“More women leaders for a better world”. A research project starts in Dubai to enhance female talent

On Sunday 6th, March 2022, at 6. p.m Dubai Time (3 p.m. CET), the Italian Pavilion at the Universal Expo in Dubai will host the presentation of the international research project “More Women Leaders for a Better World”. The project is a joint initiative realized by Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation and SACRU, an international network of Catholic Universities coordinated by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan.

The event precedes World Women's Day by two days and will be attended in Dubai by the Rector of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Professor Franco Anelli. The President of the CAPP Foundation, Anna Maria Tarantola, will be present remotely, as well as several academics involved in the research: Isabel Capeloa Gil Rector, Universidade Catòlica Portuguesa, Antonella Sciarrone Alibrandi, Vice Rector, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Lisa Sowle Cahill, Professor of Ethics, Boston College, and Silvia Rigato, Managing Director, Accenture.

As the full title indicates - “More Women leadership for a better world: care as a driver for our Common Home” - the research project aims to identify a new model of solidarity, inclusion, and sustainable development, which focuses precisely on the increased presence of women in decision-making roles. It is also about women who show a remarkable ability to carefully provide for the needs of people and the planet and care for the common good with a long-term vision. These characteristics are essential in the current health, environmental and social crisis context. The research will be conducted in ten countries - where the SACRU and Centesimus members are based - and the final results will be presented after the summer at the Holy See.

The researchers intend to identify the obstacles that still prevent or hinder women's access to top roles in businesses and society with a multidisciplinary approach. Some issues are the low number of women in STEM disciplines and the legacy of the patriarchal culture of the past. Finally, researchers propose some recommendations on improving the situation with wide-ranging benefits for all. The decision to announce the launch of this research in Dubai, in an area of the world where women are taking the first steps towards full recognition of their social and economic role, is a symbolic choice full of meaning.

The research project “More Women leadership for a better world” is the first in a series of collaborations between the Centesimus Annus Foundation and the newly formed network of Catholic Universities worldwide (SACRU - Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities). In addition to the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy), the Alliance includes: the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Portugal), the Australian Catholic University (Australia), Boston College (USA), the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile), the Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Japan's Sophia University and the Universitat Ramon Llull (Spain). In 2020, SACRU Universities signed a memorandum of understanding with the Foundation to undertake joint research on the concrete implementation of a new, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development inspired by integral ecology. This first joint research project particularly aims to demonstrate the positive effects of making better use of women's skills and talents in tackling the world's major post-pandemic crises. Women’s skills are also involved in the process towards integral sustainability, which Pope Francis speaks of in his encyclicals Laudato sì and Fratelli tutti. Companies deciding to adopt ESG criteria and drawing up the Report on Non-Financial Assets are dealing with this topic too.

The event can be followed live via streaming at the following media channels:

https://www.youtube.com/c/ItalyExpo2020
https://www.facebook.com/unicatt
https://www.youtube.com/user/younicatt
https://www.linkedin.com/school/unicatt/