Carmen María Fernández García

Empleo y maternidad: el discurso femenino sobre las dificultades para conciliar familia y trabajo

This paper describes some conclusions from a study conducted to research issues in families to balance their working and private life. We analyze the womens speech on the role played by profitable work in the configuration of their identity and issues derived from of trying to balance it with their family life. By means of discussion groups, the research study concludes that women that work are satisfied with their employment. Nevertheless, they also recognize they have much trouble in balance work and private life. Likewise, it confirms that employment choices of women are conditioned by maternity. Presence of children in their life is the main reason put forward by women to reduce or eliminate workload and time.

Los procesos de orientación escolar y la toma de decisiones académica y profesional

Vocational Guidance Processes constitute an instrument which can influence pupils’ academic and vocational preferences. In this paper their importance is compared with other issues such as parents’ opinion, peers’ opinion, etc. The results and expectations included in this work have been elaborated with the information obtained from a sample of 2260 adolescents in their last year of Compulsory Secondary Education in the Principality of Asturias (Spain). The analysis of all this information constitutes the previous theoretical exploration which was necessary for the design of an academic and vocational assessment programme which has been recently published.

Educación Comparada y Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior: Una Nueva perspectiva vinculada a las competencias

This article intends to point out the importance and possibilities which are offered by Comparative Education in the context of The European Higher Education Area. For this purpose, firstly we will focus on some reflections which deal with the most important changes and also the contributions which can be made by Comparative Education. Secondly, a reflection about the role given to Comparative Education in the Libro Blanco de los estudios de Grado de Pedagogia y Educacion Social will de done. In this sense, there is an intention to analyse whether there is an adjustment between the different kind of competences established by the already mentioned document, and the contents, working and investigating procedures of Comparative Education.

Evaluation of the Building Everyday Life positive parenting programme

Purpose – The purpose of the Building Everyday Life programme is to improve parenting outcomes through better sharing of family responsibilities and to encourage a strong sense of solidarity and community. Design/methodology/approach – Data have been obtained from the pre-test and post-test applications, respectively, using two instruments: the Inventory of Parenting and Family Life Patterns and Resources, and the Final Evaluation Questionnaire for parents. The authors also use these tools to evaluate the degree to which the changes are maintained six months after the completion of the programme. Participants in the study comprised a group of 35 individuals that included parents in nuclear families and single mothers. The assessment process involved three stages: a pre-test assessment, a qualitative report (summative assessment) and, finally, a post-test assessment at least six months after completion of the programme. Findings – The results show lasting changes over time. Regarding domestic work, parents...

Género y preferencias profesionales en universitarios de estudios Científico- Tecnológicos = Gender and vocational preferences in students of Scientific Technological higher education areas

The current article explores gender influence on Higher Education students‘ academic preferences. For this purpose, we present the results of an investigation in which self-efficacy beliefs and professional preferences are analysed. The main objective of this paper is to study the already mentioned professional preferences and to focus on some of the reasons which make these students choose certain activities. We are also interested in determining whether gender or the concrete studies determine predilections. The sample was formed by 813 students in the second course of different Engineering and Science studies at the University of Oviedo. All of them have anonymously answered a questionnaire which had been previously elaborated by the research group. All the answers have been analysed with SPSS. The results make us able to conclude that there are important differences between these two main groups of students. It also shows that the most evident gender divergences are found in computing. In spite of these results, the investigation verifies that there has been an important evolution in the feminine presence in studies which had traditionally been considered as masculine. To sum up, all these data give us important clues for the diagnosis and about the different counselling processes needed by women and men.