University, a slow equality: "There is much to be done"

New data from the Federal Statistical Office shows progress in gender equality within Swiss universities' academic staff. USI Rector Luisa Lambertini addressed this issue in an interview published in Corriere del Ticino, pointing out that - despite the positive trend - there is still a lot of work to be done.

The trend shown in the table published on the website of the Federal Statistical Office reports a changing situation over the last ten years, but - indeed - still far from an optimal distribution. "There is still a lot to be done," confirms Luisa Lambertini, "and we are determined to continue our efforts both at the Swiss level and at USI. Unfortunately, although progress has been made, the positive trend observed over the past ten years has not yet rectified a situation that still remains clearly unbalanced. Hence, the need to continue this process with concrete measures". The areas for action, it goes without saying, are many. "First of all, there is the need to reshape a certain type of mindset, a mindset that has been around for decades and must be redefined to promote equality and, as a result, create a better balance in the distribution of professorships. This process, however, requires more decisive measures to accelerate its impact. Regarding USI, in the last year, since I became Rector, three out of four appointments have been female professors, which is a promising start."

In the future, the aim is to further balance the distribution. Not least through concrete measures in the application selection processes. "In line with best practices at other universities, we have decided that advance notice committees must include at least two women. Additionally, we have mandated that 50% of the positions on the short list of notice commissions must be filled by female candidates. The rectorate has also pledged to review these lists and take necessary action if they do not align with the university's gender objectives. Best practices also recommend identifying potential female candidates before the recruitment process begins to attract more female academic staff. This involves building a network of contacts among postdocs, PhD students, and assistant professors and inviting female candidates for short-term visits, sabbaticals, or seminars. USI aims to create a supportive work environment where colleagues can balance family and career. Over the next four years, we are dedicated to enhancing our range of services to make the university a welcoming place to work.'

The full interview can be viewed by downloading the attached PDF file (Italian only).