Acting Director of the University of Ghana School of Performing Arts, Professor. Awo Mana Asiedu, urged career women to build self-confidence to prepare them to take on leadership roles in various workplaces.
She expressed concern that many women are unable to take on leadership roles due to lack of self-confidence.
She is of the opinion that without self-confidence, it will be difficult for women to make their voices heard, because “having your voice heard is very important.”
Prof. Asiedu expressed his views when the Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA) in collaboration with the Center for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA) of the University of Ghana, and the German Historical Institute of Paris (GHIP), held a public round table. discussion of challenges and opportunities for women in academia in the African context.
The three-day event, which starts on February 15, 2023, has the theme: “Women’s academic career in Africa: positioning and preparing themselves for leadership in academia.”
It’s obvious
The roundtable was part of the annual MIASA workshop on women’s academic careers in Africa organized with GHIP and CEGENSA at the University of Ghana.
A total of 20 early and mid-career female academics from the social sciences and humanities, who are based in universities or research institutes in various African countries, including Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa participated in the workshop.
Participants are taken through several practical coaching sessions in areas such as how to build up an efficient team; how to deal with the university hierarchy; how to deal with conflict in the workplace, and how to continue an academic career with limited time.
Women’s leadership
Prof. Asiedu also expressed concern that often, when there are leadership positions in the workplace especially in the academic environment, many academic women shy away from the opportunity.
That, she said, is the time for women academics to make their presence and influence in the academic community, stressing that although it is not easy for women academics to take leadership roles, they should not be afraid of anyone.
Sharing his opinion as a panel member, Dr. Doris Akyere Boateng from the University of Ghana, advises female academics and men who are passionate about being responsible with time management.
For her, it is not necessary to be a superwoman to achieve her career goals, because if female academics can create a balance between family duties and academic work, they will be able to achieve their goals.
Dr. Jenny Mbaye from the University of London also encouraged women to stay focused on their desire to achieve excellence in whatever they do without giving themselves the opportunity for setbacks and distractions.
She said that many female academics are often troubled by many things and it is only with determination and determination that female academics can overcome these challenges.
The purpose of MIASA
The Director of MIASA, Dr Susann Baller, in her introduction said MIASA is an Institute in the College of Humanities at the University of Ghana and is jointly funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the University of Ghana.
He said MIASA serves as a hub for exchange, networking, and collaboration between leading researchers from Germany, Ghana, and other scholars from around the world.
He explained that the workshop is intended to equip participants with the skills they need to deal with the challenges of daily academic work and, prepare them for future managerial roles, especially in academia.
Dr. Baller expressed optimism that the workshop will also help participants to define their own work and leadership style, but also to consider how to adapt themselves to different contexts and challenges.
That, he noted, the main objective of the workshop is to encourage early and mid-career female academics in Ghana and other African countries to build their careers, to develop strategies to maintain a work-life balance that allows them to prosper. in research and academic work, and be prepared to assume leadership positions and/or take up other professional opportunities.
Collaboration
CEGENSA Director, Dr Deborah Atobrah, said it was important to address the leadership gap on gender equality.
For him, the establishment of CENGENSA has contributed to creating more awareness of gender issues in the university community.
She expressed her hope that MIASA and CEGENSA will continue to collaborate to provide critical information on career growth and mentoring opportunities for women in academia.
Source: graphiconline.com
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