Gender equality within the curricula for professional training at Universidad Tecnológica de El Salvador

Abstract

In recent years, gender inequality has been a topic of international and national interest; particularly, in the academic Feld. Cross-curricular subjects which integrate gender equality criteria in the curriculum are a far reaching strategy since gender perspective--seen as an object of knowledge--is an analytical category that must also be studied in universities. The main objective of this study was to identify the cross-curricular aspect of the gender approach in the professional training of students at Universidad Tecnológica de El Salvador (Utec). This is a descriptive-type quantitative research. In order to collect the data, 33 study plans were reviewed through a text analysis of the contents, concepts and words that evidence the incorporation of the gender approach. A survey was conducted with 310 professors (108 women and 202 men) to learn about the perception, attitudes and practices of gender equality within the subjects they teach. One of the results that can be highlighted is the inclusion of gender violence prevention as a cross-curricular topic in all majors. In like manner, the faculty members consider that the gender approach should be included in all the subjects. The practice of equality in aspects such as word usage, non-sexist language and the need to train the academic staff in order to raise awareness towards an explicit or hidden curriculum with a gender perspective, are among the topics being discussed.