenges – all backed up by mutually beneficial international relationships.

About the Project Partners

Ho Technical University (HTU)|  http://www.htu.edu.gh/

Ho Technical University (HTU) is a publicly funded university in Ghana, with a mandate to train highly competent human capital to the highest level possible through career-focused education, skills training and research, in partnership with stakeholders.  Ho Technical University started as a Technical Institute in 1968 with the primary objective of providing pre-technical education. However, in 1986, the Institute became a Polytechnic. The passage of the Technical Universities Act 2016 (Act 922) as amended by Act 2018 (Act 974), gave Ho Technical University the mandate to award degrees, diplomas, certificates and other qualifications to the highest level in Engineering, Science and Technology based disciplines, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Applied Arts and related disciplines. Its vision is to become a hub of practical education and innovation advancing sustainable global development, and its mission is to develop highly competent human capital through career-focused education, skills training, research and innovation in partnership with stakeholders. As a leading technical university, HTU has been actively working towards creating a more inclusive academic environment. Acknowledging the importance of gender equity, the University in 2022 set up a dedicated Gender Affairs Office, which plays a crucial role in implementing gender policies, advocating for female representation and addressing challenges that hinder women’s career progression within the University.

In terms of faculty leadership, HTU has taken concrete steps to advance gender equity. Prior to becoming a University, the Institution had a female Vice-Rector in 2012/13. The University, in 2024, promoted its first female Associate Professors, and both occupy very significant offices in the University. Additionally in 2022, the University appointed a female Dean of Students Affairs, a significant achievement in promoting female representation in leadership roles within the institution. For two conservative times, the Office of International Programmes and Institutional Linkages in the University has been headed by female academics and they exhibit quality leadership in this position. We have a history of female leadership in other office space, both in the teaching and the administration fields.

It is noteworthy that beyond faculty and administrative female leadership, HTU also supports initiatives that encourage women’s participation and professional growth in male-dominated fields. One such initiative is the Women in Engineering (WINE) Association, which provides mentorship, networking opportunities, and advocacy for female students and faculty in engineering.

Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Linkedin  – Ho Technical University

University of Nottingham (UoN):| https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ 

The University of Nottingham is a world-class, research-intensive university whose research transforms lives and shapes futures both at home and abroad. It is ranked tenth (10) in the UK and top hundred (100) globally in terms of research power, with more than 90% of the research recognised internationally as world leading (ranked in the highest category) and having wide-ranging impacts on key spheres of life including society, the economy, health and welfare, culture, public policy and the environment.  The UoN’s School of Education significantly contributes to the University’s research excellence as well as being ranked top 10 of all education departments in the UK and top 50 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024. Education at all levels (school, adult, vocational, higher education and informal learning) is critical for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially inclusive and equitable quality education for women and girls.  The School makes significant contributions to research and development initiatives that enhance our understanding of the role of education in promoting gender equality and sustainable development.

For women and girls, this focus translates into research and development initiatives aimed at increasing access to education for female students in subjects such as STEM, developing leadership skills for academics in higher education, strengthening research skills for female early career researchers and mentoring women towards leadership positions in academia.  The School’s gender-focused research and initiatives, along with strategic partnerships, inform policy and development in diverse global contexts, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. In this regard, the University has a strategic partnership with UNESCO through its Chair in International Education and Development with a focus on Africa and Asia. The School also houses the Association of African Universities Europe Regional Office (AAU-ERO). This strategic relationship enables the school to collaboratively develop impactful research and innovative solutions as contribution to UNESCO’s Priority Africa.

SoE
https://www.facebook.com/UoNSoE
https://x.com/UoNSoe
https://bsky.app/profile/uonsoe.bsky.social

Media enquiries: Liz Goodwin, Media Relations Manager (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), liz.goodwin@nottingham.ac.uk

University of Nottingham
+44 (0) 115 748 5133

Association of African Universities (AAU): | www.aau.org

The Association of African Universities is an international non-profit, non-governmental organisation created by African universities to promote cooperation among them, and between them and the international academic community. It is headquartered in Accra, Ghana, has a membership of 450 higher education institutions, and three regional offices – the North Africa Regional Office (NARO) in Cairo, Egypt; East Africa Regional Office (EARO) in Khartoum, Sudan; and the Southern Africa Regional Office in Zimbabwe (SARO) as well as continental offices hosted in Europe (By the University of Nottingham), USA, Latin America among others.

Established in 1967 and serving as the voice of higher education in Africa, the AAU aims to improve the quality of African higher education and strengthen its contribution to Africa’s development by supporting the core functions of higher education institutions and facilitating critical reflections and consensus-building on issues affecting these institutions. Taking the lead to drive women and young girls’ equal participation in the higher education sector has been prime on the agenda of the Association of African Universities (AAU).

The promotion of gender equality is firmly rooted in the AAU’s current Strategic Plan. Continuous advocacy among African Universities to prioritise gender mainstreaming in STEM and in other fields remains priority on the AAU’s focus areas. It continues to organize high level conferences, commission research studies and promotes the work of the Women in Higher Education Network (hosted by the AAU), among various other interventions.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AAU67 | X – @aau_67

Media enquiries: Felicia Nkrumah Kuagbedzi, Senior Communications and Publications Officer, AAU, fnkrumah@aau.org; +233246425147