RESEARCH NEWS

From 9-11 April 2010, Dr. Sarah Riordan attended a research meeting in Sweden as a result of her ongoing research association with WHEM (Women in Higher Education Management). This network of women from eight countries, led by Dr. Kate White of Australia, have been collaborating and communicating via email for the past four years whilst working on a multi-country study about gender equity in higher education. Their research has produced a book, entitled, Gender, Power and Management: a cross cultural analysis of Higher Education which will be released in 2011.

Each member of the team had produced at least one draft chapter of the book prior to the meeting. The purpose of the 3-day meeting which took place in the historic university town of Uppsala, was to sit together as a group and review each chapter of the book. “It was a wonderfully intense and productive opportunity to share insights and offer suggestions for improvement for each chapter from every country. An excellent example of women working collaboratively in a supportive environment” said Riordan. The trip was sponsored by the Swedish Research Council and facilitated by WHEM member Prof Anita Gorannson who are gratefully acknowledged.

HERS-SA ACADEMY 2009

The seventh HERS-SA ACADEMY took place from 13-19 September 2009
at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, Waterfront, Cape Town.

This year 24 universities from 8 countries were represented.   A total of 82 delegates including 71 from all over South Africa plus 11 from Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana and Lesotho, gathered together to share experiences, hear from experts in the field and learn from each other.    A total of 36 speakers and facilitators generously shared their experience and knowledge and thus provided a broad platform for the delegates to engage with challenges in the sector and interact with role models.

HERS-SA ACADEMY 2010 details

HERS-SA ACADEMY 2009 DELEGATES

Nasima Badsha
Chair: HERS-SA

HERS-SA remains an active member of the Women in Higher Education Management (WHEM) network via one of our Board Members, Dr. Sarah Riordan. Dr Riordan, with other WHEM members, attended the 6th European Conference on Gender Equity in Higher Education that was held at Stockholm Univesity, Sweden from 5 to 8 August 2009.

On the final Saturday morning, discussion during the plenary sessions turned to “what next?” After listening to a number of contributions, Dr Riordan offered our South African experience of the Declaration made in 2008 after our HE Conference in Cape Town to HESA (Higher Education South Africa), the CHE (Council on Higher Education) and the Department of Education that called on these institutions to respond with an action plan (HE Conference details). Dr Riordan is pleased to report that a majority vote in the plenary session on Saturday morning moved to make a similar declaration to the European Commission.

The South African text was used a as a basis document to draft the declaration that will be presented later in September 2009.

Click here for her Report.