Women of the 21st Century Generation

Currently at UCundinamarca, 47,391% of students are women, 771% of administrative positions are held by women, and 57,591% of those leading research groups are also women. These statistics reveal the level of trust and credibility the institution places in women's work.

This work in the 21st century is not an easy task because the responsibility of giving life, giving hope, giving love, raising children, building a home, providing financial support, and achieving work and/or academic results still weighs heavily on her; reaffirming herself every day as a mother, daughter, wife, sister, worker, citizen, student…

Looking at the history of women in higher education, the starting point is 1935 with Gerda Westendorp Restrepo, of Colombian mother and German father, the first woman to enter a university to study medicine. However, the first female professional in Colombia was Gabriela Peláez, who earned a law degree.

It has been 88 years of evolution, in which women have gained important spaces for participation, equality and the fight for their rights. This figure of only one woman professionally training in the 1930s contrasts with the data provided by the Ministry of Education, which in its most recent report shows that by 2021, 644,136 women had entered undergraduate and postgraduate programs, a figure that exceeds by 118,336 the number of men admitted to higher education institutions.

The same report highlights that in the last year, 297,225 women graduated from undergraduate and postgraduate programs, versus 227,758 men, a difference of 69,467.

At the University of Cundinamarca, in accordance with the Transmodern Digital Educational Model, MEDIT and the Transhuman Person Declaration, both men and women are people whose main challenge is to conquer themselves, being able to organize their own lives, be happy, generate opportunities, and contribute to the transformation of their territory and the country.

“It is very gratifying to see the evolution of each of us at a work, professional and personal level, because we have gone from performing operational tasks to occupying management positions, with the responsibility of making decisions for the development of the services offered to the university community, always having as a central axis the MEDIT Digital and Transmodern Educational Model in its 4 axes, always acting with principles, values and professional ethics,” said the systems engineer, Paola Suaza, official of the Directorate of Systems and Technology.

“Women within the university are very dedicated, hardworking, and studious about institutional issues, a detail that has opened doors for us to lead processes,” says Dr. Luz Etelvina Soto, Director of Human Talent.

“Clearly, women lead processes every day and make the department's public university a translocal learning space that has been transforming and contributing significantly to the country in order to promote equity and guarantee rights in the academic community,” explains Yehimy Caballero Rodríguez, leader of the Equity and Diversity area.

“Within the university, a strategy has been established to guarantee the effective and full exercise of women’s rights through a protocol for the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence. This protocol aims to ensure environments free from discrimination, violence, and rejection. It establishes a channel that not only allows for the reporting of cases of violence but also promotes actions to strengthen and empower women and increase their visibility in academic, professional, social, and cultural spheres,” Caballero adds.

In turn, Marisela Cruz Becerra, responsible for ensuring the safety of the university community, says, “Many women work side by side in positions that were previously only held by men. In our country, there is still sexism and discrimination. I think that women are mothers, sisters, friends, family, and that gives us a more human perspective on situations. I think that, combined with women's character and drive, is what opens doors for us and puts us on equal footing.”.

More than just a happy Women's Day, thank you to all who are part of the evolution of the University of Cundinamarca.

By: Cristiam Camilo Bautista

Photo: Dagoberto Méndez Sánchez

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