A year ago, on 5 March, around the date of International Women's Day, Vice Rector Professor M.C.E. van Dam-Mieras signed the Talent to the Top charter, committing the University to increasing the number of women in top jobs. Leiden University is one of several tens of organisations to sign the charter.

Professors Antonia Visser (German) and Petra Sijpesteijn (Archaeology).

The statement of intent last year was followed by a phase of defining the plans in concrete terms. Following discussion with the faculties, the decision was taken in Leiden to increase the number of women in top jobs by 25% in the period up to 2024. For management staff this means an increase from an average of 29% to 35%, and for academic staff an increase from 16% to 20%. 

Rietje van Dam-Mieras, Vice-Rector and Professor of Sustainable Development and Education at the Faculty of Science. 

In practice there are major differences in the faculties. As an example, at the Faculty of Science 25% is in actual numbers much less than at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, fwhere in terms of percentage and numbers there are already many more women professors. 'That's right,' agrees Vice Rector Van Dam, 'but the potential is much greater there, too.' And this is what's being looked at: what is the percentage of PhDs, lecturers and senior lecturers; in short, how big is the fish pond that we have to fish in?'

Anne Stiggelbout, Medical Decision-making

It has been evident for a long time that an increasing number of women are lost to science on the path upwards. In the case of some faculties, this happens immediately after graduation, and in others it happens once the women have obtained their doctorate. We have to call a halt to this process. Van Dam: 'The challenges facing society are such that we need all the available heads and hearts. Which means we have to appeal to the reason and emotions of both men and women.' 

Jacqueline Meulman, Applied Data Theory at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

But it will take more than just words. Which is why a whole package of measures is being introduced to get more women to the top. Women will be encouraged to take part in management courses that are already available, and further products will be designed specifically aimed at women, such as the Female Development Programme, the workshop Stratego voor Vrouwen and the training course on Profileren en persoonlijke presentatie.

Ewine van Dishoeck, molecular astrophysics

The Executive Board has made management agreements with the faculties. Other instruments include promoting women's networks within the University, making an inventory of existing research and possibly initiating new research into the reasons for the lack of women in senior positions. A further two possible routes are: focusing on the role of gender aspects in recruitment procedures and promoting cultural change, which certainly includes the culture surrounding recruitment.

Naomi Ellemers, Social Psychology and the Organisation