President of the CRUCH Gender Equality Commission: “Our challenge is for the gender approach to permeate and remain, as a permanent conviction in our universities.”

In the plenary session of the commission, led by Angélica Marín, progress in mainstreaming the gender perspective was reviewed in three areas: institutionalization, training and eradication of gender violence.

On that occasion, the rector of USM, Juan Yuz, addressed the responsibility of universities in closing existing gaps, especially in STEM fields. “It cannot be that for every 100 men in technology there are still only 39 women. How much talent and how many aspiring professionals perhaps haven't found their place. There is a matter of justice here, and an outstanding debt.”.

“As the CRUCH commission, we are a space for influencing public policy and also a point of reference for international networks. The important thing is that we continue working collaboratively, building more inclusive, safe, and violence-free university communities,” she stated. President of the Gender Equality Commission of the Council of Rectors of the Universities of Chile (CRUCH), Angélica Marín, at the beginning of the plenary session of the commission, which took place on August 29 at the Federico Santa María Technical University (USM).

He Rector of USM, Juan Yuz, The speaker, who welcomed the directors and gender representatives from the CRUCH universities, emphasized that “gender, equality, and equity issues require significant collaborative efforts because we have a diversity of institutions, with different histories and focuses.” She also expressed her confidence that “the work done today will allow us to move forward so that our university, and higher education in general, becomes a driving force in the process of building equality and development for everyone in the country.”.

For its part, the USM Gender Director, Pamela Soto, She praised the event and its institutional impact. “Receiving this plenary session is an endorsement of the process we have promoted from the Rector's Office, which went from a unit to a gender directorate, with the commitment to mainstream this perspective throughout the university,” she stated.

Balance and projections of the commission

During the session, progress in mainstreaming a gender perspective was reviewed in three areas: institutionalization, training, and the eradication of gender-based violence. In this regard, Angélica Marín stated that “our challenge is for the gender approach to permeate and stay, not as a mere compliance or legal mandate, but as a permanent conviction in our universities.”.

Regarding more specific progress, Marín commented that “in training we have made progress, especially at the undergraduate level, but we still have challenges in postgraduate and continuing education. And in gender violence, it is not enough to provide care and make amends: we must prevent and address the root causes, which are stereotypes, biases, and the cultural norms of patriarchy.”.

The meeting concluded with agreements to promote various actions during the second half of 2025, including the publication of documents, the seventh national meeting of teams working with gender violence (in mid-October), and the commemoration of November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women), among other initiatives.

Closing gaps in STEM fields

During the plenary session, Rector Juan Yuz referred to the importance of understanding gender equality as a human right and the responsibility of universities to close existing gaps, especially in STEM fields.

She stated that for the Federico Santa María Technical University, as a STEM university in Chile (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), “we have a responsibility to send a clear message to the country and society.” She emphasized that “it cannot be that for every 100 men in technology there are still only 39 women. How much talent and how many aspiring professionals perhaps haven't found their place. There is a matter of justice here and an outstanding debt. We know, of course, that it is not enough to simply open access or invite women to join: we must also work to support them and highlight their contributions.”.

On the other hand, she pointed out that “gender equality is not always immediately associated with human rights. But when you start talking about it, you understand that it is: it has to do with justice, with equal opportunities, with respect for all people, with social justice, and with democratic coexistence within our communities.”.

Text: CRUCH Communications

Photographs: CRUCH Communications and USM Communications