Should the university be favouring female professor applicants over male applicants? On this question, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Charlotte Sahl-Madsen and University Rector Ralf Hemmingsen disagree.<\/p>\n
Sahl-Madsen has criticised the rector\u2019s position on a university gender equality plan, which rewards faculties for hiring women rather than men for professor jobs.<\/p>\n
In the Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidende she states that to favour women in the hiring process is discriminatory, and that she is, \u00bbby no means in favour\u00ab of the plan. <\/p>\n
In a recent press release, the rector responded by stating that the university is simply enacting new plans to attract more women to apply for professor and lecturer positions.<\/p>\n
As a result of low numbers of newly hired female professors, the university introduced its Gender Equality Plan in the spring of 2008. The plan includes a mentoring program for female researchers and pre-leader courses for women research candidates. <\/p>\n
More controversially, faculties also receive financial rewards and the right to hire extra professors, if they hire a greater percentage of women.<\/p>\n
The university has been granted dispensation from the Danish laws on discrimination, in order to actively favour female applicants for professor jobs. <\/p>\n
Critics state that this suggests that the university hires women on the basis of a gender quota, and implies that the university would only hire women for positions because of their gender, rather than their abilities, they claim.<\/p>\n
Sahl-Madsen would prefer to see women hired for their merits, and feels that the way to fight discrimination is to create better conditions and encourage female researchers.<\/p>\n
\u00bbI am a great supporter of equality. That is why I do not think it is right to give dispensations so that faculties are given economic compensation when they hire women rather than men,\u00ab said Sahl Madsen in a response to a parliamentary question on the subject. <\/p>\n
\u00bbIf the percentage of newly-hired female professors increases because the amount of talented women increases, and because it is a more attrictive prospect for both men and women to reach the highest level of qualification, then we can talk about a positive development,\u00ab she said. <\/p>\n
Rector Ralf Hemmingsen rejects the implications of the Minister\u2019s criticism. <\/p>\n
\u00bbIt is not only wrong, it’s also an entirely unfair criticism of the academically talented female researchers who have been hired after the plan was adopted,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n
lns@adm.ku.dk<\/p>\n