An analysis of gender mainstreaming efforts in public and private HEIs in Iloilo City

Abstract

In recent years, gender mainstreaming has become a crucial focus of Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) aiming to comply with government mandates in promoting gender equality and development. While there have been studies that looked separately into gender mainstreaming efforts of public and private HEIs in the Philippines, there has yet to be a study analyzing the extent that gender mainstreaming efforts are pursued. This study used a descriptive research design, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to address three research questions: (1) How did the composition, tenure, capacities, responsibilities, and experiences of Gender Focal Point System (GFPS) members influence gender mainstreaming efforts in the public and private HEIs under study in the past five years? (2) To what extent are gender concepts integrated into the curricula of the public and private HEIs? (3) What is the level of gender sensitivity among faculty and staff in relation to the existing gender mainstreaming efforts in their respective universities in the past five years? A self-made questionnaire was used for Key Informant Interviews (KII) and surveys. K1I results showed compliance with GFPS structure in the public HEI, while the private HEI had yet to establish their GFPS. Quantitative data identified deficiencies in curriculum integration and gender sensitivity among faculty and staff in the public HEI, highlighting a disconnect with KII claims. Existing challenges contributing to this disconnect were identified, and recommendations were provided to enhance gender mainstreaming. Despite the absence of a structured GFPS, the private HEI achieved relatively high scores in curriculum integration and gender sensitivity, indicating that their institutional efforts are impactful. This study offers valuable insights into mainstreaming gender and development in higher education, including progress, challenges, and potential areas for improvement.