HERS-SA

HERS-SA

GENDER TRANSFORMATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION IS NEEDED FOR SUSTAINABLE SOCIETIES

The United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets seventeen interrelated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with gender equality at the heart of achieving these goals. Even more reason for the Higher Education Resource Service – South Africa (HERS-SA) to believe that the attainment of gender transformation of leadership in higher education can accelerate the attainment of these goals.

In South Africa, out of twenty-six universities, only six women are Vice- Chancellors, and less than 50% of women hold PhDs and even fewer are full professors, while most of them are in lower ranks. This means very few women are part of decision-making. It is no secret that South African universities are gendered, racialised and classed.

The higher education (HE) sector plays a critical role in the production of skilled labour and the transformation of society, economy, and politics. Should HE remain unchanged, we risk the reproduction of inequalities. For this reason, HERS-SA believes having a gender representative leadership is critical not only for universities but also for realising the UN SDGs, the African Union Agenda 2063 and National Development Plan 2030.

What do we do?

HERS-SA has committed itself to developing women for senior leadership positions in HE. This is done through multi-pronged interventions that look holistically at the person, the group, organisation, and the greater society. Our training interventions aim to empower women on self-mastery, leadership, women leadership barriers, institutional culture, processes, procedures and politics and the role and impact of the external environment on universities. HERS-SA ACADEMY is our flagship, involving week-long intensive training that attracts women from all universities. The following interventions are also in place:

• Mentorship and coaching programmes

• Multi-generational dialogues

• Strategic participation in HE gender forums to bring an outsider perspective

• Doing advocacy and research on women leadership

• Creating collaboration networks for women

• Creating women leaders brand visibility

There are some shifts in HE, such as the appointment of women Chancellors, with the most recent appointment of Dr. Phumzile Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Advocate Mojanku Gumbi. Some of the women making moves and at the helm of leadership are our alumni. More work is still needed, by creating a culture that enables women to thrive; which requires gender-responsive policies and budget.

What can you do?

We are under no illusion that the shift has been easy, after all, as Nelson Mandela once said, “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” The work can be accelerated by collaborating with other sectors through sponsorship, donation in cash and/or kind (sharing expertise, being mentors, guest speakers, and more). Everyone has an opportunity to shift the gender inequalities in HE!

As we strive to put Africa firmly on the world stage through people driven development, women in HE are going to play a significant role. Strengthening the role of Africa’s women through ensuring gender equality and parity in all spheres of life.

CONTACT

Website: www.hers-sa.org.za

Phone: 067 724 0236

Email Address: info@hers-sa.org.za