Research as Praxis: a research mentoring platform for academic women

Abstract In response to the continuing under-representation of women in academic positions of higher rank, theFaculty of Commerce and the Employment, Equity and Diversity unit at the University of Wollongong jointlysupported a Women in Commerce Research Platform (WICRP) with the view to increasing research ofwomen in commerce. We describe the WICRP and evaluate it in the context of prior research related to thespecific challenges faced by female academics. The WICRP pilot period was reviewed using surveys and openended questions and our findings are generally consistent with prior research. This paper draws on thesefindings and in writing about them (both as researchers and participants) we focus on the role of research aspraxis. We discuss the potential impact of specific strategies to support academic women in research and itscontribution to the ideal of community. In suspending methodological and theoretical differences we note theimperative for a shared space to also accommodate diversity as an empowering strategy. Just as dichotomiesbetween work and family need to be problematised, so must the differentiation between research, teachingand administration in evaluating career progression.

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