Determinants of gender disparities in decision making in Tanzanian Public Universities -the case of Mzumbe University and Sokoine University of Agriculture
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Date
2014
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine factors leading to gender disparities in decision
making at Mzumbe and Sokoine of University Agriculture in Morogoro Region. The
specific objectives were to identify the university procedures used in appointing personnel
to be involved in decision-making, to assess factors influencing gender disparities in
decision making and to determine attitude of men and women towards equal participation
in decision making. A cross-scctional research design was used where simple stratified
method was used to select 72 respondents from Sokoine University of agriculture and 48
respondents from Mzumbe University. Academicians and administrative workers were the
population of the study. A questionnaire with both open and close ended questions was
used during data collection. Research questions were administered to selected focus group
participants and key informants during data collection. Quantitative and qualitative data
were collected. Data were analyzed descriptively while inferential statistics such as Binary'
logistic regression model and Likert scale were used. More than three quarters of male
staff participated in decision making and in senior positions at Mzumbe and Sokoine
University of Agriculture. Education level, professional qualifications (rank) and work
experiences were the determinants for gender disparities in decision making positions as
majority of them ware men. There were less than 10% of female qualified to participate in
senior positions and in decision making at the two universities. Further, 56.8% of the
respondents had positive attitude towards male and female equal participation in decision
making. It is recommended that governing boards of Tanzanian public universities should use
frameworks of gender equality to ultimately achieve the intended goal of including women
in senior positions. For instance, if staff members are 10 at least four should be women.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Gender disparities, Decision making, Tanzanian Public Universities, Mzumbe University