Sarah Aiston

Sarah Aiston is a Professor of Public Policy in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Teesside University, and a member of the Centre for Social Innovation. Previously, she held roles including Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, Faculty member at the University of Hong Kong (where she also led the Women’s Studies Research Centre), and researcher at Durham University and the National Foundation for Educational Research.

Her research focuses on gender dynamics in higher education, challenging assumptions such as the 'feminisation thesis' and 'pipeline theory.' Key areas include women's underrepresentation in academic leadership (particularly in Hong Kong), the socio-cultural positioning of Chinese female PhD students, and the gendered research productivity gap. Her work influenced the University of Hong Kong’s role as a UN HeForShe Impact Champion.

She has secured funding from bodies like the Hong Kong Research Grant Council, ESRC, and the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. Current active projects include improving postgraduate research equity for minority ethnic groups (pro:NE project) and studying women's roles in Singaporean higher education.

Her interdisciplinary approach spans education research, sociology, and policy analysis, with a commitment to advancing gender equity in academic structures globally.