Transferable Processes For Increasing Diversity In Higher Education Institutes And Research Environments In Pakistan

It is recognised globally that women’s research footprints are smaller than men’s and that diversity is lacking at senior management levels. Research conducted by the H2020, EU funded, TInnGO project (https://www.tinngo.eu/) (Transport and Innovation Gender Observatory) detailed over 30 barriers to women’s progression in transport related research and provided recommendations that would enable Higher Educational Institutions and research funders to increase diversity [1]. In this paper, these are compared to perceived barriers to women’s progression in research in Pakistan, based on outcomes from ‘world cafes’ held during the delivery of research capacity building courses with 200 participants.
Misogynistic attitudes and gender discrimination are part of the everyday experience of women in STEM subjects, with line managers and research directors playing key roles in setting the ethos of a centre. Changes are needed. Women, and those from more diverse backgrounds, need to be better supported in their efforts to fight for recognition of their strengths and abilities, gender biases in data, and sex and gender related needs.