Progress Report on the ABS Diversity Impact Working Group
In January 2015, the ABS held its inaugural Diversity Impact Working Group event, with the first event focusing on ‘Putting Gender on the Agenda’. The event was well attended with over 60 delegates present at Said Business School, Oxford.
Following the success of the ABS International Women Leaders’ Lunch, we wanted to explore further how to address the gender imbalance in business education. With over 40% of total staff in the field of Business & Management being female, HESA data indicates just 21.75% of professors, and 23% of deans, are female.
The theme of the day was to hear individual’s leadership journeys with the event providing the opportunity for delegates to discuss their experiences in small groups.
Dr Julie Davies, Deputy Chief Executive of the Association of Business Schools, and Professor Sharon Mavin, Newcastle Business School, gave an opening presentation outlining the inequalities between women and men in business schools in the UK. They highlighted that women managers earn 35% less than male colleagues. The Dean of Saïd Business School, Professor Peter Tufano, who has been working over a number of years to bridge the gender gap, gave a great account of his own leadership journey as well as the work he is doing to reduce gender inequality in his own institution.
Following the output and discussions emerging from the event, the ABS will be looking to push forward a stronger agenda for gender in the upcoming months. We are exploring the feasibility of facilitating a mentoring system to help woman in business schools achieve greater success.
The Association of Business Schools will continue to explore these themes, holding two events per year, exploring various diversity issues. Our next event is the 5th Annual International Woman Leaders’ Lunch, which is taking place on 10th July at SKEMA Business School in Nice. For more details please click here.
The events will combine the benefits of professional networking, with the opportunity to reflect on professional goals and challenges. If you would like to know more about how the ABS is supporting the diversity agenda, or sign up to receive updates on our events, please contact jnewhall@the-abs.org.uk
