Tec professors join global project for mentoring women

Five Tec de Monterrey professors have been selected to participate in a mentoring program from the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) to support the empowerment of aspiring women leaders.

These female professors from the School of Engineering and Sciences (EIC) and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (EMCS) joined the Asia-Pacific Women in Leadership (APWiL) Mentoring Program.

The 5 representatives have had the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with mentors and people who receive mentoring via Zoom, who work in over 60 universities belonging to the APRU.

“At the Tec, we’re very proud to participate in what’s considered the first formal version of the program,” emphasized Adriana Rojas, Head of Institutional Networks and Partnerships at the Center for the Recognition of Human Dignity.

As a common objective, the program seeks to provide international and intercultural opportunities for women’s professional growth and development.

More than an effort to combat gender inequality

Those participating in this initiative from the School of Engineering and Sciences include:

• Dr. María Ileana Ruiz
• Dr. Luz María Martínez

Those from the School of Medicine and Health Sciences include:

• Dr. Gabriela María Ruiz 
• Dr. Nancy de los Ángeles Segura
• Professor Silvia Lorena Montes

In the academic and professional world, the opportunity gap is one of the most visible challenges that continues to block the progress and participation of women at work, explained Dr. María Ileana Ruiz.

“As a woman, you cannot question whether or not you’re capable of doing something, you have to do it and, usually, you have to accomplish it without showing any weakness,” reflected Ruiz.

According to the APRU, women from universities in the Pacific Rim have made relatively little progress in gaining access to leadership positions during the last 5 years, despite the presence of institutional initiatives.

“In terms of female participation in different professional fields, we’re succeeding, but it’s in leadership domains where we’re still seeing a panorama dominated by men,” explained Professor Silvia Montes.

The APWiL thus aims to promote change by taking into account the various contexts in which this search for gender equity in universities takes place.

“We start by looking at what makes us different, but then we realize what unites us. In the end, we understand that we’re part of the same community,” said Rojas.

Meet the Tec women who took on the challenge 

The 5 educators from the areas of Engineering and Medicine were invited to apply to take part in this ongoing initiative, which began in October 2021 and is expected to conclude in September 2022.

These professors joined the experience as part of the 94 participants from 26 institutions involved, a significant jump from the pilot program in 2020, which registered 30 participants from 10 institutions.

“Being selected is an honor. They’re not just valuing your career, but also the fact that you can convey knowledge, strategies, resources, and support to other professors and researchers,” said Dr. Gabriela Ruíz.

After being designated as mentors, these Tec women were paired with different professionals at universities around the world, from the United States to Australia.

“For me, taking part in this program as a mentor is both a challenge and a satisfaction. I have the honor of having two mentors and I’m learning a lot from them,” shares Dr. Nancy de los Ángeles.

Human relationships that go a long way

Although the teachers have stressed the honor of being part of this APRU initiative, most agree that the real gift of this experience was the personal and professional relationships they formed.

“My experience was with a professional in the area of psychology who amazed me. Because of her training, I thought that she should teach me, but we both learned together,” said Dr. María Ileana Ruiz.

Rojas emphasizes that this mentoring initiative means that women can demonstrate how there are different avenues to collaborate on gender equality around the world, which are based on common concerns. 

“I had the opportunity to meet a teacher from Korea who began a YouTube channel during the pandemic to teach her children to read in a fun way,” said Professor Silvia Montes.

“She wasn’t just an excellent academic, but she cared about supporting other working moms. It’s these kinds of experiences that made me realize that I wasn’t alone,” she reflected.

Being able to collaborate with colleagues and students from different parts of the world, working towards equality and professional growth, is a vision shared by the Tec mentors for the future of this initiative.

“If you find the opportunity to take part in this type of program, I think it’s always good to give something back to the community that we’ve benefited from,” urges Dr. Gabriela.

“I think these types of activities, which allow us to approach other women and form closer relationships with them, are the answer to today’s environment. We can change what we’re experiencing. That’s my way of fighting,” concluded María Ileana.

“If you find the opportunity to take part in this type of program, I think it’s always good to give something back to the community that we’ve benefited from.”

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