An overnight success? Ireland as the 'golden girl' of gender equality in higher education

In 2023, three of the four Gender Equality Champions awards went to Irish public universities, with two others subsequently getting awards. Coming from a low base, Ireland is now marginally above the EU average in terms of the proportion of female professors (32% versus 30%) and well above in terms of the proportion of female Presidents/Rectors (58% versus 26%). Drawing on published reports, secondary data and other documentary evidence, this article suggests that the key gender inequality issues in Irish higher education were identified 30–40 years ago. It explores the changes that have occurred, mostly from 2015 onwards, a period that coincided with government driven initiatives. It shows that structural measures to tackle gender inequality have been consistently recommended, but very unevenly adopted. Irish higher educational institutions have been more receptive to individual measures and to Athena SWAN awards (an intervention that appears to have become largely performative). It suggests that rather than asking how Ireland has changed ‘overnight’, one should ask why it has taken so long for limited change to occur; what lessons can be learned that might facilitate change elsewhere; and under what conditions Ireland may really become the ‘golden girl’ of gender equality in higher education.