Teaching responsibilities in today’s higher education sector are increasingly demanding. Apart from the focus on the quality of teaching-learning activities, teachers of today are evaluated for their active involvement in professional and societal growth. Women in academia shoulder equal responsibilities as of men, but in India, women play multiple roles in the non-work setting unlike men. The primary objective of this cross-sectional study was to find out the gender difference in Work-Life Balance (WLB) among teachers of higher education. Institutional Ethical Committee’s approval was obtained. Data was collected using the WLB questionnaire, from 127 male and 136 female faculties employed on a tenure basis in the Public Universities in Karnataka. The multiple regression analysis indicated an association of better WLB with the upper age group, male gender, and faculties of science discipline. Strategies at the organizational level and initiatives at the personal level are essential to address the issues of WLB.

Academic-related demands that exceed students’ adaptive capabilities are collectively known as academic stress. High levels of academic stress are associated with an increased likelihood of depression, insomnia, substance addiction, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and subsequently, quitting education. Globally, academic stress is now a common phenomenon due to COVID-19-induced changes in the education system. Knowledge of the magnitude of academic stress and its factors can enable early recognition, intervention, and alleviation of the problem. The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of perceived academic stress and identify the main stressors through a cross-sectional survey using the Manipal Inventory of Academic Stress scale. The study participants involved 2152 Grade 11 and 12 Commerce students enrolled in 34 pre-university colleges in coastal Karnataka. A stratified cluster sampling method was used in the study. Statistical methods, namely descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression analysis, two-sample independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA tests, were used in the study. The study observed that one in every four pre-university students experienced high levels of perceived academic stress. Parent expectations, academic queries from neighbours and relatives, and lack of time for revision were identified as the top three stressors. Gender, grade, and mother’s education were associated with academic stress. Interventions at the individual, family, institutional, and community levels are the need of the hour to safeguard adolescents from negative experiences that might deprive them of wellness in their future.

Higher education is anticipating vacancies in senior leadership positions over the coming years. Women are likely to be candidates for these openings, as the number of women pursuing doctoral degrees is rising. However, in the present scenario, there is a dearth of women in senior leadership positions in India. With a purpose to identify the factors influencing the decision of women to take up senior leadership positions, a cross-sectional survey was planned in India. Female faculty ( n = 136) employed on a tenure basis in state public universities were the respondents. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and focus group discussions. About 48% of the participants expressed that they decline opportunities for administrative positions. The distance to the workplace was found to be a barrier to take up senior leadership positions. Recommendations to promote the readiness of women to take up senior leadership are discussed.

BACKGROUND: Academic stress is a predominant phenomenon among grade 11 and 12 students. The performance in Grade 12 is important for entry to higher education programs in India. The purpose of the study was to assess the magnitude of the perceived academic stress and identify the main stressors and the sociodemographic variables associated with the perceived academic stress among adolescents enrolled in the science stream in coastal Karnataka. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Upon Institutional Ethical Committee approval, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among pre-university students (science stream) of coastal Karnataka during February–April 2021. The study used Manipal Inventory of Academic Stress (MIAS) scale to collect data on perceived academic stress from 1859 students (response rate 68.3%). Stratified cluster sampling method was used to collect data from the study participants. IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 26.0 was used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics, unpaired t -test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression analyses were used to study the association between academic stress and various demographic variables. RESULTS: The study revealed that 28% of the Grade 11 students and 26% of the Grade 12 students experienced high or extreme stress. The significant stressors were lack of time for revision, queries from neighbors or relatives, and parental expectations on academic performance. Gender, residence, and the medium of instruction until Grade 10 were associated with academic stress. CONCLUSION: Measures at the institutional and national levels are necessary to reduce the academic stress in higher secondary education. The integrated curriculum proposed in the National Educational Policy 2020 addresses a few stressors identified in this study.