Bhubaneswar: The gender gap in higher education may have narrowed considerably in Odisha, but it widens again at the highest level of academic research. While girls have nearly caught up with boys in overall higher education enrolment, the gross enrolment ratio (GER) standing at 24.4% for women against 25.3% for men, their representation drops significantly in doctoral programmes.The latest All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023-24 reveals that women account for just 43.9% of PhD scholars in the state’s universities, where almost all doctoral research is concentrated.An analysis of the survey shows that of the 7,857 PhD scholars enrolled in Odisha’s universities, 3,448 are women and 4,409 are men, underscoring a clear gender imbalance in research. Since universities account for nearly 96% of the state’s doctoral enrolment, the disparity largely defines the state’s research landscape.The findings suggest that the gender gap widens as students move up the academic ladder, from undergraduate and postgraduate education to doctoral research. While women have made significant gains in accessing higher education over the years, those gains are yet to translate into equal participation in research. Experts say the transition from postgraduate studies to doctoral programmes remains a critical stage where many women opt out.Overall, Odisha has 8,190 PhD scholars enrolled through the regular mode. Women account for 3,621 (44.2%), while the men account for 4,569 (55.8%). The marginally higher overall share of women is largely because colleges report slightly higher female enrolment in doctoral programmes. Of the 322 PhD scholars enrolled in colleges, 169 are women and 153 are men. However, colleges account for only 3.9% of the state’s doctoral enrolment, limiting their impact on the overall gender balance.Experts describe the trend as a ‘leaky pipeline’ in higher education, where many women who successfully complete undergraduate and postgraduate studies do not continue into research.Academician Navneeta Rath said the gender gap is more evident in STEM disciplines in comparison to the social science and humanities subjects. “Both the central and the state govts provide ample scholarships and relaxation for women to pursue PhD. The UGC also allows women scholars a two-year extension beyond the standard programme duration of five years and grants up to 240 days of maternity or childcare leave. Yet, there are multiple reasons for which women are not pursuing PhD or leaving it half way,” she added.According to Rath, the motivation for pursuing doctoral research has also changed over the years. “Today, women are entering into diversified professions departing from the stereotypical profession of teaching. So, they don’t find PhD to be a requirement. Moreover, many universities under UGC are insisting upon full-time residential PhD degrees which dissuades married women to continue the programme. Further, a PhD degree, though the highest degree in academics, is a long drawn-out one and getting the degree doesn’t guarantee them a job,” she added.
