CEG-INTEC ensures gender mainstreaming is necessary to close the gaps in higher technical training
SANTO DOMINGO - Implement actions in favor of promoting gender equality at the national level in professional technical spaces should be considered a urgent task, so that the Woman have a increased participation in important roles in society, requires the diagnosis of Gender Mainstreaming Plan for Infotep's Professional Technical Training for the period 2021-2024, which performs the Center for Gender Studies Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (CEG-INTEC).
Dalul Ordehi, Dean of the Area of Social Sciences and Humanities of INTEC, defined the concept of gender mainstreaming as a complex process, but necessary to manage inequalities in the economic participation of women in the country.
“The plan involves reviewing and adjusting the training offer with a gender perspective; the formulation of policies that allow and make possible its promotion; the development of communication strategies to educate about gender stereotypes that limit the growth and permanence of women in professional jobs, as well as the key to the sustainability of the entire project¨, she indicated in her speech during the presentation of the Plan to the directors of the Professional Technical Training Institute (Infotep).
She added that gender mainstreaming is important to continue closing the gaps in higher technical training, and said that "there are cultural models that we must dismantle."
Ordehi recalled that the The Dominican Republic is ranked 74th out of 149 countries in the global gender gap in the World Economic Forum and, according to the gender inequality index measured by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), it would be the fourth country in the Latin American and Caribbean region with the greatest gender inequality.
Impact of the diagnosis of the Gender Mainstreaming Plan in INFOTEP
Likewise, Rafael Santos Badia, general director of Infotep, highlighted the importance of the project for the institution. He pointed out that although the women represent el 61% of the student body in the virtual training center, recognized that level of employability are still the most underprivileged.
In turn, he indicated that in most cases women enroll in courses of short duration and little added value. "Infotep is making greater efforts every day so that women have a preponderant role in the society that is being organized for the future and that, therefore, no profession, no training expression and no employment opportunity are alien to them," assured.
Among the topics addressed by the gender experts during the presentation are communication guidelines with non-sexist language, admission procedure and vocational guidance with a gender focus.
Also the policies and plan of action-participation of women in non-traditional careers and the guidelines for the collection of institutional statistics with a gender focus. The review and adaptation of Infotep's educational curriculum was in charge of Carmen Luisa Figueiras, CEG-INTEC researcher and technical coordinator of the Gender Mainstreaming Plan.
El director of vocational training Orlando Almonte He indicated that they are working with the strategy of expansion and development of Infotep services, which represents an opportunity to improve institutional management.
“It is important that this project takes place now since we are working with the transformation of the curriculum and our teachers. This will help strengthen these capacities and incorporate all these suggestions that are proposed in the diagnosis”, said Almonte.
Desiree del Rosario Sosa, general coordinator of the CEG-INTEC and member of the Plan's advisory team, announced that the first workshops of the plan were given in different communities and that the plan would guarantee improvement in the management of gender issues in Dominican society. While Esteban López, representative of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID), shared his wishes that the initiatives have a result of improvement in the inclusion of women in the work environment.
El plan advisory team It is also made up of the teachers and researchers of the CEG-INTEC Berenice Pacheco-Salazar, who was in charge of the field of education and training together with Dr. Sheila Baez, CEG-INTEC consultant who teaches training workshops at the national level for Infotep.
Likewise, Rosa Alcantara, coordinator of the degree in Social Communication and Digital Media of INTEC, who develops the communication component of the project. Ramona Guillen He also assists the CEG-INTEC team in the project.
This process was carried out together with the management staff of INFOTEP made up of Bernardo Orlando Almonte, Director of Training; Ramona Calcaño, coordinator of the Gender Mainstreaming Division and Arelis Tolentino, deputy director of Training.
The Gender Mainstreaming Plan for INFOTEP Professional Technical Training was sponsored and collaborated by AECID. Mayra Morla, deputy director general of the entity, was also present at the meeting held at Infotep's administrative offices.