In the past four decades, it is interesting to note that the issue of gender diversity management (GDM) in education has attracted scholarly and policy attention. However, there has been little or no study on the perceptions and policy practices of GDM in Ethiopian public higher education institutions (HEIs). Therefore, the purpose of this article was to explore the perceptions and policy practices of the GDM in the selected five Ethiopian public HEIs. It was also aimed to provide insights that might guide practical and successful interventions as well as ideas for improvements. Employing mixed methods, a total of 395 regular undergraduate students (N=395) were recruited to take part in the quantitative phase of the study, while an additional group of 34 individuals (N=34) was sought to participate in the qualitative part. In total, (N=429) respondents participated in the study. A survey questionnaire comprising fourteen items was developed and subsequently analyzed using SPSS version 25. A narrative inquiry approach was also used for semi-structured interview analysis that allowed participants to present their tales. To substantiate data generated through questionnaires & interviews, further document analysis was also conducted. The results show that inadequate GDM policy is being implemented on top of a lower perception of it, even in an environment where policy is generally positive. Additionally, this survey offered a substantial amount of new insight into perceptions and policy practices regarding GDM. Ethiopian public HEIs need to identify areas for improvement and revise and implement policies that are aligned with the needs and expectations of twenty first century's GDM issues.