2nd Meeting of the Gender Equality Task Force in Lifelong Learning
13/03/2023
On 13 March 2023, the European Association for Regional and Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning (EARLALL), the European Forum for Vocational Education and Training (EfVET) and the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) jointly launched the work of dynamic Gender Equality Task Force. It follows the launch meeting on January 24 2023.
The Task Force is an initiative launched by the three EU-based associations that operate in the sector of Vocational Education and Training (EfVET), Adult Education (EAEA) and Lifelong Learning (EARLALL). These organisations join forces to gather interested members to launch a series of initiatives that encourage discussion on EU policies and strategies related to gender equality in lifelong learning.
The second informal meeting formally presented Ms Sylvia Liuti, a Gender Equality expert at FORMA.Azione (EfVET Italy), as the Gender Equality Task Force’s honorary member. She will rely on her research and professional experience in addressing gender stereotypes in VET to help the Task Force to achieve its aim to prevent discrimination in the labour market.
Ms Liuti highlighted that “Gender stereotypes are learnt early in life, but career guidance and active employment service practitioners play a key role in shaping the process of supporting people in building their pathway to who they will be in the future”. In this light, Ms Liuti highlighted that it is important to strengthen the Gender Equality skills and competences of practitioners acting in transition phases of the education-training- labour market chain.
She also said that diversity in the labour market is not only limited to gender, but we “first need to guide people based on what is progressing, as gender is a social construct that evolves in different times and we should always act accordingly.”
The upcoming activities of the Gender Task Force were also outlined, defined as a process of co-creation from the three promoting organisations of the initiative:
- Fostering a culture of safe learning spaces aligned with the needs of the LGBTQAI+ community – June 2023
- Participation of men and non-binary people in tackling gender issues in lifelong learning – July 2023
- Gender disparities in career development in VET/ALE – July 2023
The meeting was closed with an invitation to participants to explore relevant data related to the issue of careers and employment patterns.
If you are interested in pariticipating in the Gender Equality Task Force, please write an email to earlall@earllal.eu.
