Rectors issue equality guidelines

Universities asked to report back on impact of gender equality initiatives

The Conference of Italian University Rectors has published guidelines that ask universities to report regularly on gender equality initiatives and their efficacy.

Last year, at the first national conference on equality in academia, participants heard that women accounted for 56 per cent of students and 51 per cent of all researchers in Italy. However, their presence becomes much rarer higher up the career ladder, with women holding only 37 per cent of associate professorships, 22 per cent of full professorships and 7 per cent of rector posts.