In 2023, there were 2,123 female professors, compared to 4,487 male professors. This was reported by Flemish Member of Parliament Brecht Warnez, based on figures from Flemish Minister of Education Zuhal Demir (N-VA) and the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR). "In 2024, the proportion of women did increase by 1%, but the imbalance remains significant," Warnez said in De Zondag.
"The figures also show that the number of women decreases as one moves up the academic ladder. There are also more men than women among doctoral and postdoctoral researchers: 53% men compared to 47% women. As far as other academic staff are concerned, the proportion of women is greater than that of men or almost equal," said Warnez.
"In colleges, on the other hand, more women are working: among teachers there, we see the opposite ratio to that among professors," Warnez adds.
A lack of diversity in the workforce "limits the range of perspectives and ideas, which hinders students' intellectual development and critical thinking skills," says Warnez. "It also increases the likelihood of unequal treatment in the labour market for women and minority groups, as diverse role models are often lacking in the academic world", alleged the MP.
