Kifinfo: Gender balance and diversity in research
Silence about sexual harassment remains a problem in academia
Silence about sexual harassment remains a problem in academia
Two years after the #MeToo movement started, sexual harassment issues are still not included in the national Working Environment and Climate Surveys. The Ministry of Education and Research declines to take a stand.
Most read articles in 2019
Most read articles in 2019
Check out our top five most read news articles in 2019 about implicit bias, academic protests, publication and gender, climate crisis and sexual harassment.
KIF Committee members:
“We must put women’s and men’s talents to use, regardless of ethnic background”
“We must put women’s and men’s talents to use, regardless of ethnic background”
The KIF Committee believes that gender balance and ethnic diversity are crucial to finding good solutions to major societal challenges.
Working in academia can be an “extreme sport”
Working in academia can be an “extreme sport”
Round after round of temporary hiring and a non-stop pursuit of excellence and funding may impair progress towards gender equality in academia, according to research conducted at the University of Oslo.
“Europe wants more gender research”
“Europe wants more gender research”
Gender equality generates better results within research and innovation. In addition, EU bureaucrats argue that European research funding should be earmarked with specific requirements for gender perspectives.
Policy brief
In connection to the conference Creating a competitive edge through diversity, the KIF Committee published a policy brief summing up it’s work and pointing to challenges and opportunities ahead.
Newsletter
News from other media
Looking to reap the benefits of internationalization
Looking to reap the benefits of internationalization
In recent years some have asked whether the ceiling has been reached for the number of foreigners in Norwegian academia. The Young Academy of Norway would rather have a debate on how to best take advantage of this new diversity.
Gender points can open new doors for men and women alike
Gender points can open new doors for men and women alike
“The use of gender points is not just about lifting people over a point threshold they would not otherwise reach. It is also about sending a signal that women and men are both wanted in the programme,” says Research Director Liza Reisel.
Children of immigrants stigmatized for choosing prestigious studies
Children of immigrants stigmatized for choosing prestigious studies
The children of immigrants are often met with the attitude that their choice of education has been dictated by social control. On the contrary, these sons and daughters are intent on making their own choices, says researcher Marianne Takvam Kindt.
New survey indicates urgent need for research on sexual harassment
New survey indicates urgent need for research on sexual harassment
The results of the national survey on bullying and harassment in Norway’s higher education sector are finally in. But the reasons why harassment occurs remain unclear, according to the Committee for Gender Balance and Diversity in Research.
Academic travel is cause for concern
Academic travel is cause for concern
With the climate crisis as backdrop, university employees have demanded a reduction in air travel. Could cutting air travel also lead to greater gender equality?
“Too much emphasis on implicit bias impedes gender equality efforts in academia”
“Too much emphasis on implicit bias impedes gender equality efforts in academia”
Implicit bias – the presence of prejudices and stereotypes in the workplace – has been a topic of discussion both within and outside academia. Does this lead to a focus on the individual that masks embedded structures inhibiting gender equality?
She Figures 2018: Some progress, but not fast enough
She Figures 2018: Some progress, but not fast enough
Academia lacks gender balance when it comes to salary, academic level and subject area. Experts are calling for stronger measures to achieve gender balance.
Voices of protest in academia:
The university as a democratic institution is at stake
The university as a democratic institution is at stake
Values like equality, inclusion and diversity are being stifled by the prevailing management ideology in academia, critics note. “We must create an academic culture of compassion,” says British organizational psychologist Kathryn Waddington.
When the numbers tell different stories
When the numbers tell different stories
Men produce twice as many scientific publications as women. At least that’s the long-held assumption. But Lynn Nygaard, a special adviser and doctoral research fellow at PRIO, challenges this widespread belief in her recent article.
Most read in 2018
The year of handling #MeToo in academia
The year of handling #MeToo in academia
Sexual harassment, the #MeToo movement, a radical suggestion to improve the gender balance among Nobel candidates, and the problem with white campuses. Read our top ten news articles from 2018.
Taking up the fight against right-wing populism: “We must keep gender in EU research”
Taking up the fight against right-wing populism: “We must keep gender in EU research”
Right-wing populism has infiltrated the EU and is challenging gender equality values in European research, according to the Czech sociologist Marcela Linkova. She wants to put gender on the map in the new research programme Horizon Europe.
Podcast: A threat to academic freedom is a threat to women’s rights
Podcast: A threat to academic freedom is a threat to women’s rights
Academic freedom is threatened by authoritarian right-wing populism in countries in Europe and Latin America. Listen to a podcast discussing why this matters to women's rights.
Gender and quality create conflict when hiring academics
Gender and quality create conflict when hiring academics
Many believe it is difficult to reconcile demands for gender equality and measures such as moderate quotas with academia’s conception of quality. This is according to a new master’s thesis on assessments and gender in hiring processes for senior-level positions.
Knowledge about gender needs decolonising
Knowledge about gender needs decolonising
The legacy from colonialism characterises Norwegian academia. Now, Norwegian researchers want to examine their own disciplines and include non-western perspectives in the academic institutions’ scholarly production.
Kalwant Bhopal: It pays to be white on campus
Kalwant Bhopal: It pays to be white on campus
Racism has become more visible in the UK after Brexit, and is seen in academia as well. This is according to diversity researcher Kalwant Bhopal, who is coming to Norway in November for a conference on diversity.
#MeToo kick starts Nordic research on sexual harassment
#MeToo kick starts Nordic research on sexual harassment
We have asked stakeholders in the sector about the status of research on sexual harassment in Nordic academia in the wake of #MeToo.
Research on sexual harassment:
Norway close behind Sweden
Norway close behind Sweden
A new working group will document the extent of sexual harassment in Norwegian academia. Now Sweden is encouraging Norway to follow its lead and set aside money for research in this area.
Time use in academia:
Men and women use their time differently, but everyone works too much
Men and women use their time differently, but everyone works too much
Male post-docs and PhD candidates work more than their female colleagues, but female professors work the most hours of all, according to the latest time use survey.
No more Norwegian input to the EU
No more Norwegian input to the EU
The Ministry of Education and Research will nonetheless assess whether a greater focus on gender balance and the gender dimension is needed in the EU’s new research programme. The Research Council and the KIF Committee are cautiously optimistic.
“Complete lack of due process for victims of sexual harassment”
“Complete lack of due process for victims of sexual harassment”
As it stands today, sexual harassment cases must be heard in the courts. Now many are applauding the decision to provide a low-threshold option that will ease the burden on victims.