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🇳🇵 Nepal /Culture & Society

Lack of women in VC roles signals a need for structural change

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Sources not specified Context piece
  • Only four women are among 188 shortlists for vice-chancellor positions at eight Nepalese universities, highlighting a persistent underrepresentation in higher education leadership.
  • Cultural barriers, domestic duties, and male-dominated academic environments prevent qualified women from advancing to top leadership roles.
  • The lack of female representation is a serious issue demanding a reckoning, not a statistical anomaly, despite the recruitment process appearing impartial.

A stark statistic has emerged from Nepal's university system: only four women are among the 188 candidates shortlisted for vice-chancellor positions across eight institutions. This outcome, while unsurprising to those familiar with higher education in the country, underscores a persistent gender imbalance.

Only four women among 188 shortlists.

— AuthorHighlighting the stark gender disparity in the selection of university vice-chancellors.

Despite an increase in female literacy and enrollment in higher education as students, women remain significantly underrepresented as producers of knowledge and leaders within academic institutions. The recruitment process for vice-chancellors, while ostensibly open and competitive, fails to ensure inclusive outcomes. This is not due to flaws in the process itself, but rather deeper systemic issues.

Where women have historically been excluded from networking, mentoring processes and institutional exposure, a seemingly impartial procedure cannot guarantee proportionate results.

— AuthorExplaining why the formal recruitment process does not lead to equitable outcomes for women.

Historically, women have been excluded from crucial networking, mentoring, and institutional exposure. Consequently, a seemingly impartial selection procedure cannot guarantee proportionate results. The underrepresentation on shortlists reflects years of neglect and systemic barriers. While mandatory appointments or quotas are a separate discussion, the current reality of four women out of 188 candidates is a serious issue demanding attention.

The lack of representation on the shortlist reflects years of neglect.

— AuthorEmphasizing that the current underrepresentation is a result of long-standing systemic issues.

Factors contributing to this disparity include cultural barriers, the disproportionate burden of domestic duties on women, and organizational practices that foster male-dominated environments. In Nepal, as in other South Asian countries, women often shoulder significant family responsibilities without adequate support, limiting their time and opportunities for leadership. Furthermore, competent women may not even see themselves as suitable candidates due to these ingrained challenges.

Nepali women, as in other South Asian countries, are excessively burdened by domestic duties.

— AuthorIdentifying a key cultural factor contributing to women's underrepresentation in leadership.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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