In a world striving for equal opportunities, gender inequality persists in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sectors across Europe. The GENDERATE project is a 24 months Erasmus + project aiming to become a catalyst for change, addressing these imbalances. Despite advancements in promoting gender equality, TVET sectors continue to witness lower female representation compared to general education programs. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics reported that only 43% of students enrolled in vocational programs at the upper secondary level were female in 2017, compared to 49% in general education programs. 

GENDERATE is born as a response to this challenge, looking forward to redefining and revitalizing TVET by encouraging gender mainstreaming and breaking down traditional stereotypes.

GENDERATE fits right in with the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on gender equality (Goal 5) and good work (Goal 8). What makes GENDERATE stand out is its innovative approach, as it brings in mentoring programs led by female educators and uses creative media to challenge stereotypes and talk about the gender inequality in TVET. Gender mainstreaming will be promoted and achieved through the identification of gender needs and gaps per institution, the detailed development of an initial strategic plan that will guide the organisations into institutional transformations and through a training of leadership level TVET staff that will be able to make this strategic plan a reality.

The key focus of the project is on empowering female students to pursue technical professions through the implementation of mentoring programs.  It’s important to take into consideration that GENDERATE wants to encourage TVET schools to substantially include everyone, not just meet some numbers regarding gender representation. 

The goal is not merely to increase female representation but to achieve genuine gender equality within the TVET sector. These programs, led by experienced female mentors, aim to build deeper personal connections, providing not just technical skills but holistic support and guidance.

The collaboration among well-established partner organizations from diverse cultural backgrounds ensures the understanding of challenges and potential solutions. All partners have prior experience in similar projects to GENDERATE, through which they acquired valuable knowledge and tools extremely useful for the implementation of this project. 

GENDERATE is not just about immediate change; it aims to create institutionalized transformations with a sustained impact on gender equality within the TVET sector. That’s why it employs a range of creative outreach initiatives, including podcasts and animated series sharing real-life stories of female students and professionals challenging gender stereotypes. Job fairs, open career days, and digital awareness campaigns form part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance the social image of TVET and attract a diverse audience.

As the GENDERATE project unfolds, it calls upon all stakeholders (educators, students, parents, enterprises, and policymakers) to join hands in reshaping the narrative of TVET. By promoting inclusivity, challenging stereotypes, and promoting gender equality, GENDERATE predicts a future where technical education is truly accessible to all, irrespective of gender.

In essence, GENDERATE is not just a project; it aims to become a movement towards a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive educational landscape. 

GENDERATE, a project that responds to the challenges in vocational education, aims to revitalize TVET by catalyzing change in gender representation and encouraging inclusivity and innovation within it, aligning itself with SECOVE’s mission, a cooperation model that promotes the creation of vocational ecosystems, addressing the gap between job market need and education. Building on the foundation of SECOVE, GENDERATE enhances the element of gender equality, for a more inclusive TVET environment.

The consortium consists of the following partners:

• FORAVE - Associação para a ​Educação Profissional do Vale do Ave, Portugal 
• IDEC S.A., Greece
• POLITEKNIKA IKASTEGIA TXORIERRI S.COOP. Spain
• Özel Elazığ Marmara Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi, Turkey
• A & A Emphasys Interactive Solutions Ltd, Cyprus

• C.I.O.F.S. FORMAZIONE PROFESSIONALE, Italy

   

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