"PUBLISH OR PERISH": AN INVESTIGATION INTO ACADEMIC WOMEN'S ACCESS TO RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION AS THE MAIN CRITERIA FOR PROMOTION IN KENYAN UNIVERSITIES

McGill Journal of Education, Fall 2003 by Onsongo, Jane

Women's access to research and publications at the case study university was hindered by limited access to resources, especially lack of knowledge about sources of funding. Most of the funding for research was given by nongovernmental organisations and men seemed to be benefiting from the external funding due to their social networks where information on available funds circulated. The limited funds available were distributed unfairly. Women generally did not benefit from external funding because of their low status in the academic hierarchy. One woman confirmed this. "It is the professors who get first priority and outside funding."

Most women lacked sufficient time for research and publication because they had to divide their time between domestic responsibilities and heavy teaching loads. The pressure on their time has been compounded by the introduction of part-time degree programmes, which require them to teach throughout the year from Monday to Saturday.

Conclusion

Research and publication play an important role in the promotion of academic staff in universities in Kenya. This small-scale study revealed that academics (men and women) in the case study university had limited access to research and publication. However, women suffered a double disadvantage due to their low status in the academic hierarchy and their professional and domestic responsibilities. Because of this limited access it is unfair to use research and publication as currently defined and measured in most universities as the main criteria for promotion.

REFERENCES

Bell, S. & Gordon, J. (1999). Scholarship: The new dimension to equity issues for academic women. Women's Studies International Forum, 22(6), 645-658.

Mwanwenda, T.S. ( 1994c ). Academics' stance on the slogan "publish or perish." Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 19(2), 99-108.

Onsongo, J.K. (2000). "Publish or perish" An investigation into academic women's access to research and publication in Kenyan universities. M.A Dissertation, Institute of Education, University of London.

JANE ONSONGO Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

JANE ONSONGO is a lecturer in the Department of Education in the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya. She teaches Education Administration, Gender and Education, and teaching and learning methods. Her research interests are gender issues in higher education, women's participation in university management, and women and research. She is currently undertaking doctoral studies at University College London, UK, focusing on women managers' experiences in Kenyan universities.