On November 2^nd, the team went through the following two lectures and one more activity:

• The UPCT Equality Unit, by María José Lucas Bermúdez, Director of the Unidad de Igualdad, or the Equality Unit
• Entrepreneurship Training Unit, by Antonia Madrid-Guijarro, the Coordinator for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of EUT+ at UPCT
• Work on the detailed report of Work Package 1, T 1.2

Unidad de Igualdad (Equality Unit) at UPCT

The UPCT’s Equality Unit, under the guidance of Ms. María José Lucas Bermúdez, is steadfast in ensuring effective equality between men and women within the university community. Established to achieve a more democratic, balanced, egalitarian, and tolerant environment, the Equality Unit focuses on formulating and implementing action plans for equal opportunities.

Structural Framework:

The organisational structure of the Equality Unit is robust and inclusive, featuring key figures such as the Rector, Manager, Unit Manager, Human Resource Staff, Teaching and Research Staff, Staff Administration and Services, and representatives from all university unions. This inclusive structure ensures a comprehensive approach to addressing various facets of equality.

Functions of the Equality Unit:

The Equality Unit undertakes multifaceted functions to achieve its objectives:

• Equality Plan Development and Implementation:
  • Develops a comprehensive equality plan every four years.
  • Monitors the plan’s implementation closely to ensure effectiveness.
• Promotion of Equality Through Activities:
  • Organises conferences, contests, games, and concerts to promote equality.
  • Collaborates with groups, associations, city councils, and regional entities for collective progress.
• Training and Information Dissemination:
  • Conducts training courses for staff and students.
  • Utilises various mediums, including social media, for awareness campaigns and information dissemination.
• Conflict Resolution:
  • Prioritises prevention, detection, mediation, impartiality, and confidentiality.
  • Collaborates with the police, arranges counselling sessions, and provides assistance to those in need.

Significant Initiatives and Celebrations:

The Equality Unit actively commemorates important days dedicated to various aspects of equality, such as the Day against gender violence, Women’s Day, Day of Women Engineers, Rural Women’s Day, and LGTBQI Pride Day. These celebrations showcase the unit’s commitment to raising awareness of diverse equality-related issues.

Community Impact through Entrepreneurship:

UPCT’s commitment to entrepreneurship goes beyond education and training. Initiatives like the CORE Hackathon, focusing on co-creation within multidisciplinary teams, address real-world problems with positive social impacts. The involvement of students in projects like FAMDIF, providing solutions for individuals with disabilities, showcases the potential of entrepreneurship to drive meaningful change.