Author(s): Easaw Alemayehu
Gender equality has been to the forefront of public debate in recent years. Despite international initiatives for gender equality and fairness in higher education institutions, research done in numerous countries continue to indicate that women are underrepresented in top academic leadership roles. Similarly women are underrepresented in Ethiopian higher education institutions. The goal of this study was to determine the challenges and opportunities faced by women working in leadership position at Addis Ababa University. The research looks at how challenges and opportunities affect women both adversely and favorably. The technique of data collection utilized in this study was a descriptive survey, and the instrument utilized to acquire primary data from sample respondents was a questionnaire and an interview as a primary source of data, and document analysis as a secondary source of data. A total of 100 (one hundred) respondents were chosen for the study from 5 campuses using the purposive sample approach. The year of the survey was 2021. In order to answer the core research questions and meet the study's aims, both quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods were used. As a result, the gathered official reports were recorded, edited, arranged, analyzed, presented, and interpreted in connection to research questions for the study's fulfillment and effective completion. The study's findings show that women's involvement in leadership position at Addis Ababa University is still at an all-time low. Low leadership position engaged by women is due to a variety of barriers. These difficulties were divided into three categories: social issues, organizational/institutional issues, and personal traits. On the other hand, the finding as opportunity showed that women who are in leadership positions are strong decision-makers and dedicated to their universities and careers