Perceived gender barriers and recommendations for addressing gender inequality in academic leadership: a thematic analysis of MOOC discussion forums

ABSTRACTThere is ample evidence of the underrepresentation of women in academic leadership, especially in senior leadership roles. However, there is limited understanding of the barriers they face and the institutional measures that can promote gender equality. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring the perceptions and experiences of academic leaders of different genders and countries. Utilizing a qualitative research approach with a phenomenological design, we analyzed discussions from 75 academic leaders who participated in the LEAD2 MOOC forum on ‘Gender and Academic Leadership’. A thematic analysis of the discussion forum revealed socio-cultural barriers such as gender discrimination, organizational barriers rooted in male-dominated structures, and individual barriers such as work-life conflict. The study also highlights institutional policies and practices, such as unconscious bias training, transparent hiring and promotion criteria, and family-friendly measures, that can mitigate these barriers. The findings not only provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by women in academic leadership but also offer practical recommendations for policymakers and institutions. Finally, this study can serve as a foundation for future academic leadership development programs aimed at empowering female leaders. Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectorsNotes on contributorsMarta LucchettiMarta Lucchetti is a Ph.D. candidate and working full-time on her Ph.D. research. Her research interests include educational leadership, educational innovation, educational technologies, and diversity and inclusion in higher education and the school context.Chang ZhuChang Zhu is a full professor in Educational Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). She is the promoter and principal investigator of several key fundamental research projects in the field of higher education, internationalization, university governance, academic leadership, digital competence, digital pedagogy, educational innovations, online and blended learning, MOOC, ICT-supported learning, and social inclusion in digital learning environments.Aysun CaliskanAysun Caliskan is a postdoctoral researcher in Educational Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Her research mainly focuses on academic leadership, university governance, organizational culture, and educational innovations.