Women in Research and Development in Universities and Research Institutions

1. International Forum on Women in Science and Technology in Muslim Countries 20-22 Sept., 2011 Women in Research and Development in Universities and Research Institutions Prof Asma Ismail ( PhD), FASc Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation, Professor, Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM) - HiCoE, Chancellory, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia

2. Outline of talk • Looking at the global trends of S&T • Issues and challenges for women in S&T • Addressing the gaps • Policies that address the issues • Policies that allows women to remain in R&D • What do we do in the mean time? • Turn around the way we do research: science with a human face Outline of talk Outline of talk

3. Introduction to Science & Technology • Advances in science and technology have marked the onset of the Third Millennium. • If S&T was used rationally and effectively, it could help eradicate hunger, poverty, destitution and indignity. • Malaysian Vision 2020 has clearly placed Science & Technology (S&T) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a critical pathway to achieve the status of a developed nation and to help enhance Malaysia’s survival in the K-based economy. • Emphasis on human resource development in S&T continues into the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015), during which premier universities and Research institutes are expected to create centers of excellence for research. Source: `Women in Science and Technology in Malaysia: A Gender Perspective’ by Rashidah Shuib, KANITA, USM

4. Science & Technology in Malaysia • The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and the Ministry of Higher Education are the lead ministries that formulate policies in the area of science, technology and innovation for fundamental research (MOHE) and applied and commercialization of research (MOSTI) . • Innovation aspects of Research are looked into by AIM (Agency Innovation Malaysia) • Government based Venture Capitalists (MTDC, BiotechCorp, MAVCAP) look into pre-commercialization and commercialization of research • MOSTI and Academy Sciences Malaysia (ASM) also implements many programmes related to the promotion of S&T and national R&D activities.

5. Science & Technology in Malaysia Since R&D is the national agenda of the country, in the Malaysian Budget 2010, strategies as announced by Prime Minister for research in S&T include:- - Intensifying Research, Development and Commercialisation - Development of Green Technology - Enhancing Highly Skilled Human Capital (Develop Intellectuals in Science and Technology)

6. World/Global Agenda New Era Demands New Education and Research Paradigm Development Global Ubiquitous – Humanization Economy Age < Wisdom, Moral, Spiritual > Local /National Bio-Green Economy Age < Synthetic Capability :eg IT Stage of economy in Asia Knowledge-based Economy Age < Knowledge > Future concentrates on outcome on humanity rather than just impact of knowledge Hunter-Gathering Agricultural Age <Manual> Industrial Age < Mechanical > 19C 20C 21C Time

7. Factors that drives Economic Success • The assets that drive economic success of K-based economy: • patents • advanced research • venture capital • university graduates and Ph.D.s • air, rail and sea hubs Assets are mainly in the Universities *Source: Bruce Katz, TIME Magazine, 21st Oct 2010

8. Role and expectations of Universities in the 21st Century Train innovators of tomorrow • Curriculum that creates entrepreneurs to participate in Startups • Graduates that are self employed and create jobs for others • Graduates that cares about humanity Empower talents to be action-oriented leaders who deliver solutions that ensure sustainability of change Provide solutions Through Real-World Experiences Science Engine of growth for the nation via commercialization of R&D products and development of K-based enterprises • Translate knowledge • (Value Creation of knowledge Through • Innovation & • Entrepreneurship) Technology Management Generate Knowledge Disseminate Knowledge 8

9. Expectations of Modern Universities in the New Economy We are expected to go through R –D –C – E- Community engagement (to help humanity)

10. Issues and challenges for women in S&T

11. ISSUES • Malaysia wants to be a developed nation by 2020 • To be a developed nation we need to to have 50:10,000 population of RSEs • We currently stand at 21:10,000 RSEs • Hence we need BOTH men and women to pull their weights to fulfill the statistics within 9 years. • We cannot afford to loose either gender.

12. Student Enrolment in Government Assisted Schools by Level of Education and Sex , Year 2007 REALITY Males drop in number 51.4 Source: Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development

13. Student Enrolment in Public Higher Learning Institutions by Level of Study and Sex, Year 2007/2008 REALITY Increased in female number for undergrads but begin to drop off at PhD – “leaky pipeline” 58.2 38.1 61.9 52.9 61.9 41.8 38.1 47.1 Source: Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development

14. Labor Force Participation Rate by Sex, 1997-2007 REALITY Gender participation in labour force is about equal 84.3 83.1 82.8 83.0 82.3 82.1 81.5 80.9 80.0 79.9 79.5 46.0 47.2 46.8 46.7 47.7 47.3 45.9 45.8 46.4 44.4 44.6 Source: Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development

15. (SPECIFIC EXAMPLES): Percentage of Academic Staff in Universiti Putra Malaysia by Cluster as of November 2009 REALITY There seemed to be subject specializations among female students Source: Registrar Office of UPM

16. Number of Academic Staff in Public Higher Learning Institutions, 2006 - 2007/2008 REALITY Year 2006 Year 2007/2008 Number of Female lecturers decreased as we move towards Professorship Source: Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development

17. Statistics of Women vs. Man as Fellows in the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia REALITY Lower percentage of women leaders in S&T Source: Aini Idiris, Knowledge Society & the Status of Women in Science in Malaysia,2010

18. Fellow Academy of Sciences Malaysia Source: Aini Idiris, Knowledge Society & the Status of Women in Science in Malaysia,2010

