CE3: A University Incubator to Promote Gender Equality Entrepreneurship at the Bolivarian University of Ecuador

Abstract

The CE3 Entrepreneurship Centre at the Bolivarian University of Ecuador implemented a comprehensive gender equality policy for the period 2024�25 that radically transformed the participation of students and the wider community. The results demonstrate an evolution from extreme male dominance to near-equal participation overall (51% women versus 49% men). A mixed methodology was used to identify key barriers, including evaluative biases (78%), inadequate infrastructure and psychosocial self-disqualification (affecting 36% of rural women). Interventions included flexible schedules, lactation rooms and specialised mentoring, achieving a statistically significant shift towards female predominance in incubation programmes. While gaps in technical sectors persist, the model offers a replicable framework that is aligned with SDGs 4, 5 and 10.