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The meeting, held at the Federico Santa María Technical University as part of the Council's 70th anniversary celebrations, addressed the main challenges in gender equality, from education to the world of work.
Text and photographs courtesy of the Federico Santa María Technical University.
With the aim of contributing to the articulation of different sectors and promoting inclusive and successful trajectories for women in areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the seminar "+Women in STEM: keys to promoting equity in educational and work trajectories" was held, an initiative organized within the framework of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH).
The meeting, held yesterday, Thursday, October 24, at the Valparaíso Main Campus of the Federico Santa María Technical University, brought together academic authorities, government representatives, and experts in the field. The objective was to analyze the challenges and strategies for promoting gender equality in STEM fields, from school education to employment.
During the opening ceremony, Juan Yuz, rector of USM, highlighted the importance of the seminar and noted that "science, technology, engineering, and mathematics represent a great opportunity for the country's development and are at the heart of our heritage. However, today the question is how do we encourage more women to pursue careers in these fields without feeling discriminated against or excluded from their options?".
Yuz also emphasized the need to assume a leadership role to promote female participation. «Currently, 251% of our students are women; in the 2024 admissions cycle, we achieved 281% at the institutional level and 351% at our main campus in Valparaíso. However, only 191% of our faculty are women. We must move forward with this long-overdue act of justice for our female professors and students,« the official stressed.
Ministerial work
For her part, Carolina Gaínza, Undersecretary of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, shared the work the ministry is doing on gender equality. "We have been working on updating the National Gender Equality Policy, focusing on overcoming structural inequalities so that more women are motivated to enter STEM careers, an effort in which I know many universities are actively participating.".
Gaínza also highlighted that the action plan includes 85 measures, more than double the number in the previous version, and that the ministry is leading 25 of them. "These actions range from early childhood, where it is crucial to awaken girls' curiosity, to academic and research careers, where we must guarantee their continued participation for full professional development," the undersecretary explained.
Emilio Rodríguez, vice president of CRUCH, was also present and spoke about the importance of gender equity in higher education, commenting that "there can be no quality in higher education without equity. The lack of gender equity is a major deficiency in our society and, especially, in higher education. Overcoming this deficiency involves promoting diverse opportunities and advancing in educational processes.".
Opportunities and gender equality in STEM
During the seminar, Alejandra Mizala, Vice-Rector of the University of Chile, presented her research on gender stereotypes in mathematics and their influence on career choices and the job market, emphasizing that "it is extremely important to talk about these issues, since gender biases are unconscious in both men and women. Making these issues visible is essential for us to become aware that they are challenges we must address as a society.".
Mizala emphasized the importance of “offering equal opportunities to boys and girls at home and in school. To achieve this, teacher training is crucial, as is creating spaces at the university that promote female participation in STEM careers, guaranteeing their success in these fields.».
Nancy Pérez, executive director of the Institute of Clean Technologies (ITL) and director of ENAMI, shared how important these opportunities are to her. «I am an engineer from the Federico Santa María Technical University, and my training here was fundamental to my feeling confident. However, this confidence is not present everywhere. Women have no limitations when it comes to studying these fields, and yet, that idea is not fully established in society,« she explained.
Pérez emphasized the importance of promoting these changes from within universities, noting that "these dialogues and the importance of fostering them with the support of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities are extremely relevant. It is in these institutions that the professionals who will lead companies and institutions in the future are trained, and we need them to be committed to these changes as well.".
The seminar concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Fernanda Kri, Rector of the University of O'Higgins and head of the CRUCH Gender Equality Commission, which addressed key factors in promoting equity in the educational and professional trajectories of women in STEM. Prominent figures participating included Loreto Bravo, Director of the Ingeniosas Foundation; Lucas Palacios, Rector of INACAP; Carolina Bonacic, Professor at the University of Santiago, Chile; Bárbara Blümel, Deputy Manager of Talent Attraction and Diversity at SQM; and Alejandra Mizala, Vice-Rector of the University of Chile.
This meeting highlighted the importance of addressing challenges with a systemic and transdisciplinary approach, recognizing the fundamental role of universities as formative institutions that bridge the gap between the school system and the workforce. The joint commitment of authorities, academics, and professionals seeks to drive significant changes that promote gender equality in key areas for the country's development.
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