Browsing by Author "Sevilla, Maria Paola"

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    Gender gap in STEM pathways: the role of secondary curricula in a highly differentiated school system-the case of Chile
    (2023) Sevilla, Maria Paola; Luengo-Aravena, Daniela; Farias, Mauricio
    BackgroundSTEM fields are instrumental in increasing the technological and innovative capacity of the economy. As women are underrepresented in the STEM workforce, diverse strategies have been implemented to boost their preparedness and interest in these fields, including early exposure to academic and vocational STEM courses. Using the case of Chile's highly differentiated school system, this paper examines the role of secondary curricula on students' enrollment and persistence in STEM programs offered by vocational postsecondary institutions and universities. In doing so, we seek to identify whether exposure to STEM courses within the academic or vocational tracks translates into fewer gender differences in STEM higher education.ResultsOur results reveal that upper-secondary tracks connected to STEM courses are positively associated with enrollment in STEM higher education and, to some degree, persistence. More specifically, exposure to STEM courses in the academic track is the most effective path to boost chances of enrolling in STEM university programs but has no connection to later persistence. In contrast, applied STEM courses within the vocational tracks perform better in the case of STEM programs in postsecondary vocational institutions both in enrollment and persistence. However, this STEM pipeline significantly amplifies gender gaps as males benefit more than women from early exposure to applied STEM courses. We also found that other indirect routes, such as enrolling in STEM university programs from the vocational track with applied STEM courses, boost female participation in these programs, helping reduce gender gaps.ConclusionsWhile secondary STEM courses attract more female students to STEM higher education, they alone are insufficient to achieve gender equality in STEM fields as gender gaps widen in the more effective routes. In highly differentiated school systems, policymakers and high school leaders should offer increased support to women interested in STEM studies and careers across all secondary tracks to boost female participation in STEM fields. At the same time, all high school students should be able to select both academic and applied STEM courses as a part of their non-mandatory curriculum.
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    Socioeconomic segregation between and within curriculum tracking
    (2021) Sevilla, Maria Paola; Trevino, Ernesto
    Previous studies have documented social segregation for single types of tracking, but little previous research has compared levels of segregation across different institutional tracking arrangements. This paper uses extensive administrative data of the Chilean educational system to estimate the magnitude and evolution of socioeconomic segregation between- and within-school curriculum tracking. Results indicate that the unequal distribution of students by socioeconomic status between tracks narrows when tracking takes place within schools, mainly in the presence of market incentives that lead schools to focus on particular student populations.
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    Transitioning from industry to teaching in VET: profiles of VET teachers in Chile
    (2023) Sevilla, Maria Paola; Luengo-Aravena, Daniela; Madero, Cristobal
    PurposeSituated in the Chilean context, this study investigates how Vocational Education and Training (VET) teacher profiles, based on their perceptions of prior work experience in industry, relate to their current motivation and perception of teaching in VET. By doing so, the authors seek to provide valuable evidence to inform the development of policies to attract and maintain well-qualified teachers from industry in Chile and other countries facing similar changes.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a descriptive cross-sectional design to collect data from 660 VET teachers using a two-scale instrument: Perception of Prior Occupation (PPO) and adapted FIT-Choice scales. By adopting a typological approach, the authors constructed profiles of VET teachers based on their perception of past industry experience. The authors then analyzed how these profiles vary regarding individual teacher characteristics, motivation and perception of teaching in VET.FindingsThe authors found a significant degree of heterogeneity among VET teachers' prior industry experiences, leading them to identify three distinct VET teacher profiles: "High Perception of Prior Occupation," "Learning and Teaching-Oriented" and "Low Perception of Prior Occupation." Notably, the most distinguishing characteristics across these profiles were age, VET teaching area, holding a job outside of teaching and years of prior industry experience. Furthermore, the authors found that motivation and perceptions of teaching varied significantly across these VET teacher profiles.Originality/valueThere needs to be more research on the factors that attract and retain industry workers as VET teachers in high schools. This study is among the first to address this topic in a non-European context.