Future Day: Challenging Gender Stereotypes

On Thursday, 11th November 2021, the Bern University of Applied Sciences is opening its doors to children and adolescents from 5th to 7th grade. Boys and girls will get to know professions in which their gender is still underrepresented. For example, girls can spend a day as electricians, computer scientists or food technologists. They get to construct their own flip alarm clock, to learn programming or to put on a lab coat to produce something edible by themselves. Boys in turn take the role of nurses, social workers or midwives. They visit the birthing room, learn strengthening exercises for the back or share experiences with practicing social workers.

"That is how horizons open up. Young people should be confident enough to plan their future unimpeded by typical gender roles," explains Sibylle Drack, Head of the Equal Opportunities Office at the Bern University of Applied Sciences.

Getting School Children Excited About Technology

With its Future Day programme, the Berne University of Applied Sciences also helps to counteract the shortage of skilled workers in the technical sectors. Women, in particular, are still underrepresented in technical professions, which is why the University of Applied Sciences hopes to motivate girls in playful ways to take an interest in the fields of technology and natural sciences. TecLab in Burgdorf – a joint facility of the Bern University of Applied Sciences and the Bern Technical School of Technology in cooperation with further partner organisations – therefore also offers a special programme for girls at this year’s Future Day: They have the opportunity to plan the city of their future and to experience what it takes to build a sustainable neighbourhood.