A gender diversity analysis of senior positions in Italian public universities

This article aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of gender diversity within the upper leadership positions in Italian Public Universities (Arena, 2022; Calabrese et al., 2020). We aim to assess the representation of women in senior positions pre and post-implementation of the CRUI guidelines for the preparation of gender budgeting (CRUI, 2019). Gender budgeting can be considered a component of the sustainability report, specifically focusing on the gender dimension. Furthermore, we aim to identify any improving trends in gender inclusivity within the academic leadership landscape, highlighting the impact of the introduction of guidelines on the composition of senior roles. The methodology employed was quantitative, adopting a statistical approach for the analysis. Our sample comprised public universities in the Italian academic landscape, selected based on the Cen-sis’ ranking (Censis, 2023). Data collection involved the analysis of the sustainability reports and/or gender budgeting reports of the selected universities. We applied the theoretical framework of Nudge theory to interpret our findings (Thaler and Sunstein, 2014). Nudge theory aims to shape choice architecture to encourage desired outcomes while maintaining freedom of choice, enabling organizations to achieve their goals indirectly. This article has both theoretical and practical implications. Specifically, it contributes to the existing literature on gender budgeting and gender equality studies in universities (Lucchese et al., 2022; Oppi et al., 2021). Our study contributes to illustrating the correlation between the implementation of guidelines and the evolution of gender diversity within the upper roles of leadership in Italian Public Universities (Khalifa, and Scarparo, 2021). Then, this study is directed to academics, policymakers, and decision-makers. This article aims to fill a gap in the literature. In particular, we examine the effects of introducing the CRUI guidelines on the composition of senior positions in Italian public universities (CRUI, 2019).