Female researchers account for 55% of all researchers in Tunisia, said Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Moncef Boukthir.

66% of the researchers working in the Higher Education and Scientific Research Ministry's research centres are women, i.e. a higher rate than that recorded by some technologically advanced countries, he specified at a study day held, on Wednesday in Tunis, on the Prize for Best Female Researcher for the year 2022-2023 about the adaptation to climate change.

The Tunisian Minister further pointed out that female students account for about 70% of higher education graduates and that the number of female PhD students is higher than males, underlining that the number of female students in some fields, such as social sciences and law, far exceeds the number of male students.

The presence of women in education and scientific research has grown, Boukthir added, indicating that women account for 50% of the academic staff. Equal chances are the most important principle on which the higher education and scientific research system in Tunisia is based.

However, the Minister pointed out that the number of unemployed female higher education graduates is higher than that of males.

There is need to adopt public policies based on a comprehensive vision of employment and pre-employment so as to increase the number of female higher education graduates, Boukthir said, indicating that the ministry supports Tunisian female researchers, notably in priority sectors.