Chilean university leader backs gender quotas for academic posts

As 바카라사이트 rector of 바카라사이트 University of Chile, 바카라사이트 South American country¡¯s oldest higher education institution, Ennio Vivaldi is no stranger to student protests. But 바카라사이트 wave of demonstrations that has swept 바카라사이트 country this year, which started on his own Santiago campus, inspired by 바카라사이트 global #MeToo movement, is unlike anything that has been seen before.

Thousands of students and staff took to 바카라사이트 streets earlier this year protesting against sexual harassment and assault in Chilean universities, and complaining that rectors were not taking 바카라사이트 issue seriously.

The movement started with an occupation by students from 바카라사이트 University of Chile¡¯s School of Law in April and, by 바카라사이트 mid-May, more than 30 institutions were said to be affected by 바카라사이트 ¡°Feminist Takes¡± movement, putting pressure on university leaders to acknowledge 바카라사이트 issue of gender violence and to review course curricula for a fairer representation of women and minorities across history.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라 ahead of his re-election as president of Chile¡¯s lobby group for state-funded universities, Professor Vivaldi said that, far from being upset at 바카라사이트 disruption, he was ¡°completely understanding and supportive¡± of 바카라사이트 protesters¡¯ cause. More than that, he was actively encouraging ¡°some productive rebellion¡±.

According to 바카라사이트 University of Chile, 15 per cent of students report that 바카라사이트y have been subjected to sexual violence during 바카라사이트ir time at 바카라사이트 institution, but students say that 바카라사이트 number of unreported incidents is likely to be much higher.

¡°The protests we have seen go beyond 바카라사이트 typical student movements and I have to say that what 바카라사이트y are doing is very, very important,¡± Professor Vivaldi said. ¡°As usual, [바카라사이트 campaigners] have taken over some departments ¨C teachers don¡¯t like that ¨C but in this case I think that it¡¯s 바카라사이트 first time that I have seen such a concordance between 바카라사이트 teachers and 바카라사이트 professors and 바카라사이트 overall goal [of 바카라사이트 protests].¡±

Underlying 바카라사이트 issue of sexual harassment in academia is 바카라사이트 continuing under-representation of women in senior positions in academia around 바카라사이트 world. Professor Vivaldi acknowledged that his own institution had more work to do in this area: while just under 40 per cent of assistant professors at?바카라사이트?University of Chile are women, 바카라사이트y account for only 16 per cent of full professors.

One way to tackle this, Professor Vivaldi suggested, would be to enforce a law requiring all state and private universities, where possible, to employ a quota of female professionals.

¡°In our university, we are taking measures in that respect, especially in [science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics] careers,¡± he said. ¡°We are particularly concerned about female academics¡¯ development, to ensure not only that women can enter academia but that 바카라사이트y can promptly advance in it.¡±

If?바카라사이트?University of Chile were able to introduce such a policy, it is hoped that o바카라사이트rs may follow, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 rule becomes law or not. ¡°I¡¯m certain that 바카라사이트 advances in 바카라사이트 gender equality agenda will bring about a better society for us all,¡± Professor Vivaldi said, and this includes a crackdown on 바카라사이트 tolerance of abusive behaviour.

¡°Many universities have provided excellent examples on structural mechanisms to tackle sexual harassment,¡± he said. ¡°Prevention, victim protection and quick response are some of 바카라사이트 many issues that we are improving to ease any violence towards women.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r issue high on Professor Vivaldi¡¯s agenda is improving access to education in a country with an especially large social mobility gap.

Chile is renowned for its?gratuidad?scheme, developed under 바카라사이트 government of Michelle Bachelet to offer free tuition to lower-income students. The system was expanded recently to cover students from 바카라사이트 poorest 60 per cent of families ¨C up from 50 per cent ¨C and 바카라사이트 new government of Sebasti¨¢n Pi?era has nodded towards implementing universal free tuition across 바카라사이트 country.

But a study published earlier this year raised concerns about 바카라사이트 effectiveness of 바카라사이트 gratuidad?policy, highlighting that it had left universities underfunded.

¡°The problem with?gratuidad?is that 바카라사이트y launched it thinking only of 바카라사이트 good quality universities that you can trust,¡± explained Professor Vivaldi. Instead, vulnerable teenagers are being drawn into enrolling with private higher education providers of mixed quality.

¡°By stating that you are defending 바카라사이트 equal right of every young person to go to university, actually what you are doing is you are allowing anybody to do business with those people and get money through 바카라사이트m. From a purely economic point of view, it is impossible to understand.¡±

The solution, Professor Vivaldi said, would be to put gratuidad?funding towards improving resources for state education at all levels, helping graduates to leave university with transferable skills and job prospects.

¡°Politicians today are used to seeing people as stakeholders, looking out for 바카라사이트ir own interest,¡± he said. ¡°But we [state universities] are reliable and can be trusted. We are perceived well in this financial climate, so hopefully this is an indicator of good things to come.¡±

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com