Dramatic Change in the Gender Profile of Irish University Presidents: Possible Explanations?

The gender profile of Irish university Presidents changed dramatically between 2020-2023. Since the 16th century, no woman had ever headed up an Irish public university: seven of the 12 are headed by women (58%), compared with roughly a quarter in the EU. Drawing on secondary data, the chapter explores four analytically distinct explanatory hypotheses: ‘glass cliff’; state interventions; the availability of qualified and interested candidates; and the characteristics and dynamics of specific institutions. There is considerable support for the glass cliff hypothesis with 100% of the nine processes run prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020) appointing men, while seven of the nine (78%) run post COVID-19 appointed women. State initiatives, and the availability of qualified interested candidates created a supportive context. Indicators in individual HEIs such as a tradition of courses in women’s studies, of gender equality champions, appointments of women at professorial and Vice-Presidential level were also important. Although change in the gender profile of Irish universities is to be welcomed, it does not indicate that gender inequality no longer exists.