150 years of progress for women in higher education

Higher education has changed dramatically in the last 150 years. Here, we summarise some of the progress that has been made and some of the heroines who pressed for progress. 
 

1868

Nine women were admitted to the University of London to take a ‘special examination’ course which signalled the first step for women in higher education. In 1869, the examiners (all men) awarded Honours to six of the nine women: Sarah Jane Moody, Eliza Orme, Louisa von Glehn (pictured), Kate Spiller, Isabella de Lancy West and Susannah Wood, and all nine women are considered pioneers for progress.

11 years later, in 1879, women were able to sit the same degree examinations as their male counterparts at the university.

1869

Founded in 1869 Girton College Cambridge was the UK's first residential institution for women offering degree-level education and examination. Principle founders Emily Davies (pictured) and Barbara Bodichon played pivotal roles in the suffrage movement, the campaign for women's admission to the professions and the struggle for women's inclusion in higher education on the same terms, studying the same subjects, to the same level as men.

1890

Philippa Fawcett, daughter of Millicent Fawcett, at Newnham College Cambridge, becomes the first woman to obtain the top score in the Cambridge Mathematical Tripos – the very year it was opened up to women.

Philippa became a well-respected mathematician teaching at Newnham College and then in South Africa, before returning to London to work on the development of secondary education reforms.

She died on 10 June 1948, two months after her 80th birthday, just one month after the Grace that allowed women to be awarded the Cambridge BA degree received royal assent.

Being mathematically and financially minded is still very important to the sector. Aurorans told us that improving financial management skills is key to career progression so in 2015 we created Demystifying Finance to help women further progress their careers.

1906

Alice Perry becomes the first woman in Ireland or Great Britain to achieve a degree in a STEM subject. She graduated with a first class honours degree in Civil Engineering from Queen’s College Galway (now National University of Ireland Galway).

She then went on to become the first female country surveyor. 

1908

Edith Morley MBE is appointed Professor of English Language at University College Reading (later the University of Reading), becoming the first full professor at a British university institute.

Although she herself was awarded an “equivalent” degree rather than a standard degree she went on to publish numerous periodicals as well as a number of books.

In 1914, Edith published her book, Women Workers in Seven Professions, which describes how female academics were limited in terms of the areas they could find work. This led to women competing against each other for roles, rather than against both men and women.

Nearly 100 years later in 2013, the Leadership Foundation published a stimulus paper, Women and Higher Education Leadership: Absences and Aspirations, which addresses the leadership challenges for women in the sector.

1921

Helena Normanton becomes the first women to practice as a barrister in England. She was not just the first woman to be admitted to an Inn of Court, hold briefs in the High Court and Old Bailey, and (as one of two women) be made a King’s Counsel, but a prolific author, leading feminist and speaker who entranced audiences at home and abroad.

A biography of Helena was published in 2016 by Auroran, Judith Bourne, who spoke about Helena at the Aurora Conference in 2017. 
 

1947

All universities in the UK award degrees to women.

1948

Dame Lillian Penson becomes the first female vice-chancellor in a British university.

Lillian became a full professor by the age of 34 and served as a member of the University of London senate for 20 years. She was a member of the University Court, dean of the Faculty of Arts and chairman of the Academic Council before being elected in 1948 as vice-chancellor of the university.

In addition to her contribution to the University of London, Lillian made significant contributions to the development of higher education in the then colonial territories which led to significant honours including honorary degrees from many universities including Cambridge and Oxford, a DBE, and even an honorary fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons.

Today, over 60 of the current UK vice-chancellors/principals are alumni of our flagship programme the Top Management Programme.

1975

The Sex Discrimination Act meant that universities could no longer prioritise male students over female ones, and on graduation, women could no longer be turned down for jobs for which they were qualified, solely on the basis of their sex. This also led to a number of single-sex colleges at Oxford and Cambridge becoming co-educational including Brasenose, Oxford and Jesus, Cambridge.

2013 

Aurora was launched in London, Glasgow, Bristol and Manchester with 594 women becoming our pioneers for progress. By July 2018 there will be over 4,500 Aurora alumnae, 800 role models and 220 institutional champions as part of the Aurora community. The dates for the 2018-19 season will be announced this spring on the Aurora homepage.

Aurora is also subject to a five year longitudinal study, Onwards and Upwards, led by a research team at Loughborough University to follow the progress of Aurorans in their careers. 

2015

Valerie Amos becomes the first BME female to lead a university in the United Kingdom when she was appointed director at SOAS. 

Baroness Amos has had an extensive political career. Valerie was an adviser to the Mandela Government on leadership, change, management and strategy issues between 1994 and 1998 and served as the secretary of state for International Development in 2003 making her the first black woman to sit in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. Valerie has also served as both a member and the leader of the House of Lords and is a Life Peer.

At SOAS, she has urged universities to work together to help refugee students. To understand further the political context in which the higher education sits we have created Powerbrokers: Lifting the lid on Westminster village.

In 2017, Valerie was guest speaker at our BME Leadership in Higher Education Summit.

2018

We will be releasing the Aurora longitudinal study year 2 leadership insight and the Aurora dates shortly. 

We’ll be sharing more #HeroinesinHE from the Leadership Foundation on Twitter. Share your own #HeroinesinHE this International Women’s Day.

#HeroinesinHE