Barriers and Opportunities: Overcoming Challenges for Women to Reach Leadership Roles in Private Engineering Colleges and Technical Institutions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37591/njobm.v8i2.1664Abstract
Women are still underrepresented in leadership positions in private engineering colleges and technical institutes, even if more of them are pursuing careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). This study examines the obstacles that prevent women from achieving high-level jobs in various academic settings, such as institutional cultures, gender bias, problems with work-life balance, and a lack of opportunities for professional growth and mentoring. Additionally, it explores the opportunities and strategies that can enable women to break through these barriers, contributing to more equitable and inclusive leadership in technical institutions. The paper draws on both qualitative and quantitative analyses, including case studies of successful women leaders in the field, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue and recommend actionable solutions for overcoming these challenges. Women are still disproportionately underrepresented in leadership positions at private engineering colleges and technical institutions, despite a steady increase in the number of women pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. This research paper examines the key barriers that hinder women's progression into top leadership positions in these academic settings, such as ingrained gender biases, institutional cultures that may unconsciously favor male leaders, challenges related to work-life balance, and the scarcity of mentorship and professional development opportunities. Additionally, the paper investigates the opportunities and strategies that could help women overcome these obstacles, fostering a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse leadership environment in technical institutions. Through both qualitative and quantitative analysis, including case studies of successful women leaders in STEM, the paper offers a thorough exploration of the issue and provides actionable, evidence-based recommendations aimed at empowering women in academia and facilitating gender parity in leadership roles over time
References
Eagly AH, Carli LL, Carli LL. Through the labyrinth: The truth about how women become leaders. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press; 2007 May.
Diekman AB, Brown ER, Johnston AM, Clark EK. Seeking congruity between goals and roles: A new look at why women opt out of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers. Psychological science. 2010 Aug;21(8):1051-7.
Sharma SK, Gupta SM. Preparation and evaluation of stable nanofluids for heat transfer application: a review. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science. 2016 Dec 1; 79:202-12.
Singh, A., & Sharma, R. (2017). Gender Diversity and Inclusion in STEM Education. Journal of Women in Engineering Education, 42(2), 113-126.
Priya R, Mondal DP, Paldon T. Understanding the intentions of students to use OTT platforms. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology. 2021 Jun;8(1):671-7.
Das, N. (2018). Barriers to Women’s Career Advancement in Academia: A Case Study in India’s Engineering Colleges. Journal of Gender Studies, 27(1), 89-104.
Ramseook-Munhurrun P, Naidoo P, Armoogum S. Navigating the challenges of female leadership in the information and communication technology and engineering sectors. Journal of Business and Socio-economic Development. 2025 Jan 14;5(1):55-70.
Madara DS, Cherotich S. Female underrepresentation in undergraduate education: Case study in school of engineering. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences. 2016;6(14):157-75.
Flynn PM, Haynes K, Kilgour MA, editors. Overcoming challenges to gender equality in the workplace: Leadership and innovation. Routledge; 2017 Sep 8.
Chanana K. Women and leadership: Strategies of gender inclusion in institutions of higher education in India. InStrategies for supporting inclusion and diversity in the academy: Higher education, aspiration and inequality 2022 Aug 14 (pp. 141-162). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
