The percentage of women is still decreasing at each ascending rung of the career ladder. The Netherlands has 53.9% women graduates, 43% women PhD’s and 41.8% women assistant professors. These percentages are relatively close together. The percentage then drops considerably to 28.4% women associate professors and 23.1% women professors.
The good news is that the percentage of women professors has experienced the greatest growth in 1 year ever (20.9% to 23.1%), but the percentage of women associate professors however is decreasing for the first time (28.6% to 28.4%). This seems to be a direct effect of the Westerdijk Talent Impuls, with 100 ‘extra’ appointments of women professors taking place between February 2017 and February 2018.’
We see a strong increase among men in the age category 55-65 years and a decrease in the age category up to 55 years. This means that in the upcoming years there will be a large outflow of men leaving due to retirement (emeritaat); This offers great opportunities for appointing women to these positions. The LNVH estimates that 77% of the outflow due to retirement (men and women) can be replaced by women associate professors with 'professor potential'.
The share of women professors has increased at almost all Dutch universities. However, the listing in the ranking does not say everything. It is important to look at the growth that percentages of women professors experienced per institution ultimo 2017 – ultimo 2018. 7 of the 14 universities show a higher growth percentage than the average growth percentage of 2.2 percentage points. Highlight: Maastricht University (5.2), the Open University (4.2), Utrecht University (3.0) and also Eindhoven University of Technology and the University of Twente with 2.8 percentage points.
The Netherlands scores poorly in Europe with a share of 23.1% women professors. We are listed 24th out of 28 EU countries, just above Belgium, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic and Cyprus.
If the percentages of women professors continue to increase with the current pace of growth, we will achieve a proportional m/f ratio among professors at the end of 2042. Last year this forecast was still at 2048. The critical mass minimum of 30% could potentially be reached in 2025.
The Dutch Network of Women Professors (LNVH) is a center of expertise in gender diversity and a lobby and network organization (of over 1400 women associate and full professors), aiming at a proportionate representation of women in academia. To this extend, the LNVH publishes a yearly Women Professors Monitor. The Monitor offers insight into the current ratio of men to women in academia and an overview of the current percentages of male and female professors and in management positions at Dutch academic organizations, university medical centers and other academic organizations. The Monitor forms the foundation for policy measures on gender diversity. It incites action and gives insight into where the obstacles are in the still inadequate flow of women to the top. Click here for previous Monitors.
