The University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), is a regional Australian institution.

It is known for providing professional qualifications to students

Especially those who may lack the financial means or grades to attend prestigious capital city universities.

Recently, it has stirred controversy with a hiring decision that excludes men from a top academic position.

The university recently announced that its vacant Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering role—offering a salary of $186,045 per year

—will be reserved exclusively for women, including transgender women.

The decision aligns with Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Act,

which permits gender-based hiring in cases where it seeks to address an existing imbalance.

Men have historically dominated the physical sciences, both as students and educators.

Within UniSC’s School of Science, Engineering, and Technology, only 20 of the 71 teaching staff are women,

Reflecting a common gender gap in higher education.

A university spokesperson defended the move, stating, “

We see it as our responsibility to increase the number of visible role models for women, and this role was created to promote equal opportunity for women in mechanical engineering.”

The longstanding gender gap in Science and Engineering

Efforts to encourage more women to enter STEM fields have been ongoing for decades.

While progress has been made in fields such as law and the humanities, engineering remains overwhelmingly male-dominated,

Moreover with 84% of professionals in the industry being men.

Some universities have successfully balanced gender representation in various disciplines.

However, the university’s decision to bar male candidates from a crucial teaching role has sparked concerns about whether the push for equality is coming at the expense of meritocracy.

Critics argue that excluding qualified candidates based on gender could ultimately harm students—including women—by limiting access to the best educators.

James Allan, a University of Queensland law professor and advocate for merit-based hiring, criticized the move. “The whole thing is laughable,” he said.

“In the hard sciences, you should be selecting the most qualified candidate for the job, regardless of gender.”

Reputation and Academic Standards at Stake?

Across Australia, top universities, including those in Queensland, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, are advertising numerous academic positions in engineering, none of which are gender-restricted.

Critics argue that if UniSC prioritizes social objectives over hiring the most skilled educators, it risks further diminishing its reputation and appeal.