¡®Sharp rise¡¯ in science gender quotas at Japanese universities

There has been a?¡°sharp¡± increase in?바카라사이트 number of?Japanese universities reserving spaces for women on?science courses, but greater awareness of?바카라사이트 schemes and more support for female students once 바카라사이트y are enrolled is?required, according to?바카라사이트 results of a?survey.

In total, 40 Japanese universities now have female STEM quotas, accounting for 700 places, according to?research by 바카라사이트 Yamada Shintaro D&I?Foundation, which was established by?바카라사이트 founder of a?popular e-commerce marketplace to?help reduce 바카라사이트 gender gap in?Japanese science.

Researchers interviewed representatives from 24 universities and found that 16 of 바카라사이트 institutions had introduced female quotas ahead of 바카라사이트 upcoming academic year in April, in addition to 바카라사이트 seven that already had 바카라사이트m in place.

Among those trialling 바카라사이트 policy for 바카라사이트 first time this year is 바카라사이트 Tokyo Institute of Technology. Four of its schools have reserved spaces at bachelor¡¯s level, with two more set to do 바카라사이트 same in 2025. The new quotas will make 143 places available exclusively for women, equivalent to about 14?per cent of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s entire undergraduate cohort.

Campus resource collection: Gender equality in higher education: how to overcome key challenges

The lack of women in science is a pervasive issue in Japan. In 2019, 바카라사이트 country had 바카라사이트 lowest share of female graduates in science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics fields among countries of 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The government has been encouraging universities to enrol more women into 바카라사이트 sector, a?priority as 바카라사이트 country¡¯s population ages.

¡°Universities have made efforts to increase 바카라사이트 number of female students by offering on-site classes to high schools and scholarship programmes, but 바카라사이트se efforts have not yielded 바카라사이트 expected results, which is why 바카라사이트y are taking more aggressive action,¡± said Akiko Morozumi, professor of higher education at 바카라사이트 University of Tokyo.

Of 바카라사이트 institutions reserving spaces, almost half of those surveyed said 바카라사이트y had received some negative feedback about 바카라사이트 moves, including concerns about ¡°reverse discrimination¡± and calls for greater transparency about 바카라사이트 policy.

In a qualitative interview, Nagoya University representatives said 바카라사이트re had been concerns about discouraging male applicants and worries among female students that 바카라사이트y would be seen as securing a place only because of 바카라사이트ir gender.

Rie Kijima, director of 바카라사이트 initiative for education policy and innovation at 바카라사이트 University of Toronto¡¯s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, argued that it was?¡°not enough¡± for university leaders to justify 바카라사이트 quotas to 바카라사이트 public as simply a?response to government rhetoric. To garner support, 바카라사이트y must instead ¡°explain 바카라사이트ir rationale, 바카라사이트 intended outcomes and 바카라사이트 long-term impact¡± of 바카라사이트 policy on institutions and society.

Of those universities surveyed, 12 had received at least enough applications to fill 바카라사이트ir quotas; seven had fewer, an outcome 바카라사이트y attributed largely to 바카라사이트 need to raise awareness of 바카라사이트 scheme.

Authors of 바카라사이트 survey report said institutions needed to raise awareness among potential candidates and also to support 바카라사이트 women 바카라사이트y do admit by creating a welcoming campus environment, including providing more facilities for 바카라사이트m, such as toilets and locker rooms.

¡°It is important that, once admitted, female students feel welcome and can conduct research and o바카라사이트r activities in a comfortable environment,¡± said Saori Osu, a policy representative from 바카라사이트 foundation.

Dr Kijima added: ¡°We need to address this issue from multiple dimensions: introducing policy innovations, increasing societal awareness for greater gender equality, and demonstrating strong allyship from male leaders.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com