All you do is have fun – Investigating the developing professional identity of university outdoor leadership students.
Details:
11:45 – 12:35 pm
14th of July
Room: Alpine Ash
Matthew Cox
The study was longitudinal and investigated the development of university outdoor leadership students’ professional identity. Findings were that family, friends, and societal perceptions frame initial identity formation. Course influences identified were the importance of experiential and applied outdoor experiences and staff as role models. This research supports development of the industry’s professional identity through a focus on professional identity development in emerging outdoor leaders. This presentation will inform attendees about the final research outcomes. The research design will be considered and the appliciability to the current industry context will be prominent. Attendees will have the opportunity to consider the enablers and inhibitors to the formation of professional identity for university outdoor leaders, as well as the role of the industry in the formation of professional identity for stakeholders, and the challenges that the industry is facing for its own professional identity development.
About the Presenters
Matt has been working in the outdoor industry for about 30 years. He has held a variety of roles across the breadth of the industry, but has spent a considerable amount of time working as an academic at Victoria University. He has finally finished his Ph.D (a long time coming) and is looking forward to using his research platform to help shape the future professional identity of the outdoor industry
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