Significant rise in female professorships at Kent

Kent is second among the group of UK universities to have achieved the largest improvements in its proportion of female professors.

As reported by Times Higher Education (THE), the University has increased its proportion of women professors to 27.2%, a rise of 8.2% since the last survey in 2012-13.

This, according to new Higher Education Statistics Agency figures obtained by the THE, places Kent well above the national average of 24% and at the top of those institutions to have achieved an increase.

Kent has for many years been committed to advancing gender equality in academia. It set up its Women’s Network in 2004 and through its participation in a range of national schemes and initiatives, such as Athena SWAN and Aurora, has sought to address the absence of women from senior academic and professorial roles, as well as those in professional service positions.

Commenting on the news, the University’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow said: ‘The recruitment, retention and recognition of women in higher education and at Kent in particular is an important part of the University’s mission. I am pleased that we are making significant progress towards gender parity within our professoriate and would like to thank all those who have contributed to this achievement.’

Dame Julia is the University’s Executive Group champion for equality and diversity.