GSCG Toolkit Annex The Netherlands

GSCG Toolkit Annex the Netherlands

Overview in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is widely recognized for its progressive stance on equality and social inclusion, which also extends to education and career guidance. Career orientation in Dutch schools and vocational institutions is strongly learner-centered, encouraging students to reflect on personal interests and competences when making educational and professional choices. This creates fertile ground for integrating gender-sensitive approaches that challenge traditional role expectations.

The Dutch labor market shows a relatively high female participation rate (around 74% for ages 20–64), yet horizontal segregation persists: women remain concentrated in education, care, and service sectors, while men dominate technical, ICT, and engineering professions. The gender pay gap, although narrowing, remains at roughly 13% (CBS, 2023), and women are underrepresented in senior management positions.

Policy frameworks strongly support gender equality. The Dutch Emancipation Policy and initiatives by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science promote equal opportunities in education and the labor market, reduce systemic bias, and encourage participation of underrepresented groups. Campaigns such as Girls’ Day NL and national programs like Techniekpact aim to broaden career choices beyond traditional gender roles. Together, these measures create a solid policy foundation for integrating gender-sensitive career guidance into practice.

Gender-Sensitive Career Guidance Current State in the Netherlands

Career guidance in the Netherlands is rooted in the principle of learner autonomy and is embedded in both general and vocational education through Loopbaanoriëntatie en –begeleiding (LOB), a national framework encouraging students to reflect on interests, skills, and ambitions. This system lends itself well to integrating gender-sensitive approaches, as it prioritizes individualized pathways over prescriptive career tracks. Schools, VET institutions, and universities typically use a mix of portfolio assignments, reflection exercises, and one-to-one coaching to guide students’ choices.

Many practitioners are already aware of the importance of diversity and inclusion, with some schools explicitly training staff on unconscious bias and gender awareness. Guidance professionals report using tools such as role model campaigns, company visits, and mentoring programs to help students see beyond traditional stereotypes. Public employment services, including UWV, also contribute by offering counselling and labour market information aimed at promoting equal opportunities.

Despite these strengths, several challenges remain:

Persistent Gender Segregation:Women continue to be overrepresented in care, education, and service professions, while men dominate technical, ICT, and engineering sectors.
Unconscious Bias:Guidance professionals and educators, despite good intentions, sometimes reinforce stereotypes through subtle expectations or limited exposure to non-traditional role models.
Uneven Implementation:The quality and depth of gender-sensitive guidance varies by school or region, as there is no mandatory national standard for integrating gender sensitivity in career counseling training.
Limited Resources:Smaller schools and training centers may lack access to up-to-date teaching materials or external experts to support a fully gender-sensitive approach.

These barriers can restrict students’ freedom to explore careers aligned with their true interests, perpetuating gendered patterns in education and work.

Several initiatives aim to address these issues:

Girls’ Day NL:Annual nationwide event connecting girls aged 10–15 with STEM companies, offering hands-on experience and female role models.
Techniekpact:Public–private partnership designed to close the gap between demand and supply of technical talent, with a focus on encouraging girls and young women into STEM careers.
Diversity and Inclusion in Teacher Training:Dutch teacher training institutes are increasingly embedding modules on gender sensitivity and bias awareness, equipping future educators with the tools to foster inclusive guidance practices.
Municipal and Regional Projects:Local governments partner with industry and NGOs to create mentorship programs, promote diversity in apprenticeships, and organize career orientation events featuring professionals from underrepresented genders.

These initiatives contribute to a growing ecosystem that encourages more balanced career decision-making. However, there is still a need for systematic adoption and broader dissemination of gender-sensitive guidance practices across all regions and educational levels.

Stakeholder Perspectives & Good Practices

Career counsellors, VET trainers, and HR professionals who participated in the piloting of the GSCG Toolkit reported a generally positive experience. They highlighted its clarity, practical relevance, and adaptability to different school and organizational contexts. Many practitioners saw value in the Toolkit’s theoretical foundation, which helped them reflect on their own assumptions and biases when advising students. Several suggested that the Toolkit could serve as a training and awareness-raising resource for entire guidance teams, enabling schools to adopt a more coordinated approach.

Practitioners also emphasized the importance of connecting the Toolkit to real-life labor market data and local examples to increase its resonance. They saw potential to integrate the Toolkit into staff meetings, professional development sessions, and career days to normalize discussions around gender sensitivity.

“The Toolkit makes us look critically at how we talk to students. We realized that even small comments can steer them toward traditional choices.” – Secondary school counsellor, Utrecht

“It gives a framework that we can share with colleagues so gender equality becomes part of the whole school culture.” – VET career coach, Rotterdam

Girls’ Day NL

Organized annually by VHTO this event introduces girls aged 10–15 to technical and ICT professions by facilitating visits to companies and research institutes. Girls engage in practical workshops, meet female role models, and gain first-hand experience of non-traditional career paths. This hands-on exposure is widely cited as effective in challenging stereotypes and sparking interest in STEM fields.

LOB (Loopbaanoriëntatie en –begeleiding) Framework

Implemented nationwide, LOB supports students in reflecting on personal interests and building portfolios that guide educational and career decisions. Many schools enhance LOB with gender-sensitive activities, such as mentorship programs, mixed-gender project work, and guest lectures from professionals in underrepresented sectors. Resources and best practices are shared via Expertisepunt LOB helping schools continually improve their guidance approach.

Together, these practices demonstrate that combining structured reflection with exposure to role models can significantly broaden students’ perceptions of what is possible, helping them make career choices free of gender constraints.

Conclusions & Recommendations

The piloting of the GSCG Toolkit in the Netherlands confirmed that it is a relevant, user-friendly, and practical resource for strengthening gender-sensitive career guidance. Practitioners appreciated its structured approach, theoretical grounding, and actionable exercises. At the same time, they identified a need for local adaptation to ensure cultural resonance, including Dutch case studies, terminology, and references to national education and labor market policies.

Recommendations for Integration:

Localize contentwith Dutch examples, labor market data, and policy references to improve relevance.
Embed the Toolkitinto teacher training curricula, VET programs, and continuing professional development for counselors.
Use digital platforms (e.g., Wikiwijs) to increase accessibility and promote collaborative learning across schools and regions.
Establish feedback loopsto gather user input and update the Toolkit regularly, ensuring it remains aligned with changing societal and labor market dynamics.

Complementarity with the GUIDE Toolkit:

This annex positions the Toolkit within the Dutch educational and policy landscape, bridging theory and practice. By connecting it with ongoing national initiatives such as Girls’ Day NL and Techniekpact, it strengthens the impact of the GUIDE project and supports a systemic shift toward inclusive, gender-balanced career choices for all learners.