Paulina Quintao – Gender studies should be offered by tertiary education providers, according to National University of Timor Lorosa'e (UNTL) Gender Studies Centre deputy co-coordinator Judite Dias Ximenes.

She said while courses at UNTL do offer some information about gender studies, a specific course was needed. Ximenes said many people do not understand gender relations issues.

Their understanding of gender was limited to a simple male/female dichotomy, she said, making it necessary for gender studies to be available at university as well as in professional training courses. "We want people know what gender and development are," she said.

Higher Education general director Abrao dos Santos said the inclusion of a specific gender studies subject in the university curriculum was already being discussed.

He said the push to include gender studies had widespread support but an outcome was still pending. The subject curriculum had been designed but still required input from the discussion team, he said.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/gender/12868-gender-studies-on-university-agenda