Leadership & Decision-Making

Inclusive and diverse leadership is needed for a democratic research system and more effective policymaking (McKinsey 2017), yet the share of women in decision-making positions is still low across European R&I Institutions. The proportion of women among heads of institutions in the Higher Education sector in Europe was 21,7% in 2017 (She Figures, 2018) and the presence of Young Researchers and Innovators (YRIs) within decision making bodies and committees remains even lower, if not completely absent or without significant impact. This Working Group seeks to gather best practices that work towards an integration of YRIs in decision-making bodies and the consideration of their specific challenges, from a gender perspective, by institutional leaders. The WG2 has two main objectives:
– To bring YRIs, especially female ones, into decision-making bodies
– To change the discussion culture in those bodies in order to ensure efficient and impactful engagement of YRIs in dialogues and negotiations

During the VOICES action duration several outputs were achieved.

Developed methodology for data collection on ECR inclusion in decision making

During the first stage of data collection (June 2022 – March 2023) WG2 aimed to gather data based on literature review and documentary evidence. For that purpose VOICES WG II Data collection grid was developed. This framework was intended to investigate gender promotion policies and the participation of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in decision-making within higher education and research institutions, focusing on national regulations, institutional strategies, and internal practices. It examined the existence and scope of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) or equivalent measures, the ways these policies fostered inclusivity, and their effectiveness in supporting the career development of ECRs. The study also analyzed the demographic characteristics of ECRs—including gender, age, discipline, and minority representation—and assessed their presence in institutional committees and governance structures. Furthermore, it explored both formal and informal mechanisms of appointing ECRs to decision-making bodies across departments, faculties, and institutional levels. Finally, the research evaluated the extent of ECRs’ influence in strategic, budgetary, HR, educational, research management, commercialization, and infrastructure-related decisions, using a framework of power, urgency, and legitimacy to measure their actual voice in shaping institutional directions. Freeman’s (1984) and Leisyte & Westerheijden (2014) conceptual framing on stakeholders in higher education were used as conceptual framing for this activity.

Developed and conducted qualitative research

From the start, it was envisaged to carry out a qualitative study on the representation of early career researchers in university decision-making in a cross-national perspective. For this purpose, an empirical study group was formed in the WG2. Based on theoretical framing of higher education stakeholders, data grids and other data collection instruments, like consent forms were developed, and tested. Documentary analysis was carried out in Estonia, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, Malta, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Israel, Lithuania and Türkiye). Following documentary collection and analysis, WG2 undertook a large scale interview study. For that purpose, WG2 interview data collection protocols and interview guidelines were developed in January and February 2023, followed by interview collection in a number of countries (the Netherlands, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, Portugal, and Türkiye). In total 55 semi-structured interviews with ECRs and 14 managers were carried out in 2023/2024. Documentary evidence and interviews were used for publications developed by WG2 members.

Publications

Extensive documentary analysis and qualitative research was used to develop joint publications in WG2. Two scientific publications were developed by joint efforts of numerous WG2 members. One of these is published in a reputable international journal, while the other is in the process of finalization. In addition, individual WG2 members published their works related to the scope of the WG in academic journals and presented the outcomes of international conferences.

Workshop

A Workshop of WG2 took place on 15-16 May 2025 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, hosted by Faculty of Public Health, Medical University Plovdiv. Across two days, participants engaged in keynote presentations, panel discussions, case studies, and practical group activities that explored ECRs’ involvement in leadership, as well as strategies to overcome barriers and increase influence. The workshop also provided skills training, and networking opportunities, culminating in action plans for empowering ECRs to shape the future of universities.

Subgroup Leadership in HEIs

The group evolved to address gaps in leadership practices and discussion cultures within higher education institutions, particularly regarding the support and development of early career investigators and underrepresented groups. It formed to research existing barriers, identify effective strategies, and promote inclusive leadership practices.

The subgroup aims to conduct two complementary studies: a qualitative meta-synthesis on how mentoring supports women leaders in higher education, and a quantitative survey examining leadership styles in universities. Both studies are progressing, with data collection underway for the qualitative study and survey preparation moving forward for the quantitative one.

Meetings

During the project duration, WG2 members networked during regular meetings (4 per year, mostly online). Also, some additional in-person meetings were organized to resolve specific issues that emerged during the action.

STSM

STSM in 2023: Development and discussion of publications from the data gathering from the COST action 20137 VOICES WG2

Start and end date: 18/03/2023 to 27/03/2023

Host: Christine Cross (WG2 lead at that time), Napier University Edinburgh

STSM grantee: Liudvika Leisyte, WG2 co-lead at that time)

STSM in 2024: Preparation of a manuscript of an article, COST action 20137 VOICES WG2

Start and end date:03 /03/2024 to 09/03/2024?

