The CRUCH Gender Equality Commission reviewed its priorities and next steps to strengthen its link with the Plenary.

The rector of UMCE, Solange Tenorio, participated as the new head of this body and expressed her willingness to present her concerns and goals to the Council.

During the meeting, the four work areas, the modifications to the regulations and the participation in the Congress of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation with a Gender Perspective, scheduled for January 2027, were addressed.

The Gender Equality Commission of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) reviewed its progress and priorities for the coming months, as well as its articulation with the Plenary of the Council, during a plenary session that included the participation of its new head, the rector of the Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences (UMCE), Solange Tenorio.

The meeting was held on October 9 in a hybrid format, at the Central House of the University of Chile, where the directors welcomed the rector and valued her new role, which “will allow strengthening the articulation between the technical work of the commission and the rectories,” as expressed by the president of the commission, Elizabeth Álvarez.

“This can help to give greater visibility to existing gaps, keep gender issues on the CRUCH agenda, and advance in monitoring the commitments made by the rectors of our universities in 2018 regarding gender equality,” Álvarez added.

For her part, Rector Tenorio thanked the directors and expressed her willingness to support this work, as well as her commitment to present the commission's concerns and goals to the Council. She also highlighted the progress made in the universities and the need to sustain these efforts over time. "We know this is work that must be done day by day, that it is a process," she stated.

During the meeting, the commission agreed to developTo prepare a document to support Rector Tenorio's presentation at an upcoming CRUCH plenary session. The text will outline the most significant progress made by the commission, the gaps that persist in universities, and the issues that can be addressed through new institutional commitments.

“The document will provide background information for discussions with the Plenary and will allow us to review the Commission’s upcoming goals,” stated Álvarez, coordinator of the Equity and Inclusion Unit at the University of Antofagasta. She also expressed her hope that “the Commission’s agreements, diagnoses, and proposals will have a more direct impact on the Council of Rectors and will gradually translate into concrete institutional commitments.”.

Other topics and agreements from the meeting

The commission also reviewed the work of the pillars of Institutionalization, Training, Eradication of Gender Violence and Social Co-responsibility for Care, and defined the priorities of each for the coming months.

Among the agreements, the participation of the commission in the III Congress of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation with a Gender Perspective, which will take place on January 13 and 14, 2027 in Santiago. The Institutionalization axis was put in charge of coordinating this participation, which will seek to link research and university management.

Furthermore, the commission will continue its review of the new regulations and will incorporate the observations on the election mechanism and the need to ensure balanced representation among universities of different types.

“Overall, the plenary session allowed us to prioritize and develop a work agenda with greater coordination and follow-up,” Álvarez said.

Text: CRUCH Communications

Photographs: UChile Communications