scholarly journals Do we need cross border education?

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-92
Author(s):  
Tarja Orjasniemi ◽  
Jóna Margrét Ólafsdóttir
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Exchange Students ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Education Data ◽  
The University

The aim of this article is to examine studentsʼ experiences of cross-border education based on a single course carried out in collaboration between two networks, Barents Cross-Border University (BCBU) and the Thematic Network of Social Work (TNSWUA), as well as the experiences of teachers in the course. The course was a part of the curriculum for the Master’s Degree Programme (BCBU) in Comparative Social Work. Most of the students were studying in this Master’s Programme, some of them were exchange students at the University of Lapland (UL) and the rest were social work students at UL and the University of Iceland (UI).  The course ran for two weeks in April 2015, and included lectures, discussions and workshops; parts of the course were delivered electronically, while other sections were delivered by teachers on-site. This course provided a broad multi-professional introduction to the field of addiction and substance abuse care. