Introduction

This volume offers an international yet consistent approach about the nature of professional competences in the educational provision. The authors develop an encompassing perspective by considering the “competences” as sets of situated cognitive activities attuned to the contingencies of practice, as well as a system of personal dispositions. From this point of view, a reflection is proposed about the formative role of initial placement as the crucial component to connect the different dimensions of professional competence. Some narrative accounts of students’ experiences during their placement complete the volume.