Opinie
The FFNT looking forward
It takes ‘two to tango’ Photo: Gijs van Ouwerkerk >
a number of professional development and gender
of female academic leadership and the importance
awareness events as well as explored the possible
of having a gender policy at the university. Today in
A new academic year has started and I am very
future strategic avenues. The highlights of this year
Europe we have a leaky pipeline which “leaks” pro-
happy to share the news about the FFNT fu-
have been the talk of the Harvard Business School
portionally more female scientists and ‘a profound
ture directions. The vision of FFNT is to embrace
Prof. Rosabeth Moss Kanter on March 8th and the
gender imbalance is still observed in a vast majority
diversity and promote academic female leadership
yearly conference on Female Academic Leadership
of countries’ (SHE figures 2012). The Netherlands,
at the University of Twente. A diverse organization
featuring university leaders Prof. Curt Rice, Prof.
for instance had 42% of female PhD graduates in
is more creative and innovative and thus brings
Simone Buitendijk and Prof. Rosemary Deem. The
2009, 26% of female researchers in 2009, the num-
competitive advantage to a university as showed in
insights from leadership studies were shared by
ber of professors was 13% in 2010. The proportion
studies of diverse teams and organizations. FFNT is
Prof. Janka Stoker who is also the member of the UT
of women in academic top positions increased from
committed to its members and in the past year the
Supervisory Board.
8% in 2002 to 13% in 2010 (SHE figures, 2012).
Board has taken stock of its activities, has organized
The above events allowed us to reflect on the role
These figures are alarming given how much of highly
22 UT NIEUWS 08|2012