CPED's contribution to the 5th Afdesri seminar

The Association des Femmes dirigeantes de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation (Afdesri) held its annual seminar on January 17, 2020, on the theme: "Women in ESRI: neither candidates, nor elected?". The day provided an opportunity to present the results of several surveys:

• an initial survey conducted by JuriSupA report on the implementation of the law on parity in central councils, and in particular on the boards of directors of universities and other higher education establishments;
  
• a survey to be conducted in autumn 2019 by Afdesri, in collaboration with ANVPCA (Association nationale des vice-présidents de conseil d'administration), CPED, la CPUon the place of women in university governance ;
• a survey conducted by AEF on women candidates for university presidency.
  

These three surveys show just how far we still have to go to ensure that women take their place in the governance of our establishments. Asked to react to these results, Gilles Roussel, President of the CPU, pointed out that the law obliges establishments to make efforts, and that these efforts are essential and must be pursued.. The proportion of women among student vice-presidents (37%) shows that this work must also be carried out with their generation: a proactive policy is needed to increase the pool, help women get involved, train them on selection bias and work on women's visibility, including through speech and writing.

Discussions with the audience raised the question of support for equality missions in universities: several members of CPED pointed out both the positive impact of a strong, visible equality policy, and the difficulties encountered by many equality officers and vice-presidents. CPU and the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation have taken note of this point. Discussions should continue to find solutions together.

Dispatch AEF Women in university presidencies: two-thirds of candidates are women".