The Challenges Faced By Women Academic Leadership Positions In Higher Education In Mongolia

Chinese great leader Mao Zedong once said that "Women hold up half the sky."This quote is a good reminder about the role of women in a world seemingly dominated by men.Women perform an equally important role as men do.On the global level,reports demonstrated that women as students,teachers,professors,and administrators has increased from the second half of the last century,however it does not mean gender parity has been achieved in all parts of higher education systems.Women are still unacceptably underrepresented in some fields,especially in senior administrative positions.The growth in the education of women in Mongolia has led to a significant increase in demand for women professionals and administrators in Mongolian universities.However,the path to the top is not easy and numerous challenges must still be overcome.The main purpose of this research is to investigate the major challenges faced by women to obtain academic leadership senior position in high education in Mongolia.Descriptive survey was adopted for the study involving in quantitative techniques.The findings indicated that challenges ranged from organizational to societal and individual factors.Personal factors were related to personality traits such as work-family balance issues and a lack of self-confidence.At the organizational levels,difficult relationships at work and the old boys'network,and organizational practices were perceived to be a hindrance,while at the societal level,gender role stereotypes and social attitudes towards women were viewed as key challenges to the participation of women in senior administrative positions.The implication for women who aspire to the top position of organizations is that they should be aware of and understand the reason of visible and invisible challenges in relation to their senior leadership position advancement.This study also helps clarify to women leaders' academic leadership capabilities.Identifying a common substrate can do much to help focus the development of leadership capabilities.This paints a vivid picture of how women leaders manage challenges faced by women to obtain academic leadership senior position.and also what change-capable leadership looks like.The future capacity of women leaders in higher education in universities will be underpinned by the capability and regeneration of its leadership.In addition,the major challenges and result of the studies could be useful to help the decision makers for adjusting,modifying,and upgrading in current and future contents of women leadership development programs.Significance study of women leadership is a new topic in leadership fields in Mongolia so this study will help to learn and understand the theoretical and practical ideas about gender egalitarianism in academic leadership fields from other countries literature into Mongolian women in leadership.To this end,this study will contribute to the formulation of possible strategies contribute for advancement of women in academic leadership position of the high education in Mongolia and to suggest remedial actions.The results would also provide bases for future researchers for further study on women issues.