VINGS – Qualification in gender equality
As part of the VINGS – Virtual International Gender Studies – project, the FernUniversität Hagen (Hagen University Distance Learning) is offering a qualification program and distant education for gender equity officers and executives.
Target Group
The program is directed at both women and men in a variety of areas of private and public institutions and organisations who work in the area of gender equality or who wish to prepare to work in this field. In addition, the program is aimed at employees in personnel development and at persons in political offices or leadership roles. The program covers a broad spectrum of areas relevant to equality work in institutions of higher learning, communities, ministries, lower administrative posts, private business, associations and religious institutions.
Goals
The program will provide expert knowledge for gender and women’s equity work and qualify for management tasks.
Content
The seminars and courses of the qualifying program are directed toward equality work, implementation strategies, typical problem areas, equality office management work and personnel development, as well as preparation for assuming leadership positions. The program is divided into general study modules that are relevant for all aspects of equality work as well as into specific modules organised into variety contexts of equality work such as communities, higher education or businesses.
An Overview of Course Offerings in the Pilot Stage Course:
Basics of Equality Work
Course: Equality Work in Organizations
Course: Labour law and Personnel Development
Course: Family and Law in Professional Practice
Course: Gender, Body and Culture
Course: Equality Work in a Variety of Fields (higher education, administration/ community government, business)
Course: Gender and Writing – Written project “The Women’s State”
Course: Studying On-line
Additional courses are in the planning stage
Structure of the Continued Education Program
The course of study is planned as a one-year program. In the pilot phase this will take place over three semesters. The workload is divided over 32-36 weeks of approximately 10 hours/week. The teaching methods will combine internet-based distance learning and “face-to-face” modules. The internet will, in this way, support communication among participants and function as a distribution medium for important resources which will be written or adapted for that medium. In particular the “face-to-face seminars” offer psychosocial training. This includes the professional presentation of oneself, interaction skills such as moderation, negotiation and conflict communication. The program should make it possible for a candidate to continue her or his education regardless of time or place. The time constraints and the multiple burden of work and family responsibilities facing some of the participants are taken into account.
Structure of Modules
The courses can be taken and combined according to preference. This should ensure the heterogeneity of the target groups in terms of different background knowledge, activity areas and experience in women’s and equity work. Through this structure, interested individuals are free to complete the program and receive a certificate, or to pursue a certificate in a single course.