engleski

Development strategies of professional identity of social pedagogues

In the era of postmodernism there have been changes in the views on professional identity in a way that it is ceased to be regarded as a stable, coherent phenomena and is more likely to be seen as multiple, fragmented and prone to change. Interaction between the social constructions and one’s own characteristics is responsible for the development of the professional identity. This means it is a product of a lived experience of participation in specific professional environment, of a relationship with other professionals and beneficiaries, acquired knowledge and personal characteristics. Considering identity of social pedagogues, two trends can be recognized: competences of social pedagogues have been researched, and the emphasis has been put on educating young practitioners how to establish their own professional identity. In this respect, a course named “Planning and developing professional identity” has been taking place during the last two years on the final year of Social Pedagogy course, on the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Studies, University of Zagreb. As a part of the course, students have the chance to talk to professionals about the ways they developed their own professional identity through their respective professions after college education. Students themselves chose the social pedagogues – experts they wished to interview on this subject from a wide range of working areas – school, social care, penal system, foster homes, health care, NGO-s, as well as those who chose careers in some other professional field. Over the two year period, 15 experts have been interviewed. Interviews of these experts have been analyzed with the goal of creating an insight into strategies of establishing a professional identity, as well as in strategies of achieving satisfaction in professional surrounding. Qualitative methodology has been used in the data analysis. The results give an insight into competences acquired during the college education, competences acquired during the additional educations (after completed formal education), personal characteristics that experts find helpful during the development of their professional identity and strategies they use in job-finding and establishment of professional status. An inspiring overview of possibilities in development strategies of professional identity of social pedagogues is given.

professional identity of social pedagogues; strategies of development

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