Women Leadership Experiences in Higher Education Institutions: The Context of South Africa

Abstract

The percentage of women who have managed to climb the ladder to leadership in higher education institutions(HEIs) has improved. This has been proven by the research that has been done on women leadership in higher education institutions in South Africa and ultimately to the rest of the world. However, the current status is that men still dominate leadership positions over their female counterparts in HEIs. In response to the ongoing underrepresentation, the researcher employed a documentation analysis method, analyzing documents on strategies that have assisted women leaders to navigate the challenges to leadership positions in HEIs. Hence, the aim of this qualitative paper was to present some of the alternatives that have been proven to be useful for women to advance to leadership in HEIs, drawing from the experiences of women who are already occupying leadership positions in HEIs in South Africa and ultimately to the rest of the world. Lastly, this paper discovered that mentorship and professional development for women played an essential role for women to advance to leadership in HEIs.