Bridging the Gender Gap in Higher Education: Directory of Programs & Initatives Across APRU. Launched in June 2013, the APRU Asia-Pacific Women in Leadership Program (APWiL) serves as a platform for the sharing of best practices in enhancing the institutional competitiveness of APRU universities and advancing the participation of women in academia and research.

The APRU Gender Gap survey was administered to 65 participating universities (APRU and Universitas 21 members) across 23 economies in May 2018. The survey was officially closed in December 2018 and a total of 39 institutions completed the survey. The key overall trends remain similar to those in the 2013 survey, in that females are under-represented in university leadership positions, most notably in academic, academic management and executive positions.

The APRU Gender Gap Survey was developed as a recommendation of the APRU Senior Staff Meeting held at Waseda University, Japan in March 2013. It is designed to provide data and qualitative information to support the discussion of gender equity in Asia-Pacific universities and outline key challenges for the future.

The Asia-Pacific Women in Leadership Program (APWiL) Special Workshop aims to discuss the importance of a systematic strategy to promote gender equality in academic institutions, and provide faculty and staff members responsible for university management with an opportunity to share relevant information and ideas in order to enhance their knowledge and leadership skills.

Leaders at the APRU Annual Presidents’ Meeting agree to ratify the APRU Statement on Gender Equity and Diversity. The meeting took place at the University of Malaya in 2016. APRU Presidents’ Statement We believe that universities enhance their contribution to society through accessing the talents of diverse communities. APRU has the opportunity to demonstrate thought leadership, both within and outside the network, to advance equity and diversity across its member universities. We recognize that our universities operate within different contexts and are at different points in progressing these objectives. As university presidents we see consensus on policy principles as an opportunity to unify the network and demonstrate the added value of an international alliance. We therefore endorse the following principles: Diversity at all levels is a key factor in the success of universities. The achievement of diversity requires a commitment to promoting equity and bringing about the associated changes that result in positive and powerful outcomes. APRU universities will work towards making gender equity an integral part of their diversity strategy, organizational structure and culture including their strategic objectives and senior accountabilities. APRU universities will develop a clear, consistent and sustainable policy framework appropriate to their diverse contexts that guides, promotes and reinforces their commitment to gender equity and diversity. APRU universities will commit to collecting and using data to measure progress and inform future strategy and policy. APRU Presidents Kuala Lumpur June 2016