Women in Leadership Role in Higher Education- Kaleidoscope of Perspective

Abstract

Women are playing a vital role in high managerial position in all industries. The same is desired, in the opinion of scholars, who advocate that there needs to be a diverse perspective at decision making table and hence moot for women’s voices in higher education. But numerous studies over the period of time have presented the evidence of the under representation of women in leadership roles and higher education is not oblivious of this. The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) was established by the United Nation with the aim of improving gender equality and the empowerment of women, which was followed by the sustainable development Goal which reiterated the same. National laws are not a remiss, for example under Article 15(3) in the Constitution of India provides special powers in the hands of lawmakers to protect the representation of women which is substantiated by the numerous precedents.
Along with the national and international policies, the leadership role played by women in higher education is affected by a multitude of factors and attributes that also play very crucial part in defining the limits of their role. This article aims at assessing a kaleidoscopic perspective on the leadership role played by the women in the higher education sector as well as understanding the societal-cultural and organization’s culture as attributes which are influencing the aspirations and opportunities of women to be or to remain in leadership roles. This article would briefly analyze international instruments, national laws and institutional policies which are aimed at removing the barriers to progression of women in higher education and will go on to discuss the various case studies and judicial perspective on having diverse voices at the decision making table and how can we increase the visibility and engagement of women at leadership role in higher education.