“It Made Me Reflect on the Kind of Teacher I Want to Be”: Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions of a University–School Collaboration

This study analyses pre-service teachers’ (PSTs) perceptions of the educational value of the university–school collaborative project “ Un dia al SAF ” for the professional competence development of third-year undergraduate Primary Education students at a Spanish public university. The project engages PSTs in designing and implementing sports-based educational activities for approximately 200 primary school pupils within university facilities, creating a learning environment that connects theoretical coursework with teaching practice. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining a validated questionnaire with open-ended self-reports analyzed thematically. Results indicate that PSTs perceived a positive contribution to their professional competence development in areas such as classroom management, conflict resolution, adaptability, and decision-making, as well as transversal skills including teamwork and communication. Participants also reported a perceived improvement in their integration of theory and practice, greater confidence in assuming the teaching role, and a clearer sense of professional identity. Overall, findings highlight the value of integrating university–school collaborative experiences for PSTs’ perceived professional competence development within initial teacher education curricula beyond traditional internships.