Passing the buck: gender and management of research production in UK Higher Education: Management perspectives from a case study

Abstract

Purpose

The paper seeks to evaluate the views of manager‐academics on gender equity and research in one UK institution.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on semi‐structured interviews with 22 manager‐academics in one UK institution, against a context of national data.

Findings

It was found that manager‐academics had little knowledge of the conceptual issues surrounding gender equity and used a discourse of choice and agency to explain continuing inequalities in the research careers of women academics.

Research limitations/implications

While the case study was carried out in one institution, it replicates many of the issues raised by national studies and data.

Practical implications

Good practice in encouraging gender equity for women academics engaged in research includes role models, confidence and support networks, gender awareness training for managers, mentoring and building networks.

Originality/value

The paper provides new empirical data on gender equity and research in one UK university and critically analyses the gap between theory on gender equity and practice of manager‐academics. It provides a link between a micro‐agentic viewpoint and a meso‐institutional viewpoint and suggests that both these as well as a macro national and supranational view will give a fuller analysis of the issue of gender equity and research careers for women academics.

Citation

Fletcher, C. (2007), "Passing the buck: gender and management of research production in UK Higher Education: Management perspectives from a case study", Equal Opportunities International, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 269-286. https://doi.org/10.1108/02610150710749395