Considering the lack of access in “southern” universities to courses on gender and sexuality, researchers from 5 countries (Argentina, Chile, China, Mexico, South Africa) have assessed local institutional capacity for teaching and producing knowledge in these areas. The research methodologies as well as the results of the research have been nurtured by dialogue between the teams of researchers, which have primarily occurred through virtual interaction (LMS platform). With their results researchers have elaborated curricula that reflect and expand local definitions of gender and sexualities. They have presented papers at international conferences and currently they are editing the chapters of a book regarding the process and results of the Project.

With the research phase complete, local teams are working on writing and editing their individual chapters, which will be included in a book regarding the process and results of the Project. They are also working on disseminating research results through local and international partnerships and networks. The book will be published in April 2009. 

Monica Gogna (Center for the Study of Society and the State) and Mario Pecheny (University of Buenos Aires) headed Argentina´s research focusing on how university faculty and students from several disciplines perceive the study of gender and sexuality. They created 2 focus groups with university professors and they conducted interviews with university students. Their findings show marked differences in how disciplines include gender and sexuality. They also found that in all disciplines these topics are presented in connection to human rights. Their research highlights professors´ and students´ experiences with these topics in university settings. Having completed their research, they are currently revising their chapter, to be included in a book about this Project, and they continue to work towards mainstreaming studies on gender and sexualities. 

Chile’s research was coordinated and carried out by Teresa Valdés (Center for the Study and Development of Women) in Santiago, Chile. The initial steps focused on identifying university courses and majors that include the study of gender and sexuality. Then the team conducted electronic surveys in order to identify current accessibility and theoretical approaches to these topics in Chilean universities. In addition to creating networks in Chile among professionals who specialize in these topics, Valdés has proposed a Masters program entitled “Gender and Government”. 

Peng Tao (Harbin University,) Pan Suiming (Remnin University) and Gao Yanning (Fudan University) have headed the Project in China. One of the Project´s primary goals was to increase accessibility and the quality of university courses on gender and sexuality in China. The researchers hope to conduct teacher training courses based on their findings. As Peng Tao remarked, “This project gives fresh air to many universities. You know, some staff have come up to me and asked me if I am part of the Sexuality Project. They are really interested in it. It is like the new topic. After all, the topic about sexuality is taboo in the Chinese context, though people’s view on it is changing, but it is not comprehensive. Like the door, it is half-open.”

Adriana Rosales (National Pedagogical University in Mexico City) and Betania Allen Leigh (National Institute of Public Health in Mexico City) coordinated and carried out research for the Project. They evaluated the current inclusion of gender and sexualities in university curricula and they also organized a network for professionals and students who work on these topics in Mexico. They continue to work on building alliances between professionals who work in the area of gender and sexualities.

Jane Bennett (African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town) and Vasu Reddy (Gender and Development Unit, Human Sciences Research Council and Gender Studies) focused their research on creating a data-base of information on gender and sexuality, researching pedagogies through autobiographies, creating a national workshop and producing a research report on pedagogies of gender and sexuality. The teams found that one of the complexities of teaching courses on gender and sexuality in South Africa is the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Their research also confirmed that most university curricula is dominated by texts from English-speaking countries.