Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile: University will deliver degrees with distinction of sex in all its programs and careers
The Honorable Superior Council approved, unanimously, that all denominations of professional titles; bachelor’s and doctoral degrees; and certifications of diploma, have feminine and masculine or generic lexicon.
The announcement that UC professional degrees and degrees will be awarded with male and female distinction ran throughout the university last week.
Students, teachers, civil servants and civil servants celebrated the decision that allows, for example, a woman graduated from the Geography career to be recognized as a geographer in her title, instead of a geographer, and that she can also receive the degree of doctor or doctor in the different disciplines.
This will be extended to all undergraduate and graduate degrees and degrees issued by UC in the future, and also retroactively.
“This result is consistent with the changes that the world has faced in terms of gender equality, and with the steps that UC has taken in this regard. It is an achievement where the entire university agreed, and which was unanimously approved by the Honorable Superior Council ”, commented the director of Gender Equality of UC, Silvana Zanlungo .
“This result is consistent with the changes the world has faced in terms of gender equality, and with the steps that UC has taken in this regard” – Silvana Zanlungo, UC Director of Gender Equity.
Progress in gender equality at UC dates from 2013, with the formation of the first Women and Academy Commission, which continued in 2018 with the second commission and the participation of academics; professionals; and students, who worked collaboratively in subcommittees whose purpose was to diagnose the situation of women within the academic community at UC.
One of the subcommittees worked particularly to promote actions to promote gender equality in the university’s educational project, expressing the need to move towards an inclusive and non-sexist language as a tool to improve learning opportunities and quality teaching.
This initiative was also raised in the agreements reached by the dialogue tables between the university and the Intersectional Feminist Autonomous Movement (MAFI) in 2018. With the creation of the Gender Equity Directorate (DEG-VRA), whose purpose is advance towards a more equitable and egalitarian culture at the UC level, this issue was specified through a proposal that welcomed the growing demand from the student community to advance towards titles and degrees with inclusive language.
“This is a great achievement for the university that was unanimously endorsed by the Honorable Superior Council. I highlight the vision of the Gender Equity Directorate, which collected student applications from two faculties, but had the merit of amplifying them for the entire university, preparing a thorough analysis of the reality of our degrees and degrees “, commented the academic vice-rector from UC, Fernando Purcell, and continued:
“It is a historical proposal, with a strong symbolic charge, which should not be viewed in isolation. It is part of a set of initiatives that aim to advance in a sustained manner in gender equality, which requires practical as well as symbolic changes, ”the authority pointed out.
Students: “It is a significant achievement”
Until this year, 54% of the titles and degrees granted by UC were generic, while 33% included the feminine lexicon in their name. Only 13% had a male lexicon denomination, which will change through the formalization of an institutional document that standardizes the denomination of UC degrees and degrees for future degrees, and also for graduates of previous years who request it through the Directorate of Academic Records.
“For many it may be something symbolic, but it is really important and significant for us,” said the president of FEUC, Ignacia Henríquez: “My diploma will say that I am ‘UC Engineer’, not ‘UC Engineer’. And that makes us all very proud, “he added.
“For many it may be something symbolic, but really for us it is important and significant” – Ignacia Henríquez, president of FEUC.
The change contemplates that the academic degrees of bachelor and master, and postgraduate certifications, are common to both sexes and elaborated in generic language, while the title and degree in feminine or masculine vocabulary will be designated by default according to the sex registered in the Civil Registry, which constitutes a significant advance in terms of gender equity within the UC.