Developing professional identity: Different uses of narrative diary in higher education

The study aims to monitor the changes introduced by the didactics reform in the university (law decree n. 509 of 11/3/1999) on teaching settings and practices and on learning outcomes. The object is the Psychology degree course at the Catholic University in Milan. Methods: qualitative research using semi-structured interviews with 24 Psychology graduates enrolled in 2001. The results indicate that changes are in these areas: professionalism, the connection between the university and the labor world, and the methodology of learning from experience. Finally, this study evidences the importance of learning settings and devices in order to support the reform of Italian universities.