Ministry of Education Supports Expansion of Gender Diversity
Proportion of Female New Faculty Members Decreases from 27.1% to 26.8%
The proportion of women among full-time faculty and major committees at national universities has been increasing over the past three years. However, the proportion of women among newly appointed faculty slightly decreased last year.
On the 8th, the Ministry of Education announced the results of the "2024 National University Gender Equality Action Plan Implementation Review." Based on the gender equality action plans and performance submitted by each university, a total of 39 institutions, including 37 national universities and 2 national university corporations, were classified into ▲General Universities I (13 universities) ▲General Universities II (15 universities) ▲Education Universities and Teachers' Universities (11 universities) for performance review.
Previously, since 2004, the Ministry of Education has been encouraging the creation of a gender-equal university culture at national universities by monitoring and supporting the realization of gender equality in university faculty composition, such as expanding gender diversity in faculty appointments and decision-making processes within universities. In particular, efforts have been made through the revision of related laws such as the "Educational Public Officials Act" to ensure that no single gender exceeds three-quarters of university faculty.
The review results showed that the proportion of women among full-time faculty and major committees at national universities has been rising over the past three years. The proportion of full-time faculty exceeded the 2024 target rate of 20.6% set by relevant laws, reaching 21.4%. On the other hand, the proportion of newly appointed faculty decreased by 0.3 percentage points compared to 2023.
The gender ratio of full-time faculty is 21.4% women and 78.6% men. By university type, the rates were 21.3% for General Universities I, 18.7% for General Universities II, and 34.0% for Education Universities and Teachers' Universities. The proportion of female full-time faculty showed an upward trend from 19.5% in 2022 to 20.4% in 2023, and 21.4% in 2024.
The gender ratio of newly appointed faculty is 26.8% women and 73.2% men. By university type, the rates were 26.8% for General Universities I, 23.2% for General Universities II, and 46.7% for Education Universities and Teachers' Universities. The proportion of newly appointed female faculty increased from 25.9% in 2022 to 27.1% in 2023, then decreased to 26.8% in 2024.
The gender ratio of major committees was 22.3% women and 77.7% men, while the gender ratio of major officeholders was 13.7% women and 86.3% men. The proportion of women in major committees increased from 20.5% in 2022 to 21.8% in 2023, and 22.3% in 2024. Female major officeholders rose from 11.9% in 2022 to 13.8% in 2023, then slightly decreased to 13.7% in 2024.
As a result of the review targeting General Universities I and II, it was found that some departments composed solely of one gender among full-time faculty are being resolved. Among departments and faculties with four or more full-time faculty members lacking gender diversity (zero diversity), newly appointed faculty were hired in 26 universities, totaling 221 departments and faculties (211 lacking women, 10 lacking men). Of these, 39 departments and faculties (17.6%) made efforts to secure gender diversity by appointing underrepresented genders.
Through deliberation by the Ministry of Education's Gender Equality Education Council (University Faculty Appointment Gender Equality Subcommittee), three universities with outstanding performance by type (Korea National Open University, Korea National University of Physical Education, and Cheongju National University of Education) were selected. These universities showed superior results compared to others in most indicators, including 'efforts to enhance gender diversity among newly appointed faculty,' 'gender diversity among full-time faculty,' and 'gender diversity in decision-making bodies,' with particularly notable achievements in 'gender diversity in decision-making bodies.'
Policy Planning Officer Bae Dong-in of the Ministry of Education stated, "This review confirmed that policy efforts to expand gender diversity at national universities have achieved meaningful results. We will continue to cooperate in strengthening the competitiveness of national universities through fostering a gender-equal university culture."
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