Fostering high school students’ character skills by helping them build their own professional life project

Abstract

In May 2023, the first phase of intervention research conducted at a Sicilian high school ended. Students (n. 115) participated in a thirty-hour PCTO, with twelve hours dedicated to a university-based teaching module, four hours to expressive writing training, four hours to four guidance interviews and twelve hours to the construction of a digital portfolio. This aimed to improve their self-efficacy, self-image and decision-making skills, which influence the maturation process of their professional life project, including the choice of education and profession, and the degree of clarity of ideas about this choice. The methodology used significantly improved the three character skills studied and the degree of clarity of ideas about educational-professional choice.

Keywords: guidance, high school students, university, professional life project, character skills.