In 2014, GenTIC finished the project EXPECTANCIES, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Ref. FEM2011-2014117). Its main objectives were to analyze longitudinally, from a gender perspective, students’ self-concept of ability in relation to their grades in different subjects, and how it influenced their study choices. We also examined secondary teachers’ opinions about girls’ and boys’ competences.
During the project, GenTIC provided all participating education centers with individualized informative dossiers containing the research results related with their students at the beginning of academic courses in 2012-2013, 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. Knowing these research findings on students’ expectations and study choices was useful for secondary education centers to develop a personalized strategy of academic and professional guidance that could be better adjusted to their students’ interests and motivations.
Once the project was completed, GenTIC presented the research outcomes in several open seminars addressed to students and teachers:
- Seminar “Monitoring future expectations of boys and girls in high school”. Presentation by Milagros Sáinz to an audience of secondary students and teachers (80 participants) at IES Joan d’Àustria (Barcelona). Management teams from other secondary centers in Madrid and Barcelona, and personalities from the Ministry of Science and Innovation, the Ministry of Education and the Community Education Council of Madrid were also invited to the event. 5 December 2014.
- Seminar “The Gender Gap in Language, Science, Computer Science and Technology Studies”. Presentation by Milagros Sáinz to an audience of secondary students and teachers (120 participants) at IES Ramiro de Maeztu (Madrid). 4 November 2013.