19. Women in Science & Technology – The Trends REALITY • Percentage of women in scientific and technological careers is lower than men (which is also a widespread global phenomenon) • The trend is even more distinct in professional, managerial and leadership positions • The overall female labor participation rate in Malaysia has not increased much in comparison to the number of enrolment in higher education • Academicians (researchers) in institutions of higher learning, in S&T still show lower numbers of women, especially at higher positions • Though women have the drive and capability to succeed in S&T, there seems to be a phenomenon whereby the percentages of female began to wane at the working level (and at higher postgraduate level) – “leaky pipeline” Source: Prof Aini Idiris; Knowledge Society &the Status of Women in Science in Malaysia,2010 Source: `Women in Science and Technology in Malaysia: A Gender Perspective’ by Rashidah Shuib, KANITA, USM

20. What Happened? • Women needs to balance: • Family responsibilities & Commitments • vs • Career Development Source: Prof Aini Idiris Knowledge Society &the Status of Women in Science in Malaysia,2010

21. Lack of policy in S&T that addresses the needs of women to remain in S&T • Malaysian S&T policy is a gender blind policy. • Without the availability of sex-disaggregated data its difficult to perform a systematic gender analysis. • Without undergoing gender tracking to find out the issues that take place as they go through the entire stage of their decision making process and without giving serious consideration as to the realities of life that women are facing in trying to balance between family and career, the existing policy will ensure women to remain status quo in their contribution to S&T.

22. Indonesian S&T Policy This is in contrast to the Indonesian S&T policy: • S&T development needs to apply gender perspective, so as to realize gender equality and justice (JAKSTRA IPTEK 3.1, Prinsip Dasar No.8) • Studies to be carried out on the weaknesses of institutional structure which need to be overcome immediately in order to reduce the impact of socio-political gaps and provide support to gender equality through a harmonious atmosphere in order to continuously strengthen the basis for social solidarity. (JAKSTRA IPTEK 3.4, No 2:10)

23. What can the existing women scientists do in the mean time?

24. Determining directions of Research: Blue Ocean Strategy Kim,W.C. and Mauborgne,R. (2005). • How can we ensure that we are in the lead and ahead of our competitors? • How do we make our competitors irrelevant? • How can we create an impact to the nation and to society? Photograph by Zulfigar Yasin

25. The gap between rich and poor is becoming wider and more visible. Almost 60% of humanity lives on less than $2 a day. Nearly 30% of the world's population suffers some form of malnutrition. The reality 40% Malaysian households are below poverty line

26. Science with a human face • The progress in the fields of biotechnology, information and communication technology, medicine, space science and management science offers unprecedented opportunities for multifaceted development. • The industrialized countries and a few developing countries (in some of the areas) are vigorously capturing these opportunities by innovating, adapting and regulating these technologies. • But the majority of the developing countries are far behind and underdeveloped countries are further falling behind, thus widening the technology divide. • Science and Technology can greatly promote inclusive development by addressing the needs and opportunities of poor and the neglected. • If only S&T was performed with a human face in mind it will have a special appeal for the people who need it most.

27. Despite decades of epidemics that we have experienced, we still do not have adequate vaccines Annually 48 million die of cholera, 2.9 million from enteric infections, 5 million die of AIDS and tuberculosis WHY? Simply because vaccines are UNAVAILABLE or INACCESSIBLE to those who need it most from the underdeveloped or developing countries. No company wants to make a vaccine for USD1.00 Reality: Inequity divide exists WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT???

28. Stop playing catching up and turn around the way we do research Bottom Billions 4.7 billion Rich 2 billion Balance Impact with Impact factor Nurture action-oriented leaders who are able to provide sustainable solutions for humanity to use. • Address the needs of the bottom billion • Concentrate on research outcomes that will reduce inequity and enhance sustainability • Provide local solutions to answer global problems. • Undergo real world experiences to ensure sustainability of change

29. Collaborate or collapse • For S&T outputs to be delivered to the people they have to be commercialised • Commercialization is not an easy process • Currently Malaysian R&D in the universities can commercialise only 10% • Commercialization can be enhanced if we have the Political will to: • Develop innovative human capital • Allocate GDP for Research • Allocate funds Research grants • Hence there is a need to have the correct innovation ecosystem in the country with collaboration from many sectors

30. Need to Create the Right Innovation Ecosystem Scientists need to be closely integrated with policy makers, so that their contribution to the policy debate is included and that the important outputs targeted to those who need them most Government Innovation Ecosystem Innovative Society Ventures Industry There is a need to link S&T outputs to each component of the ecosystem. The components must move in harmony to complement and synergize the efforts of the others. Education Source: MOHE IMP 2010

31. Linking S&T outputs to the community • For S&T to produce the best effects and to ensure sustainability of the change, there must be planning for community engagement of the solutions being offered by the researchers. • Such an approach puts people at the centre of development • People-oriented solutions recognize that the people must themselves identify their own development priorities and select the most appropriate technologies and products. • People-oriented solutions will also be made appropriate to the culture of the targeted clients. When performing R&D we need to be relevant and offer solutions that create a sustainable change to the people.

32. Gender Relations

33. Gender Relations

34. Gender Relations Who takes the lead is not important, as long as we are doing science for the sake of humanity and helping to reduce the inequity divide

35. Thank You asma@usm.my asmainformm@yahoo.com