Page 9 - Elite-Issue14

Page 8 ISSUE14, December 2019 ELITE

• Yassmine: From the point of view of Dr. Amal, what are the obstacles
• Yassmine: To what extent is the professional mast er ’s program
that could hinder the unit from doing its job, apart from lack of resources?
successful?
• Dr. Amal: Lack of interest, in the end you cannot imp ose the research
• Dr. Amal: The program has been very successful so far, and this is
agenda on anyone, and we assume that women's issues are an important
reflected in the reactions of the students as well as their return after
issue at the research level, and not only political re search. In addition to the
studying to repeat the experience. The program is i n its fourth cycle,
existence of a culture of resistance to what is new, e specially since the unit
and up to this moment, the professors observe the q uality standards
is new in the faculty, if the community rejects the ide a, this will be a major
and are very serious. In addition, we don ’t suffice with evaluating the
obstacle. However, there is considerable support from pr ofessors interested
students or program beneficiaries, we evaluate ours elves all the time.
in the field, and the unit uses their work as a foundatio n and adds to it.
This is evident in the fact that Dr. Jasmin Fouad, the first program
• Ms. Carolin: How can other majors be attracted, profes sors and students,
manager, held weekly self-evaluation meetings, whic h are still being
to the unit ’s activities?
implemented.
• Dr. Amal: Communication is the most important thing. T he unit can act as
Our short-term goal is, first, to prepare a set of short training courses
a liaison between those interested in gender issues, as well as the master's
on gender issues, because we have discovered someth ing about
program, which is an interdisciplinary program that incl udes all
Egyptian society when it comes to gender issues, wh ich is the need
departments whether statistics, economics or political s cience, the nature of
for academic and practical knowledge, but not all p eople have the
the program helps in bridging the gap between different majors and linking
ability to commit to a two-year degree program. We are currently
their ideas. Also, there are professors who teach in th e unit's program from
preparing this set of courses that will be open to different classes,
the Faculty of Arts. There is awareness that other expertis e even from
will not include a degree and will be short in dura tion. outside the faculty can benefit the unit. But the problem is always that
people don't know that there are subjects taught by p rofessors from
In the long run, we have an ambition to have a prof essional doctorate
different disciplines.
like the professional master ’s, and the list allows it, but more

complex planning is needed. Additionally, there is a demand from
• Ms. Carolin: Is it possible to expand the scope of th e Women's Studies
students who have obtained a professional masters t o have a
Unit more widely than the faculty?
doctorate, but this plan is considered in the mediu m term due to the
• Dr. Amal: There is a strong interest in gender issue s at Cairo University,
small number of these students.
especially the Faculty of Arts, English Department, but fr om a different

policy perspective. There is a general tendency in the Faculty of Arts to
• Yassmine: What resources will help the unit to pe rform its tasks?
include the feminist element in all scientific subjects, but with a different
• Dr. Amal: Communicating with institutions, indivi duals and perspective from our faculty. At the university leve l, this will eventually
happen.
organizations, in addition to resources, there is c onsiderable support

directed by the faculty. Also, the students of the faculty have an
• Yassmine: Is there a plan to include more gender- oriented courses for
interest in this area, but it needs further develop ment and awareness;
students?
interest in this area is part of a general change i n the world, and we
• Dr. Amal: It is an issue we are trying to work on, but there is an obstacle,
are part of the world, so it is very important to e nhance our reach to
which is that the introduction of new materials requires changing the list,
students.
and this takes time. Additionally, a course on gender issues may be

perceived as difficult or demanding by students. But of course, an elective
• Ms. Carolin: How can you enhance the reach to stu dents or those course on gender issues is already an idea, and it wi ll be available for all
interested to the Women ’s Unit when they aren ’t aware that it exists? sections. But the easiest and quickest idea is to incor porate gender elements
into existing curricula, as what Professor Ola Abouzei d has done in the
• Dr. Amal: The idea of seminars comes first, but i f the seminars or
political theory course, in which she teaches a porti on about feminist
panel discussions are regular or frequent, the staf f will be more
theory. As part of a future project, it may be possible to provide the faculty
knowledgeable about the information and therefore c an be
with experts to inform them about gender mainstreaming wit hin the
communicated to students. The faculty agenda is sen t to students
curricula.
periodically, and even to the students that women's unit is not to

receive complaints. However, all students should kn ow that the unit
• Ms. Carolin: Thank you very much for your time, it was our pleasure
is open to all those interested in gender issues, s uch as those who
meeting you, and we hope to get this chance once aga in.
want to do a graduation project, a master's degree, or anyone who
needs consultation in this field, without an offici al academic link.
Our editors

from left :
Fareeda
Khalifa,
Carolin Sherief
, Rehab Khaled
and Yassmine
7 0
G. Hussein
Page 8 ISSUE 14, December 2019 ELITE