Mandatory 25% Quota for Female Professors at National and Public Universities

Amendment of the Education Public Officials Act... Linking Gender Equality Performance with University Financial Support

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The proportion of female professors at national and public universities will be mandated to be at least 25%. This provision was passed by the National Assembly plenary session on the 9th, along with amendments to three laws: the Education Public Officials Act, the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Seoul National University as a National University Corporation, and the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Incheon National University as a National University Corporation.

The amended Education Public Officials Act newly includes a clause requiring that the gender ratio of faculty members at national and public universities should not be skewed more than three-quarters to one side. Accordingly, from now on, when national and public universities appoint faculty members, at least one out of every four must be female. The annual target ratio will be set by presidential decree. As of 2018, the proportion of female professors at private universities was 25.8%, but at national and public universities, it was only around 16.5%.

The amendment also stipulates that the government must announce the evaluation results of universities' gender equality hiring plans and implementation performance, and based on this, administrative and financial support can be provided. This allows the gender ratio of faculty members to be reflected in gender equality performance projects and linked to university financial support.

Accordingly, the heads of national and public universities must establish and implement a gender equality hiring action plan for faculty appointments every three years in consultation with the Minister of Education.

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