Gendered career productivity and success in academia: a challenge to islamic higher education institutions in Indonesia

People working in the academic settings aim to achieve better personal development including but not limited to an increase in remuneration, climbing up the ladder in the organizational hierarchy, and occupying higher level of positions. In return, successful attainment to these objectives will benefit organizations. Within the global competition era, universities face new challenges never encountered before. Members’ expertise emerges as one of the crucial human assets to raise the bargaining positions and competitive advantages of the university. A full development of staff potentials is crucial in the efforts to produce the best labor market. Failure to fulfill this endeavor would mean not only wasting important talents the staff would offer to the organization but also opening the path to a lower performance of staff and the organization alike. Career advancement in Indonesian academia is nationally regulated and all regulations should be adopted into practices. This, in theory, provides equal opportunities for men and women to be productive and successful. It is argued here, however, that instigating formal human resource policies alone may not ensure the associated processes and practices are equal (Loughlin, 2000). Informal structure and organizational culture may override the formal policy (Ismail, 2008). The question remains whether the implemented policy and practices affect the university staff similarly or differently, especially when gender is taken into account. The purpose of this study is to analyze gender effects on academic career productivity and success. Seven-hundred and fifty questionnaires were distributed randomly to eight Islamic Higher Education Institutions in seven provinces, from which 220 (Men = 57.7%, and Women = 42.3%) respondents returned the questionnaires with an analyzable quality. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were employed for analyzing and presenting the results. The study found that women in Islamic Higher Education Institutions were less productive in terms of publications, held lower academic rank and leadership positions, and earn significantly less than men. The results suggest that Islamic Higher Education Institutions should provide specific empowerment for women by, for example, providing support for their continuing education, professional development, and career opportunities.