The professionalization of Social Education in Portugal. A comparative analysis of the representations of the professionalism of the finalists and graduates of the ESE.IPP

Abstract

Social Education is already a consolidated professional area in several European countries, namely in Portugal. The ESE P. Porto was one of the pioneers in the development of this area and, for this reason, has participated from the beginning in the processes of professionalization of Social Education. The technical and scientific preparation and consequent development of competences consolidates the recognition of the status of a profession. This study aims, therefore, to identify the development of Social Education as a profession, but also the processes of professionalization and professionalism associated with it. We have collected the representations of the graduates in Social Education for at least 10 years by ESE P. Porto and the representations of the current finalists in the 1st cycle of studies of the same course. This study covers a sample of 66 participants, composed of 33 students and 33 graduates. It identifies the knowledge and skills necessary for professional performance, from the perspective of the former graduates, as well as the expectations that the finalist students have in this field. This comparison is based on the recognition of the potential role that the cycle of studies can have as a space for pre-professional socialization, and stresses the importance of teaching-learning in the future professional activity of Social Education students, namely in the development of a sense of belonging and identity cohesion.