Top European technical university to open jobs exclusively to women

A Dutch university is appointing only female academic staff for at least the next 18 months to improve its gender balance.

Eindhoven University of Technology, located in an area known for its high-tech business, currently has the Netherlands’ lowest proportion of women in its academic workforce.

After years of failed targets, the university has decided to take what it calls “bold” move: a new programme, the Irène Curie Fellowship – named after celebrated scientist Marie Curie’s daughter – has been established to appoint only female professors, associate and assistant professors.

“Our objectives to increase the numbers of women are years old, and we are not getting there,” said Ivo Jongsma, science information officer.

“It’s difficult to pinpoint the specific reason, but we are convinced that we have this implicit gender bias, and even women who are hiring think a man will do the job better.”

Rector Frank Baaijens is also convinced that “a diverse workforce performs better” and so for the next 18 months, 100 per cent of available jobs will be allocated to the Irène Curie programme, for female applicants.

The scheme will run for five years in total, and positions for the first six months will be advertised next month.

Currently, said Mr Jongsma, only 16 per cent of full professors, 15 per cent of associate professors and 29 per cent of assistant professors are women: the university is aiming for at least 35 per cent.

Liza Mügge, director of the Amsterdam Research Center for Gender and Sexuality was positive about the thoroughness of the programme and its support for spousal arrangements too – although she said it could be even more ambitious for associate professor ranks.

“The risk with measures like quota is that positions are filled in the lower ranks of the organisation, [and] gendered case power imbalances stay intact,” she said. “This programme seems to invest in women at all levels, and candidates get a substantive start-up package.”

Devika Partiman, founder of the Vote for a Woman campaign – which has been credited with getting more women elected – added that it was nice to see more than symbolic words.

“They are finally admitting that the ‘old’ ways don’t work to get enough balance and give women enough of a chance. And they think it’s important enough to make this drastic step.”

The university added that it has taken legal advice to ensure the scheme comes under European dispensations to target recruitment towards people from “underrepresented groups”.

Fellows in the new programme will also be considered for a €100,000 research grant, and only if a good candidate cannot be recruited after six months of searching will men be considered.

However, some listeners to Dutch NPO Radio 1 were less enthusiastic. Klaas van der Lucht pointed out: “Fewer women study at this kind of university so it’s hardly strange that there are fewer female professors.”