PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL SECONDARY EDUCATION IN TOURISM OF CHILE: SOCIAL IMAGINARY, MOTIVATION AND AGENTS INVOLVED IN THE ELECTION, EXPECTATIONS AND PROJECTIONS

Abstract

This article seeks to capture elements linked to the context of Professional Tech­nical Secondary Education (from now on EMTP). This research is linked to a case study with in tourism through the research methodology, approach and con­struction of the social imaginary which are mainly related to three elements and the edges that emerge from it: a) Time of decision. b) The intervening agents. c) Expectations and Projections. The case study is based on an EMTP establish­ment, named “Instituto Superior de Administración y Turismo”, from now on (INSAT), in the city of Valdivia. This investigation is part of the results of the work leading to the degree of Master in Education. This study seeks to establish the: Social Imaginary of High School Technical Professional in Tourism students. As a central axis, it was focused specifically with 3rd year- students year of the Tourist Services program of the mentioned establishment. The construction of this imaginary is based for this research on four edges that are linked to: The decision and choice of the modality, the motivation and future projections that the actors visualize. The work was methodologically developed with a battery of tools and information cross-referencing between the actors considered relevant in this case study, such as: Students, Parents and parents. In this case study, the main results observed are related to the independence of the decision to choose the modality, but strongly linked to a family support that is sometimes linked to a family tradition or a close group with previous studies in the same modality. At the same time, the members of the case study project a working life immediately after graduating from this model as a preliminary step, whether it be the continu­ity of studies or to undertake new professional or personal paths.