The number of female professors has doubled since 1999. Half of this growth can be accounted for by a positive action by NWO (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research). The scientific organization wants to extend its programs for women.
When universities appoint a female researcher to professor, they can receive one hundred thousand euros from the Aspasia-program from NWO. One of the conditions is that the woman in question has won a veni- or vici-scholarship from the organization. Those scholarships are awarded every year to the best researchers who have a couple of years experience in research.
This form of positive action clearly has an effect says NWO. In 2000 and 2002, seventy women earned a position thanks to the Aspasia-program. Thirty percent of those women have now become a professor, which is an above average rate.
But NWO wants more. Female PhDs and post-doc researchers do not get positions at a university easily. If the government were to spend seven million euros yearly, NWO could change that. This would take form via the veni-subsidiaries that are awarded to the best beginning researchers who want to start their own research after their PhD. The expansion of the program would give about fifty women a year a fixed position. NWO has to present the official request at the ministry of OCW (Education, culture and science).
HOP, Bas Belleman
trans. H. van Dorp
