The revision of the Public Educational Officials Act made it mandatory for national universities to hire 25 percent of their professors as women. Currently, the number of full-time female professors at the University of Seoul (UOS) is 63 out of 430 professors (approximately 15 percent). Because the ratio of female professors at national universities, not only UOS, is notably lower than the average of private universities, the government has begun to take intensive measures to break through the “Glass Ceiling” in the field of education. This measure is part of the women’s quota system designed for gender equality.
 

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to revise the UOS operation ordinance in line with the national government’s action. As a result, full-time female professors must account for 25 percent of the total faculty by 2030. Plans have been set to reach 16 percent by 2021 and raise it by 1 percent each year. The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Gender Equality Committee will continue to evaluate school grades to ensure that the school will have to push ahead faster. Other national universities only need to ensure that the overall average reaches the set target; however, UOS must fulfill the specific standards of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Unlike other schools, UOS has a stronger public role as a state agency directly manages our school. Therefore, the plan aims to set specific figures and manage them more strictly to fulfill social expectations. Although these measures seem to be higher than that of other universities, they ought to be taken. Last year, the ratio of female professors at national universities was 17.1 percent, whereas that of four-year private universities was 26.4 percent. Based on the previous statistics, UOS falls short of the national university standards in Seoul, and there is a huge gap with private universities. The implications are also reported in the school’s internal statistics.

According to faculty status, women account for 46 percent of all instructors. On the other hand, a significant gap has been noted in the proportion of women in full-time teaching positions. Experts have noted that instead of simply increasing the number of female professors, long-term measures are required. There are various solutions, such as hiring female teachers in full-time positions or strengthening welfare, to improve this fundamental structure.

This is a necessary measure for ensuring gender equality in schools; however, some difficulties have been noted. Some students have stated that such compulsory measures are not appropriate in the first place because UOS does not have nursing departments or universities with many female graduates. Compared to the existing system wherein candidates are evaluated based on their efforts, some others have criticized that the women’s quota system is one that discriminates against men.

These types of arguments exist worldwide, but advanced universities in foreign countries are setting up various facilities to strive for diversity and dynamism in schools. They are introducing a system to set up seats for minorities. This has become the basis for sustainable development and a cornerstone of positive change that will ensure more diverse social classes can enter schools. The government expects the aforementioned measures to lead to similar positive changes.

Kim Jae-kyeom
kjk03161@uos.ac.kr