“Looking and feeling the part”: developing aviation students' professional identity through a community of practice

Abstract

For students entering a profession with a strong vocational focus, the development of professional identity and attributes are important components of successful professional practice. Familiarity with the norms and culture of a specific profession are not often addressed within normal curricula contexts of undergraduate degrees. At Griffith University, undergraduates within an aviation degree work together in a student led community of practice (CoP) to develop their professional identity along with a broader understanding of the aviation industry. This paper examines how Mentoring Aviators Through Educational Support (MATES) CoP provides the opportunity to engage with other students to develop professional competence through meaningful practice. It also examines how the MATES CoP fosters the student's sense of professional identity.