Host: Christine Cross (WG2 lead at that time), Napier University Edinburgh

STSM grantee: Vanya Rangelova

Publications

Key publications developed with a contribution from WG2 are as follows:

Joint publications of WG2 members:

Liudvika Leišytė, Ivana Načinović Braje, Almog Shulamit, Sultan Baysan, Teresa Carvalho, Dovilė Daunoraitė, Sara Diogo, Panourgias Papaioannou, Anna Farmaki, Shlomit Feldman, Rakibe Külcür, Inga Matijošytė, Sandra Pralgauskaitė, Vanya Rangelova, Dalia Šatkovskienė (2026) Early Career Researchers as Stakeholders in University Decision‐Making in Europe: Comparative Perspectives. Social Inclusion, Volume 14, Article 9683, https://doi.org/10.17645/si.9683

Leišytė, Cross, C., Nacinovic-Braje, I., Papaioannou, P., Matijošytė, I., Oras, E., Birindelli, G., A. Iannuzzi, A., Farmaki, A., Rojo Gallego-Burín, A., Rojo Gallego-Burínk, M., Pruschak, G., Kulcur, R., Baysan, S. (forthcoming, submitted), Early career academics’ representation in institutional decision-making in higher education: policies and practices from across Europe, Higher Education Quarterly.

Mergner, J., Pekşen, S., & Leišytė, L. (2025). Intersectionality at German universities: Teaching staff as change agents with higher education didactic workshops. Social Inclusion, 14, Article 9829. https://doi.org/10.17645/si.9829

Leišytė, L., Pekşen, S. & Tönnes, L. (2022). The influence of university’s HRM practices on female academics’ progression to management positions. Journal of East European Management Studies, 27(4), 662–685. https://doi.org/10.5771/0949-6181-2022-4-662

Grech, E. , Pace, A., Attard Mallia, T., and S. Cuschieri. (2022) Gender Trends in Healthcare and Academia—Where Does the University of Malta Stand? Social Sciences 11: 463. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11100463

Karaduman-Oskay, E., Gürsel-Bilgin, G., Caner, H., Afacan Fındıklı, M., & Seggie, F. (2025). Views of Women Doctoral Students and Dropouts on Doctoral Education in Türkiye. Social Inclusion, 14, Article 9828. https://doi.org/10.17645/si.9828

Findikli, M. A., Günbey, M, Pruschak, G., Showunmi,V., Leisyte, L. (forthcoming, submitted) “Women Leaders’ Mentoring Experiences in Higher Education: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis through Transformative Learning and Intersectional Lenses”, submitted on 12.08.2025 to the Journal of Higher Education.

Special issue in a journal:

The Call for papers in the Special issue of Social Inclusion journal has been opened and promoted among interested academics as a part of the issue “Diversity and Change Agents in Higher Education”. This special issue is edited by WG2 members, Liudvika Leišytė (TU Dortmund University), Rosemary Deem (Royal Holloway), and Ivana Načinović Braje (University of Zagreb), fully open access at https://doi.org/10.17645/si.i480

Papers by individual members of the WG 2 that have been published or presented at conferences:

Leišytė, L. (2025). The changing role of stakeholders in higher education. Keynote at the plenary session ‘Stakeholders: Beyond the state’ at the Wenner-Gren Foundations and the Academia Europaea HERCulES International Symposium ‘Institutional Perspectives on Universities: The Role of Leadership, Administration, Stakeholders and Risks’. Stockholm, Sweden, May 22.

Leišytė, L. (2024). Research productivity and time spent on teaching and research among early career academics in Europe: gender and higher education systems matter. Keynote at the VOICES Summer Training 2024, Bilbao, Spain, July 9.

Leišytė, L. (2024). Early career academics’ inclusion in decision-making. Presentation at the CHER 36th Annual Conference 2024 (Consortium of Higher Education Researchers), Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, September 6.

Leišytė, L. (2024). Early career academics’ inclusion in decision-making. KiTeS colloquium, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands, March 19.

Papaioannou, P. (2024). The participation of early career researchers in the decision-making bodies of a German university. Postcolonial Directions in Education, 13(1), 188–213. Online available

Leišytė, L. (2023). Precarity, recruitment and promotion in academia. Invited talk at the international conference “The situation of young researches in the Baltic States: development or waste of future scientific potential?”, Lithuanian Parliament, Vilnius, Lithuania, 23 November.

Leišytė, L. (2023). Academic working conditions in the Netherlands and Lithuanian higher education system – country comparison by academic rank. Presentation at the 1st Annual Conference of the COST ACTION CA20137 (VOICES) ‘Voicing young researchers for the future of Europe: Trends, challenges and policies’, University of Malta, Valletta, Malta, February 14.

Papaioannou, P. (2023). The participation of ECRs in the decision-making bodies of the German Universities: The case of the Technical University Dortmund. Presentation at the 1st Annual Conference of the COST ACTION CA20137 (VOICES) ‘Voicing young researchers for the future of Europe: Trends, challenges and policies’, University of Malta, Valletta, Malta, February 14.