On International Women’s Day, Hotcourses Abroad celebrates women from around the world who are working hard to improve quality of life for themselves and their families.

According to the latest UNESCO’s atlas of educational gender equity – a report card on United Nations targets to achieve educational parity by 2015 – women are accessing higher education more than ever in the past years. What’s more, female tertiary students now outnumber their male counterparts in two-thirds of countries.

The report found significant gender differences in fields of study, with women predominating in life sciences and education and men in engineering, manufacturing, construction and computing.

This report brings good news not only to women from around the world, but also to those that have been campaigning for better access to education for girls. Education is important for everyone, but it is especially significant for girls and women. It has been shown that educational achievements of women can have striking effects within the family and across generations. It also provides women with confidence and increases the possibility to access better opportunities.

With a new generation of young women more willing to leave their families and home countries to further their studies abroad and many female professionals travelling around the globe sharing their skills and knowledge, it is more evident that future generations will not only enjoy the benefits of educated female role models but also access to wider possibilities in a more globalised world.

Despite the fact that women’s access to higher education in-country and abroad has increased, the report highlights a constant disparity in terms of access to high work positions and a gender gap in wages. For example, in the academic world, while women tend to out-participate men at the bachelor and even the master’s level, men still dominate doctorates and particularly research positions – with more than seven out of ten held by men.

Overall, the report highlights the increase of access for women to higher education and opportunities to study abroad as a shift from male to female dominance of this scene and a long-term effect on society’s expectation of the role of women.

Related content:

Have a look at beautiful selection of images from women from around the world here!

Read about my experiences as a young international student in London by following the link.

Check this infographic about successful women in business and a good compilation of data about access to education around the world.