Empowering Women in University Leadership Positions: The Saudi Context

Abstract

This study aims to practically identify the reality of empowering Saudi women in leadership positions in higher education institutions, reveal the challenges that prevent their empowerment, and suggest some methods to overcome these challenges. To achieve the study’s objectives, the researcher used the descriptive survey method based on a questionnaire as a tool for the analysis. The researcher used a classified random sample of 376 faculty members in the following Saudi government universities: King Saud in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz in Jeddah, and Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal in the Eastern. The study reached several conclusions. The analysis indicates that there is empowerment of Saudi women in leadership positions in higher education institutions and that there is agreement among the study sample members on the challenges that prevent the empowerment of Saudi women in leadership positions in higher education institutions. Cultural challenges come first, followed by personal challenges, and finally, organizational challenges. There is strong agreement on ways to overcome challenges that prevent Saudi women from being empowered in leadership positions in higher education institutions. KEYWORDS Saudi universities, change, educational administration, leadership, equality, female