By Dr. Arshad Ahmad
What can educational institutions do to address the complex issue of gender inequality? There are exceptional institutions and organisations leading the way towards achieving gender equality and inclusion in Pakistan.
hese institutions have not only promoted women to key leadership positions, but are also nurturing the future generation of female leadership in the society.
At LUMS, we enact a philosophy rooted in values. These values include a commitment to merit, diversity and equity which rest on a model of inclusive education.
LUMS has educated several generations of young women and prepared them to take on important roles in various sectors of our economy and beyond.
For example, striking a gender balance in leadership roles remains a key institutional commitment for the University. At LUMS, 40% of senior leadership positions are held by women. A notable example is Dr Farhat Haq who is the first to hold the position of Provost–the Chief Academic Officer at LUMS.
Another first, the University’s student body comprising of 43% women, have elected a female President and Vice President for its Student Council for the 2021-22 academic year.
At the thirty-third convocation ceremony held earlier this year, 12 out of the 23 top academic medals were awarded to female students for their performance in non-traditional fields for women, such as Chemistry, Mathematics and Electrical Engineering.
The Suleman Dawood School of Business at LUMS is the first in the world to offer a 50% scholarship to all women admitted to any of its graduate programmes. This ground-breaking initiative has resulted in 62% female enrolment in graduate programmes within a year.
The business school is also the first in South Asia to become period friendly by ensuring female hygiene products in its washrooms.
Women consistently play important roles in societal advancement and progress. The Global Gender Gap Index 2021, places Pakistan with a gender parity ranking at 153 out of 156 countries.
Over half of Pakistani women are illiterate which helps to explain their low participation across economic sectors and especially in leadership roles. This is why educational interventions focused on women are nation-building endeavours.
We are seeing that female graduates from LUMS are playing pivotal roles in the private and public sectors not only in Pakistan but also in the UAE, US, Canada, UK and Australia where our graduates have made their mark. Addressing gender inequality is not beyond our reach.
The writer is a seasoned educationist and the Vice Chancellor of LUMS.
