WLA 2018 Report - Draft 1-2

Executive Summary
The McKinsey Global Institute report (MGI, 2017)
found that narrowing the gender gap in the
global labour market would not only be
equitable in the broadest sense but would also
double women’s contribution to global GDP
growth between 2014 and 2025.
Achieving gender equality is paramount to
Women Lead Africa’s goals, and it’s existence.
WLA has established that indeed no society can
develop sustainably without transforming the
distribution of opportunities, resources and
choices for males and females so that they have
equal power to shape their own lives and in turn
contribute to their communities.
The WLA ALU Gender report sought to
understand the female student experience in
tertiary institutions. The findings of this report
shall, in turn, inform key institutional reforms
that shall optimize the female student university
experience; ultimately, better preparing women
for the workplace as well as leadership
positions. The research consists of both primary
and secondary data; namely - online surveys
utilising a stratified sample, six focus group
discussions and online secondary research.
Our research proved that while in a few cases
there was no significant difference between the
male and female student experiences at ALU, for
a majority of the key research areas there was a
statistically significant difference.
The key findings were:
1. Female students are underrepresented in
STEM majors
2. Female students at ALU are less confident
than their male counterparts,
3. Male students are more comfortable
networking than their female
counterparts,
4. There is no gender disparity in risk-taking
and entrepreneurial behaviour between
either gender,
5. Unconscious bias is prevalent and affects
females disproportionately,
6. In teams, females take support roles
more often than males,
7. Female students believe they don’t have
equal opportunities.
What can ALU do based on the findings?
Each key insight highlighted in the report has
been coupled with a recommended next step.
The report outlines recommendations with the
following stakeholders as key drivers of change:
● Student Life
● The Registrar’s Office
● The Learning Teams
● Career Development
● Students & staff at large
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