The proportion of female professors at the UG rose slightly to 29.4 percent in 2023. However, efforts are still needed to meet the 33 percent target by 2025.
The 2024 Monitor of Female Professors reported the numbers. Between the end of 2022 and the end of 2023, the share of female professors at the UG increased by 1.6 percent, compared to a national average increase of 1.1 percent. Despite this growth, the UG remains ranked ninth among the fourteen Dutch universities.
According to the annual report by the Dutch Network of Women Professors (LNVH), the national growth rate is slightly better than in recent years, with the percentage of female professors across the Netherlands reaching 28.7 percent by the end of 2023.
More work to be done
Despite the modest progress, the LNVH sees no reason for celebration. Universities need to do more to meet their targets by 2025. The UG aims to have 33 percent of its professors be female by that year, but the slow growth of recent years—only a 0.2 percent increase between 2021 and 2022—casts doubt on whether this goal is achievable.
On a national level, the LNVH also remains skeptical. Current trends indicate that the nationwide target of 31.2 percent female professors may not be met. ‘Additional local initiatives and targeted policies are therefore essential’, the report states.
Opportunities
This year, the LNVH notes that previously identified opportunities for growth are finally beginning to materialise. For instance, the retirement of male professors is now visibly accelerating. Additionally, the proportion of female associate professors has significantly increased.
These two factors, highlighted by the LNVH for several years, could drive faster growth in the number of female professors in the Netherlands. However, the organisation emphasises that institutions must take action, focusing on fostering work cultures that attract and retain female talent.