Constructing and (re) constructing professional identities: an analysis on portuguese social educators

Institutions need to be aware of the complex way in which professional trajectories are built upon in order to offer under graduate and graduate students’ different possibilities for developing needed competences to display in practice. This paper focuses on the study2 conducted by ESEPF on its former students of Social Education, through a written questionnaire analysing different parameters of their professional transitions, from entrance at training, first job and entrance on the labour market, present work situations, developed competences and perceptions of the Social Educator role on Portuguese Society, among others. Results will be presented and discussed. Particular focus will be given on the specific role of Social Education and its distinctive features towards other “social work” professions.