The massive incorporation of women into education systems, especially at the highest levels, suggests that they will soon have access to highly qualified jobs. This assessment takes on a new meaning if, with the new model known as the "knowledge economy" which encourages us to think that those who are better prepared, more informed and, in short, those who have a better command of knowledge, will be the active protagonists of economic progress.
Those who have access to knowledge and information are in a privileged position to occupy positions of great responsibility and have the opportunity to participate in making the most important decisions in their community. In this sense, women must have full access to knowledge and education. Not all societies provide the ideal conditions for this to happen. Their increasing presence in university classrooms does not translate into an equal occupation of relevant positions and, therefore, greater levels of power. Always bearing in mind that power is exercised not only in the political, economic and employment spheres, but also within the family and the society in which they live.
For this reason, it is necessary to recognise the right of women and men to live in a society where equal treatment of the individual prevails, irrespective of gender. The right to education and to the acquisition of the knowledge that any human being needs in order to develop his or her potential aptitudes must be imposed on traditions and customs that hinder this. In some societies more and in others less, the desired educational equity has not been achieved. Two cultures and societies as different as the Moroccan and the Spanish have the same common front, equality between men and women. We believe that dialogue between cultures can help us to overcome our problems and achieve fairer societies.
In this sense, the university occupies an irreplaceable place, since it is not only a means of transmitting the specific knowledge required for the exercise of a given profession, but is also the most appropriate forum for the reception of new ideas, new concerns and aspirations of each society.
In the university context in which we operate, we can consider that we must value and increase the importance of the role that women play today in Morocco and Spain. This does not mean that we should stop demanding the role that we believe they can play in the future, which will have to cover a much broader spectrum, perhaps entering fully into positions of responsibility and management of large human and material resources.
With the firm intention of continuing our efforts to promote greater equality between men and women in different cultures, as well as to analyse the many and varied educational problems that affect the education of women in the university environment, we decided to organise an international congress where those interested in the subject can present their reflections and points of view. We are convinced that this meeting will serve as a useful point of reference for all of us who are in some way interested in learning about other educational perspectives from the university environment.
Comparative education is following a determined course which will undoubtedly lead it to occupy the important place it deserves in the framework of the educational sciences. Comparative studies can and should play an important role in the analyses and discussions prior to making decisions of a political-educational nature. The enormous concern raised in Moroccan and Spanish social spheres about education and the rights of men and women is more than enough reason for us, from our field of action, to delve deeper into a subject such as this, of such transcendental importance for our society.
OBJECTIVES:
- To raise awareness among university teaching staff and other members of the educational community of the importance of the presence of women in the different governing bodies of the University.
- Promote the empowerment of Spanish and Moroccan women university professors.
- Promote women's participation in university life by raising awareness and supporting organisations working in this field.
- To highlight the social and educational repercussions that may occur in the case of lack of representation and access to rights and remedies.
- To contribute to the promotion and development of a fairer university community, where men and women have equal rights and duties both in theory and in practice, both in Morocco and in Spain.
More information about this meeting on the website http://congresomujer2016.jimdo.com/
Portuguese