WOMen can Build. Re-envisioning vocational training towards an equal construction industry. Erasmus Project

Project Title

WOMen can Build. Re-envisioning vocational training towards an equal construction industry.

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Gender equality / equal opportunities

Project Summary

CONTEXT
The demand of equal opportunities is one of the main focus to improve as a society. However, the construction industry remains a predominantly male enclave, despite the efforts made to make it inclusive. Today, there are signs of a cultural shift in the industry and women can be found in high-skilled occupations, such as engineers or architects, being still scarce the percentage of women working on construction-site (9% average UE). What are the real obstacles to women entering and remaining in different construction occupations? Some individual, market and social difficulties have been identified:

*Intrinsic barriers: women don’t see themselves as construction workers.
*Labour market barriers: low recruitment of women; poor visibility of women’s professionals.
*Sectoral barriers: sector’s inability to attract women and young people.

In addition to above blockades, it could be also mentioned the inappropriate provision of training, as well as employment and working conditions, which also determine the male-oriented shape of the construction industry.

OBJECTIVES
In order to contribute to overcome the barriers explained above, Women can Build tries to re-envision the vocational training towards an equal construction industry by achieving the following objectives:

*To provide gender-oriented measures to main actors involved.
*To enhance women sensitivity towards this sector.
*To re-envision the training focus approach in VET providers and trainers.
*To establish guidance measures to enterprises towards a gender awareness-raising and balance.

ACTIVITIES
Various activities have been carried out to achieve project’s objectives and contribute to remove existing barriers to women’s access to the construction sector:

1. VET trainers’ overview on gender-equality status quo and gender-sensitive MOOC (Massive Open Online Course)
2. Learning by-doing: immersive experience for women to attract women to the construction sector
3. Role models/testimonies of women in construction sector, as a fundamental element to change social imaginary
4. Guidelines for VET centres to provide a training offer better addressed to women
5. Definition of an action plan for companies to encourage the recruitment of women in the sector
6. Dissemination actions for awareness raising (social networks, events, media, etc.)

PARTICIPANTS
The project has addressed 4 direct target groups and 1 indirect:

1 Women: testimonies and course (100+43)
2 Trainers of construction sector: survey and MOOC (500+90)
3 VET centres: survey (292)
4 Enterprises: survey (60)
5 Stakeholders and society in general: dissemination (4.187.174)

All in all, we have addresed 1.085 participants directly benefited by project activities, as well as 4.187.174 potential recipients.

METHODOLOGY
The project has used a participatory methodology, aimed to target and involve, on the one hand main beneficiaries that have participated directly in the activities, and on the other hand relevant key players that provide feedback and endorse results.

Also, the combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques has gotten the most out of different sources, allowing sound and supported conclusions and recommendations. Besides, the holistic approach of the project based on the three pillars recommended by the European Insitute for Gender Equality (EIGE), which are education, sensitizacion and dissemination, allows its transfer to others sectors alike and countries with similar difficulties.

RESULTS
*Provision of new educational approaches with a gender-oriented approach
*Encancing access to training for all: MOOC for trainers and immersive training experience for women
*Dissemination of inspirational stories of women in the sector (role models).
*Awareness raising among constrution enterprises and sector in general for women recruitment
*Favour social inclusion, especially the labour integration of women in the construction market
*Valorisation of the construction sector and improvement of its social image.

IMPACT
The project has obtained a very high impact, with many relevant stakeholders interested in the project and its results and with many news and references on media (press, radio and even TV), as well as a lot of participation in dissemination events and professional fora. This high project’s impact within the sector and its organisations has been possible due to the presence of large and relevant VET providers, which are mainly formed by employers’ associations and trade unions and/or public institutions. Moreover, the European dimension of action has fostered social innovation and impact at EU level exceeding the initial expectations.

POTENTIAL LONG-TERM BENEFITS
The findings may guide organisations to develop and implement policies, strategies and initiatives geared towards attracting, integrating, supporting and motivating women who are, or wish to be, employed in historically male-dominated occupations in the construction industry.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 284819 Eur

Project Coordinator

FUNDACION LABORAL DE LA CONSTRUCCION & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Agencia para el Empleo de Madrid
• ENTE CONFEDERALE DI ISTRUZIONE PROFESSIONALE PER L’ARTIGIANATO E LE PICCOLE IMPRESE ASSOCIAZIONE SENZA FINE DI LUCRO
• FORMEDIL ENTE NAZIONALE PER LA FORMAZIONE E L’ADDESTRAMENTO PROFESSIONALE NELL EDILIZIA
• CENTRO DE FORMACAO PROFISSIONAL DA INDUSTRIA DA CONSTRUCAO CIVIL E OBRAS PUBLICAS DO SUL
• CENTRE IFAPME LIEGE HUY VERVIERS ASBL
• COMITE DE CONCERTATION ET DE COORDINATION DE L’APPRENTISSAGE DU BATIMENT ET DES TRAVAUX PUBLICS
• BILDUNGSZENTREN DES BAUGEWERBES EV