Summary of Programme Evaluations (25 respondents)
Why did you attend the Women in Leadership Day?
To learn more about leadership perspectives in the University context
To identify/give input into pathways for professional and career development, especially for general staff
To broaden networks across campus/connect with more women within the University
Curiosity - interested in the concept wanted to know what it was going to be about
To work with others to change this University’s climate and mindset to make it a better life for all staff especially
women
To learn from other women at UOW
To encourage a University-wide mentoring programme for women
To find ways to come to grips with diffuse but powerful masculinist hegemony in my department and at senior
management level
Was attracted to the calibre of speakers
To know and contribute to increased awareness and participating of women in University leadership
To identify issues around gender of leadership pertaining to the tertiary environment, as well as those specific to the
University of Waikato
To assess the potential to stimulate ideas and change in the University. I think this has happened to a certain extent,
but there have been a number of comments about ‘re-inventing the wheel’ and the 1980s rehash of gender issues,
which unfortunately still exist
A greater sense of goings on in the University
Support women in Leadership roles – need to contribute to cause
It is the 1st in Waikato
To understand if there is a real difference between men and women in leadership
To listen to speakers and participants and share in discussions pertaining to women and leadership
My research and teaching is on gender and sexuality. I have long been interested in feminist theorising of place and
institutions. I have witnessed a great deal of hegemonic masculinist practices at this University
Interested in leadership and would like to advance in leadership
I was invited as an alumnus of NZWIL – I am not longer employed by the University (and very pleased I was – thank
you!)
To participate in a forum bringing women from across campus, academic/general, junior/intermediate/senior positions
About to go on the WIL course in October so wanted to more information in context
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Did the event meet your expectations and needs? Why?
No
1
Mixed
Feelings
7
Yes
17
0
5
10
15
20
Positive/Yes
Yes, but this is only the beginning. I look forward to seeing a follow-though on the on all the great ideas that came
forward
Dynamic speakers, the impression that the University valued the day sufficiently to allow so many academic and
generally (especially) to attend
Excellent discussions, a supportive environment having an opportunity to develop an action plan
Got some very good affirmation on the concept of leadership
Enlightening, positive experience
Impressed, inspired and influenced by not only what the speakers had to share but also found the contributions from
the wider group really valuable
I was interested in topics discussed. I liked how there is information about how to access funding or have support
whilst being an academic staff members striving to pursue your career. A very good collaborative approach. Speakers
were well-chosen and good ideas shared
Lots of different aspects covered, very interesting
Quite useful to reflect on own career aspirations within a gender framework
The focus on developing an action plan was valuable
Fabulous day
Incredible, inspiring women. Great educational context. Good to be more informed of big picture.
Panel discussion was great!
The key notes were excellent, very informative and inspiring. I learnt a lot.
The talks were all very interesting. It was inspiring to hear Margaret Wilson, Linda Daliziel, Di McCarthy to the others
speak
I enjoyed and benefitted from the day. I expected to hear ‘stories’ and words of wisdom/experience from speakers
and this proved to be the case
I didn’t know what to expect. Yes, it was very informative and nice to gain an understanding of process. Excellent role
models to listen to – thank you
This was a good inaugural event to set a foundation of shared knowledge. I think there are other experts on both
gender and academic knowledge with more sophisticated and current analyses of diversity, the construction of
knowledge and the socio-political environment, both local and global, who could contribute to future events.
Unsure what to expect. Opportunity to express our individual views in smaller group discussions was welcomed. Great
speakers with a good range of perspectives.
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Mixed feelings
The keynote speakers represent a very dominant discourse in New Zealand’s educational and research sectors. I do
not think their strategies challenge the neoliberal conservative direction that education is heading. The panel –
Alexandra, Michelle and Linda were excellent.
Did not have many expectations, came with an open mind. I was looking forward to the networking opportunities
which was probably satisfied. I found most stuck to clicky groups at morning tea and lunch.
More or less – more technicalities than I expected in terms of buying into current model of how university’s fit into the
national environment but on the other hand; stimulating speakers and an efficient process – a lot got done
Some specific comments were useful in terms of providing ideas regarding how to better position women in the
University of Waikato Leadership. I think there was a silence on some issues (the old boy’s network, lack of
transparency in appointments, etc.)
No
More dynamic speakers (higher profile)
Not a lot of focus on academia and research; not much picking for general staff in Universities
Not really – major focus on academic roles in leadership. However, I acknowledge that it became very clear to all
that general staff are vitally interested in leadership pathways and am encouraged to hope next year’s event and
an interim event will be more balanced
Talks/discussions were great but more discussion/interaction needed in small groups or time spent interacting at
lunch
Will you be coming to the 2010 Women in Leadership event?
No/Maybe
1
Probably
1
Yes
23
0
5
10
15
20
25
As long as I am released to attend
When is it?
Very stimulating and good to see some concrete actions
Depends on what is on the schedule and if it takes things forward more
If it looks interesting and useful
See the need to maintain interest/focus/networks
Please invite me again!
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Do you have suggestions for how we might enhance the event?
Cross-representation
Ensure all staff types of professional and career aspirations are included
Cross-representation of women from Waikato to speak to audience (more panels?) might be useful
Encourage and increase the involvement and participation on Māori women
Recognition of diversity within the category of women, i.e. analyses of barriers to success for Maori women, etc.
To get disciplines ‘together’ and have a discussion (small group sessions, a little more specific to discipline/area)
I would appreciate increase visibility of general staff issues, role models and stories. Thank you for a wonderful
experience
Yes, I applaud Michelle’s recommendation that we hear the voice of women in distributed leadership positions as well
as those who have ‘made it’
Speakers
Be more imaginative with the speakers other than using “the usual suspects”. Bring in experts on “Women and
Leadership”, “Women in academia in New Zealand” The speaker were a bit generalist. Bring in a panel of successful
Marden applicants who are women
I have a lot of experience on committees as former COD and in areas of “leadership” and imaging have a lot to
contribute
I think a useful future event would be to bring sympathetic women from various research funding bodies to the
University to be on a panel and in informal workshops in an all-women forum (i.e. FRST, Law Foundation, MORST and
others). Women need to be able to ask questions about research funding in a supportive atmosphere. This would also
provide an opportunity for participants to push the funders on their policies/criteria.
Have speakers who engage in gender studies!
National or international women speakers
To continue to provide good keynote speakers as we had today
Discussions
Heads up on preparations so discussions can be quicker so to incorporate more
Have some genuine (specific) issues to discuss and to be able to come up with the action plan for these specific issues.
Today’s group discussion was too wide
The group discussions were really interesting. Perhaps more of this.
Introductions
Foster introductions in group discussions – they were quite impersonal
Name tags to state school/division, beneficial for future association
Always have anyone who speaks/asks questions to say who they are (we don’t all know each other). Ensure break out
spaces have enough chairs and allow for group so that all can hear what is being said
Lunch/networking
Have coffee at lunch so we can hang around and talk to each other
Lunch provided so didn’t have to run away and eat to show this is an important event or all head to Station together
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Shared lunch
Ensure dietary needs are met please
Perhaps an outcome could be that there are follow up brown bag lunches for support and informal mentoring
networks in addition to one intensive day like today. Ideas and actions that have been implemented in some way, at
all levels could be reported and shared
Other
Don’t deny that men can do help us navigate the co parenting and professional career roles
Maybe a ½ day with reporting back on progress made
Provide more detailed figures on levels of gender representation at various sites within the University (i.e. some
research needs to be done before then)
More detailed advice on strategies around effective teaching
Encourage more staff to attend. You had good/excellent guest speakers. Well done!
To continue every year
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