Abstract
The higher education with the appearance of COVID-19 functioned through distance education. However, the management and handling of the changes that took place did not leave the students unaffected, as they had to respond to the new conditions. The aim of this research project is to investigate and record the impact of the pandemic COVID- 19 on the formation of the professional identity of graduates – future teachers of the Department of Education and Social Work of the University of Patras, which is attempted through their internship in the academic year 2020 – 2021. The qualitative research method with semi-directed interview as a tool was used for data collection, in which 10 graduates – future teachers who carried out their internship during the pandemic participated. The interviews were conducted online. Based on the results, graduates – future teachers seem to recognise the importance of the internship and to be familiar with the distance teaching and learning function. However, they do not seem to make explicit reference to the concept of professional identity as it is formed through the internship.
