Participatory design of STEM initiatives with gender equity for public policies Academic Article in Scopus uri icon

abstract

  • Gender equality and women´s empowerment is one of the global challenges defined by the United Nations. As institutions of higher education, we are committed to advancing these goals, particularly by promoting gender equity in engineering, science and technology programs, where the gap is one of the most evident, both in terms of career paths, student representation and professionals in the workplace. In alignment with this commitment, the Organization of American States (OAS) invites organizations to generate proposals that can be presented at meetings where Latin American representatives make decisions for the benefit of our communities. This research explores the design of participatory processes with clear objectives, with logistics and facilitators from organizations committed to fostering a culture of gender equity and increasing women's participation in STEM. The study focuses on a case study of participatory initiative design, involving stakeholders from Latin American universities through hybrid sessions (digital and face-to-face). A common design framework and a particular development by working group to include specific interests, allowed for detailed observation and the generation of recommendations for future exercises. A process approach is used, with the freedom to manage the interests and priorities of the community through working groups with common proposals. The results allow us to consider common elements such as: the passion and commitment of the participants in the subject, the difficulty of mixing the type of interaction, mixing face-to-face with digital environments, and the clear identification of common projects. These insights provide a basis for improving similar participatory approaches. © 2024 Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions. All rights reserved.

publication date

  • January 1, 2024