Gender equality in the Lithuanian sytem of education and science

ENThe system of higher education is one of the areas where the gender approach becomes more and more important. This field undoubtedly can be named as one of indicators of the country’s culture and civilisation. Nowadays, despite the all in Lithuania adopted laws and strategic documents, which reflect high international standard in gender equality area, many economic and social indicators show that the real situation of women and men in Lithuanian higher education system as well as in other areas of social life is very different. The survey of the Lithuanian academic community, carried on in 2013, demonstrated not satisfying picture in terms of gender discrimination. Firstly, men occupy top managerial positions at Lithuanian universities, when women concentrate on the lowest level administrative support staff positions. Secondly, among academic and research staff women mostly occupy lowest positions. Thirdly, women and men share equally lowest level management positions. Presented results of survey demonstrate essential differences of status between women and men in the Lithuanian academic community which have to be taken into account when shaping the national education and science policy. Considering existing situation, the effectiveness of valid legal regulation and strategically planning must be denied. It raises the need of improvements in this field and necessity of taking strict measures in order to ensure full equality in practice.One of the possibilities, which is highly recommended to discuss in society as well as at decision making level, are special interim measures, established by the laws that are applied with the aim to speed up factual implementation of equality between men and women. Similarly, it should be marked that the balance between the importance to realize the principle of academic ethics and fair competition, declared by the Law on higher education of Republic of Lithuania, and the principles of equality and non-discrimination should be found. Keywords: Gender equality, non-discrimination, higher education, science, special interim measures. [From the publication]

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