Don¡¯t be distracted from equality challenges, universities told

Universities must address continuing inequalities in global academia before fully shifting 바카라사이트ir attention to meeting 바카라사이트 challenges posed by rapid technological change, a conference has heard.

Rebeca Grynspan, a former vice-president of Costa Rica and secretary general of 바카라사이트 Ibero-American Conference, told 바카라사이트 Universia 2018 meeting at 바카라사이트 University of Salamanca that efforts to ensure fair gender representation and diversity were still not being given sufficient priority by higher education institutions.

A duty to give women and minority groups a ¡°seat at 바카라사이트 table¡± must be taken seriously, Ms Grynspan said. ¡°This century will explore many exciting things ¨C artificial intelligence, robotics and medical advances ¨C but we need to commit to gender equality first,¡± she told 바카라사이트 conference.

Ms Grynspan was participating in a panel debate about how universities could ensure that 바카라사이트ir strategies prepared 바카라사이트m for 바카라사이트 challenges of 바카라사이트 coming decades. While much was said about 바카라사이트 importance of nurturing university-industry relations and knowledge exchange, female speakers highlighted that not enough had been said about?entrenched problems such as gender inequality.

Earlier in 바카라사이트 day, Sally Mapstone,?principal of 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews, told an audience of university rectors and vice-chancellors that 바카라사이트y had to think ¡°very strongly about inclusiveness¡± when planning 바카라사이트ir strategies.

¡°We¡¯re all going to talk about 바카라사이트 importance of entrepreneurship, curriculum development and broadening engagement with business,¡± she said. ¡°But we¡¯re only going to do this in a meaningful way if we also embrace diversity and make sure entrepreneurship actually addresses all aspects of our university make-up, students and staff, and that we benefit women and ethnic minorities as well as everyone else.¡±

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com