Margarita Arboix to participate in the first summit of Female Rectors of Spanish Universities
22/11/2018
On 26 November, the University Jaume I in Castelló will play host to the first summit of Female Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE), entitled "University Policies in Matters of Gender, A Debate". It will unite the rectors of seven higher education institutions presided by women. The meeting will commence at 10 a.m. and will be streamed live and on Twitter with the hashtag #7Rectoras.
In addition to UAB Rector Margarita Arboix there will be Eva Alcón, Rector of University Jaume I; Pilar Aranda, Rector of the University of Granada; Maria Vicenta Mestre, Rector of the University of Valencia; Nekane Balluerka, Rector of the University of the Basque Country; Maria José Figueras, Rector of the Rovira i Virgili University; and Antonia Peña, Rector of the University of Huelva. The initiative has been organised by the Isonomía Foundation with the objective of reflecting on the challenges Spanish universities encounter when striving to reach equality between women and men. The rectors will analyse success cases and weaknesses of current university policies related to gender equality.
The summit will officially begin at 10 a.m.with speeches by Rector Eva Alcón, by Director General of Universities of the Goverment of Valencia, Josefina Bueno; and Secretary General of CRUE Maria Teresa Lozano. At 10:30 a.m., the first debate will begin with the rectors of the UAB, University of Valencia and the University of Granada. And at 11:45 a.m. the second debate will begin with the rectors of the universities of the Basque Country, Huelva, Jaume I and Rovira i Virgili. The summit will end with an exhibition of the conclusions and the reading of the Declaration of Castelló.
Seven out of Fifty
According to the latest data from the Spanish Ministry for Education, the number of women enrolled in universities in Spani represent 54% of all students. Nevertheless, female presence is less than 40% when it comes to lecturers and only 20% among professors and chair professors. With regard to the governing structure of public universities, the only structure in which each university community group elects its rector through voting, there are currently only seven female rectors among the total of fifty Spanish universities.