The percentage of women professors at Radboud University has increased by 0.4 percentage point. On average at Dutch universities, the percentage of women professors was 29.9% by the end of 2024, up from 28.7% the year before. This means that we have almost reached the symbolic 30% threshold – often seen as critical mass for structural change.
Response of José Sanders
Nearly one in three professors in the Netherlands is a woman. Yet growth remains modest and unevenly distributed. Based on the current trend, it will take until 2043 to achieve a balanced male-female ratio among professors. Of the 14 Dutch universities, 13, including Radboud University, showed a slight or more substantial increase in the proportion of women professors between the end of 2023 and the end of 2024. Rector Magnificus José Sanders responds: “It is a positive development that the proportion of women professors continues to grow, but there is also still a lot of work to be done to meet our own target of 36% women professors by 2030.”
The National Network of Women Professors (LNVH), which is responsible for the annual Monitor, also surveyed the proportion of female professors at the University Medical Centers (UMCs). Radboud university medical center had 32.8% women professors by the end of 2024, up from 30.9% in the previous year.
Other job categories
Radboud University monitors the inflow, outflow and advancement of women in various academic positions. The proportion of female associate professors decreased from 38.7% in 2023 to 36.7% in 2024. This group are candidates for future professorial appointments. The proportion of female assistant professors rose from 49% to 50%. The proportion of female PhD candidates is stable compared to last year, at 51%. Radboud University is still one of the universities where the proportion of women in each job category is above the national average.
Women are well represented in academic management and administration at Radboud University. Of the seven deans, three are women. Since the beginning of this year, the Executive Board also consists of three women.
Targets
The national target figure for the proportion of women professors is 31.2% by 2025. Based on growth in recent years, the projection for 2025 is that the sector-level target will be just missed. At the request of the National Network of Women Professors, new targets have been set for 2030, with a sector average of 36.9% women professors. In addition, all universities have set individual targets.
As for Radboud University itself, the target was revised to 36%, after the previous target of 30% had already been achieved in 2020. For the period up to 2030, the target of 36% is maintained. The need for these new targets is great – even greater perhaps than in the last target period, according to the Monitor. Universities are in a challenging situation due to planned budget cuts, and the Monitor shows that individuals in precarious positions – still often women – are particularly vulnerable in this regard. It also emphasises that agreeing on targets for women professors will only be of lasting benefit if a solid inflow, and throughput, of female assistant professors and associate professors is also guaranteed.
More information can be found in the Women Professors Monitor 2025 of the National Network of Women Professors (LNVH).