The term 'atypical' is linked in this specific case to gender roles and stereotypes. Atypical professions are those professions that are traditionally associated almost exclusively with one of the two genders and are very segregated. The socio-medical sector, for example, is a purely female field, whereas in the technical and engineering sector the situation is reversed.

Aims and objectives
With a view to fostering equal opportunities in the choice of studies and professions, SUPSI implements targeted actions in the technical and socio-healthcare fields in particular.

Promotion of technical professions

Promtec-promotion of technical professions is a project promoted by theSUPSI’s Gender and Diversity Service in collaboration with the Department of Environment Construction and Design (DACD) and the Department of Innovative Technologies (DTI). The Trevano School of Arts and Crafts (SAMT) is a partner in the project. 

The aim is to bring young people, and in particular girls, closer to and make them better acquainted with the training and professions associated with engineering and architecture, in order to encourage more informed educational and professional choices free of gender stereotypes.

Who it is aimed at

The Promtec SUPSI-SAMT project now includes activities aimed at students from different school systems:

• third and fourth grade pupils
• students at vocational schools (technical branches) and upper secondary schools (Licei and the Cantonal Business School)
• students of SUPSI technical degree courses.

 

Synergies with the region

The main characteristic of Promtec lies in the fact that it is a project involving, in addition to the Trevano School of Arts and Crafts, various partners (employers, cantonal offices, associations and sponsors). The sponsors not only finance the project, but also actively participate in it, e.g. by providing testimonials on the world of work and participating in Promtec activities.
 

List of Promtec Partners

Supporting organisations:

• Divisione della formazione professionale (DFP)
• IFEC ingegneria SA

The project has also been supported in the past by:

• MORE engineering SA
• Ordine ingegneri e architetti del Cantone Ticino (OTIA)
• GLS Gruppo Specializzato per Lavori in Sotterraneo della SIA
• SIplus SA
• Società Svizzera Impresari Costruttori Sezione Ticino (SSIC TI)
• Studio Borlini & Zanini SA
• Studio Lombardi SA, Ingegneri Consulenti di Minusio
• Swiss Engineering ATS Ticino

Network of collaborators:

• Associazione Svizzera delle Donne Ingegnere ASDI (SVIN)
• ING CH
• Ufficio della formazione professionale Grigioni
• Ufficio cantonale delle pari opportunità
• Ufficio di orientamento scolastico e professionale del Canton Ticino
• Ufficio per l’insegnamento medio del Canton Ticino

Collaboration with projects

• Giornata Nuovo Futuro
• TEENformatiCAMP
• KIDSinfo
• Settimane tecnologiche per liceali

 

Modules

Technical days for fourth grade pupils

These days offer visits to workshops and laboratories with practical activities in engineering (civil and innovative technologies) and architecture.

SAMT Laboratory Open Days

These days are aimed at thirdgrade pupils who, on this occasion, have the opportunity to participate in the activities of four different workshops dedicated to computer science and multimedia electronics, civil engineering and architecture.
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Information, counselling and accompanying activities

• Participation in information evenings aimed at the parents of third and fourth grade pupils organised in collaboration with the Canton Ticino's School and Career Guidance Office;
• Information events called Info+Lunch, i.e. meetings with female apprentices from the last two years of technical vocational schools (SAM and SPAI), with testimonies from female professionals and UAS students from technical fields;
• Information and accompaniment at SUPSI: information sessions aimed at female students on SUPSI's technical degree courses (DACD and DTI) with the aim of providing them with tools to improve their soft skills and expand their network of acquaintances with local professionals.

Building Award 2025

​​​​​​​The Promtec SUPSI-SAMT project won the Building Award 2025, a biennial award that recognises projects promoting technical professions in the fields of engineering and architecture. The project was awarded first prize in the category “Promotion of young people in the technical sector” thanks to its significant impact on the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, as demonstrated by the high level of participation in its activities, its role in supporting professions suffering from a growing shortage of young talent, and its focus on gender issues, with the aim of taking concrete action to combat the under-representation of women in technical professions.

 

Promotion of social and healthcare professions

The SUPSI social and healthcare professions promotion project is an initiative of the Department of Business, Health and Social Sciences (DEASS) in collaboration with the Gender and Diversity Service.
 
The challenge of promoting the social and healthcare professions lies in getting the message across that these professions are suitable for both genders, male and female, and that professionals in these fields need multi-faceted skills and have real career opportunities.
  

Aims and objectives

The main aims of the promotion of the social and healthcare professions are:

• in attracting more male students to the training curricula in Nursing, Ergotherapy, Physiotherapy and Social Work (social worker and social educator)
• in raising awareness, especially among the female audience, of career planning;
• in promoting the training and career paths offered by SUPSI's Department of Business Administration, Health and Social Affairs in the social and healthcare field.

 

Activities

Information morning for SSPSS students

​​​​​​​Open door morning on the DEASS socio-health bachelor's degree, organised with a focus on gender, which is aimed at those attending the 4th year of the Specialised School for Health and Social Professions and takes place every autumn (end of November).

Past initiatives

Discovering the healthcare and social professions' event 

An annual event, organised from 2016 to 2021, in which students from vocational schools and high schools were able to learn about the work and career prospects of nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social educators and social workers, through testimonies and in-depth practical workshops led by professionals working in the area.
 

Promotion of the Master in Nursing from a gender perspective

Production in 2017 of promotional material for the Master's programme (e.g. flyers and roll-up brochures etc.) from a gender perspective.
 

Publication and update of the brochure 'Caring. Training paths and career prospects in healthcare"

The brochure, first produced in 2015, presents, from a gender perspective, the Department's healthcare curricula as well as the career, internship and mobility opportunities they offer.
 

A day at the heart of care" initiative

An information morning held in 2014 in which the participants had the opportunity to learn more about the nursing profession, in collaboration with Cardiocentro Ticino, through a visit to the premises and practical activities related to the profession.

Promotional films of training and healthcare professions
In order to promote training and healthcare professions (nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy) from a gender perspective, films were also made in 2012 and 2013 presenting testimonies of people who have made a career in the health sector and of male and female students who have done an internship abroad during their training at DEASS.