27 August 2007 Lincoln backs new leadership programme for women

 

When Dr Clare Simpson started at Lincoln in 1985, there were just four women lecturers on staff. She says most male staff welcomed and supported her. “They were so keen to see women arriving at Lincoln.” 

Since then, a growing number of women have joined the staff. Lincoln University has been to the fore in improving the status of women. In the 1980s, it was among the first universities to implement an Equal Employment Opportunities policy. It has long supported AUS moves to improve the status of women. And it is now backing a new national programme, which aims to increase the number of outstanding women academics promoted into top leadership roles.

The programme is a response to statistics showing that, despite a steady increase in the number of women academics in New Zealand universities, men still greatly outnumber them in top academic and leadership roles.

The Leadership for Women programme, initiated by the Human Rights Commission, and endorsed by the NZ Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, held its first weeklong workshop in Wellington in June.

Clare, a senior lecturer in the Environment, Society and Design Division, and Dr Katie Bicknell, a senior lecturer in the Commerce Division, were among the first group of 20 to take part.

Both found the workshop valuable – personally and professionally.

For Katie it was a time to reflect on career issues. “Because I work part-time, it’s hard to get perspective time outside family and work commitments. And it was good to hear other women’s success stories.”

Clare says those stories had a number of consistent messages. “It was clear that women very seldom have as straight forward a career path as men do; that there is no one path to success.” Other key messages were the need to have a strategy for success; to find a life-work balance; and to maintain a high personal integrity.

All programme participants had to take away a goal. Clare and Katie want to set up a mentoring system for all women staff at Lincoln and Clare will speak on the topic at a Women’s Fiesta on-campus on 23 August.