Top leadership positions in Higher Education are often occupied by top researchers who generally happen to be men. The relationship between research and top academic positions is highly significant in emerging HE scenario but is least researched, specifically with regard to gender. This paper draws on a current British Academy funded project that explores the interplay between research, top leadership positions and gender in four public universities in Pakistan. European Commission Report (2008) identified interface between gender, research and top leadership positions in HE as a major factor for under-representation of women in leading positions in research and HE leadership in EU countries. However, internationally this has remained scarcely researched field in spite of its significance for progress, sustainability and equal opportunities. This research attends to this gap in knowledge while aiming to identify challenges for women academics as researchers and to develop recommendations to inform policy and practice. It will contribute to knowledge and theory development through research and engagement in an under-researched context.

The role of research in knowledge generation and national development is emphasised by recent studies, claiming that ‘Highly trained researchers, and especially graduates of PhD programmes and other research-based doctorates, act as major agents of creativity, innovation, knowledge transfer and problem solving’ (LERU, 2007, p.4). Importance of research in present day knowledge economies underpins its increasing significance in higher education, and impacts on access to research, research funding and top positions. European Commission Report (2008) claimed that ‘Only 15% of full professors in European universities are women, and women are under-represented on decision-making scientific boards in almost all European countries’, positing that ‘potential of our women in research is under-utilised’ (EU Report (2008, p.3), affecting their access to research and top leadership positions.

This research aims to investigate factors and power-conditions/structures impacting on women’s accessing research and top positions in HE across, causing ‘lack of gender balance’ in research and top positions. It is recognised that gender equity in research is significant not only for social justice and fairness, but also to improve efficiency, creativity and quality of research. EU Report emphasised that ‘Women’s experiences are urgently needed to structure and clarify the goals of research’  (2008, p.25), and recommended facilitating their access to research funding and top positions.

Aims

The project intends to stimulate on-going dialogue and debate amongst partner institutions to raise awareness of issues around ‘Getting More Women to the Top in Research and Leadership’ - a concern expressed in the European Commission Report (2008). The project aims to:

• Collect data of female presence in senior research and leadership positions in the four partner institutions
• Explore women academics' experiences of accessing research funding and senior leadership positions
• Make recommendations for improved female presence in research and leadership positions

The research is expected to make significant contributions to the field of knowledge initiated by the European Commission Report (2008), adding understandings from a new context for developing theory and practice across cultures.

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