Over the past 11 years of data collection, the number of women in senior leadership roles at universities has seen a significant rise of 96%, nearly doubling from 28 in 2015. For the second year in a row, women are at the helm of four of the top 10 universities globally.
According to data from the British magazine Times Higher Education (THE), over a quarter of the world’s top universities are now led by women. These numbers, published prior to International Women’s Day on March 8, underscore a glaring disparity with global corporate leadership. Only 5.4% of the largest companies globally, as listed in the Fortune Global 500, have female CEOs at the helm.
The most recent data reveal that 55 of the top 200 institutions in THE World University Rankings 2025 — constituting 27 percent — are led by women serving as vice-chancellors or presidents. This indicates the seventh straight year of advancement, increasing from 25 percent in 2024 (50 female leaders) and 24 percent in 2023 (48 female leaders).
Data collection commenced 11 years ago, and since then, the quantity of women occupying senior leadership roles at universities has almost doubled, with a rise of 96 percent from a mere 28 in 2015.
Several nations, such as Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and the US, experienced a rise in female university leaders. Switzerland saw the greatest annual increase, with Virginia Richter (University of Bern), Audrey Leuba (University of Geneva), and Anna Fontcuberta i Morral (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) taking on leadership positions.
Following Duncan Ivison’s appointment at the University of Manchester, replacing Nancy Rothwell, the number of women vice-chancellors in the UK decreased from nine to eight. While Sweden’s tally decreased from two to one, France experienced the largest reduction by losing two female leaders, with Sorbonne University being the only top-200 institution in the country still led by a woman.
For the second year in a row, women are at the helm of four of the top 10 universities globally. Carol Christ’s retirement has resulted in the University of California, Berkeley exiting this group, while Yale University entered it with Maurie McInnis’s appointment as president in July.
The year has seen its share of controversy. In August, Minouche Shafik stepped down from her role as president of Columbia University after facing criticism regarding her management of a Congressional hearing on antisemitism and the ensuing student protests. Katrina Armstrong, the interim president, succeeded her.
Even with the advancements, gender disparities are still considerable. Fifteen of the thirty countries or territories with universities in the top 200, including China, Canada, and South Korea, had no female leaders.
Fifteen of the thirty countries or territories with universities in the top 200, including China, Canada, and South Korea, had no female leaders.
Leave feedback about this