Professional qualification course of the TransGarçonne Extension Program: an extensionist experience report

Abstract

Transgender people face numerous barriers to qualifying for the formal job market. This study aims to present and discuss aspects of the experience of a bachelor of gastronomy student at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) involved in an extension project focused on enhancing the qualifications of trans people. The program is part of the educational initiatives within the TransGarconne program. The experience report details a class within the qualification course designed for employment in the hospitality sector, encompassing skills relevant to the service industry, such as wait staff professionalism. The data were derived from the planning and execution of classes in 2022. A qualitative analysis was conducted using field notebook notes and documentation. We aim to critically examine issues related to the pedagogical strategies employed and the limitations and challenges faced by the team due to the complexity of the work undertaken. We emphasize the necessity for improvement and underscore the significance of extension projects in providing practical training, enabling the university to fulfill its role in mitigating social inequalities.