Editorial: Women and leadership in higher education learning and teaching

In this Special Issue Harvey and Jones state "It is time for women academics to accept the challenge - to rightfully claim their leadership". We recognise the many women who have challenged the system, and those whose efforts have been thwarted. We encourage women and men to work together to break down the barriers of gender, race, culture, and religion, so that our current and next generation of female academics can rightfully claim their leadership. This Special Issue is an important step to bringing to light these challenges for women and the changes required to grow and support women in leadership in higher education teaching and learning. Practitioner Notes 1. Despite decades of effort, there remain significant barriers to women achieving leadership in higher education teaching and learning. 2. Systematic changes are required to address these barriers, including women and men working together towards a common goal of genuine, substantive gender equality. 3. The changes required to grow and support women in leadership in higher education teaching and learning are identified and illuminated across the articles included in this Special Issue.