Understanding the acquisition of citizen competences in students from Initial Professional Qualification Program

Abstract

This study is about the acquisition of citizen competences in a group of young people, identified as vulnerable, who attend an Initial Professional Qualification Program. It is interesting to understand, from the perspective of these young people, which factors have influenced the acquisition of these skills, understanding that they help in social and labor integration. The objective is to give value to the perceptions of citizen competences possessed by those students. The study is based on a social constructivism, because we want to know how young people construct their own perceptions from their environment interaction. The methodology used in the study was mixed. We used instruments applied to a non-random sample of students (self-perception competencies questionnaire) and semi-structured inter-views to students and tutors. The results show a high self-perception of civic competence by the young people in concordance with the statements delivered by tutors from the program.