Women Make It in a Man’s World

More than half the UK student population is now female

Professor Sue Piotrowski PhD MA BEd

proposed the Toast to the British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG) at their Annual Dinner held this year in the Cathedral Lodge, Canterbury. She wowed us with very encouraging statistics concerning the much improved participation of women and girls in the Universities-at least as students. The picture is not so rosy when it comes to the proportion of female Lecturers and Professors, and is even more worrying where Governing Body and Vice Chancellor posts are concerned.

During the two day conference and 100th AGM, held at the University of Canterbury Christchurch a Resolution concerning Funding of University Research was passed unanimously to call upon HM Government and the Welsh Assembly Government, in view of the current financial situation, to ensure that the Universities have sufficient resources to maintain at least present levels of funding for fundamental research, and to develop additional financial incentives to encourage individuals or other bodies to support University Research. BFWG Members consider the Knowledge Economy has a vital role to play in the recovery of UK future prosperity and wellbeing. There were positive examples of financial incentives-tax breaks etc- to be found in the EU and the USA.

The 18 Local Associations of BFWG and Independent Members throughout England and Wales are writing to their MPs to urge action on this matter.

Other ‘Hot Topics’ included an Emergency Resolution concerning the possible threat to the Women’s National Commission, and the suggestion that the concept of Equal pay for work of Equal Value is being removed from the Equalities Bill.