The Gender Pay Gap in Asia: Examining Awareness and Policy Endorsement Among Postgraduate Students in the Higher Education Sector

Alfred Akakpo

doi:10.1111/hequ.70166

The Gender Pay Gap in Asia: Examining Awareness and Policy Endorsement Among Postgraduate Students in the Higher Education Sector

Alfred Akakpo

School of Accounting, Analytics and Finance

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The persistent gender pay gap (GPG) remains a critical issue within higher education institutions (HEIs), yet little is known about the mechanisms driving student support for systemic policy change. Drawing on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), this study examines how Asian postgraduate students' awareness of the GPG shapes their views on benefits, barriers, causes and institutional policy solutions. Data for this study were collected from 212 postgraduate students across various disciplines.
The findings confirm that higher GPG awareness is positively associated with stronger support for policy interventions. This awareness is also linked to greater recognition of the GPG's structural and institutional causes and a stronger belief in the benefits of its closure. Crucially, students who attribute the GPG to structural causes demonstrate stronger support for government policy interventions. Furthermore, the perceived causes of the GPG significantly mediate the relationship between awareness and policy support.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-35
Number of pages	35
Journal	Higher Education Quarterly
Volume	80
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.70166
Publication status	Published - 21 Aug 2026

Data Access Statement

All data underpinning this publication are openly available from the University of Northampton Research Explorer at https://doi.org/10.24339/2342b40b-d0c3-4927-bc0c-3c4ac0540db4.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5 Gender Equality
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Keywords

Gender Pay Gap
Higher education
Social Cognitive Theory
Policy support
Postgraduate students

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10.1111/hequ.70166Licence: CC BY

Akakpo_2026_The_Gender_Pay_Gap_in_Asia_Examining_Awareness_and_Policy_Endorsement_Among_Postgraduate_Students_in_the_Higher_Education_SectorFinal published version, 670 KBLicence: CC BY

The Gender Pay Gap in Asia: Examining Awareness and Policy Endorsement Among Postgraduate Students in the Higher Education Sector
Akakpo, A. (Creator), University of Northampton, 31 Dec 2025
DOI: 10.24339/2342b40b-d0c3-4927-bc0c-3c4ac0540db4
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The Gender Pay Gap in Asia: Examining Awareness and Policy Endorsement Among Postgraduate Students in the Higher Education Sector

Abstract

Data Access Statement

UN SDGs

Keywords

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The Gender Pay Gap in Asia: Examining Awareness and Policy Endorsement Among Postgraduate Students in the Higher Education Sector

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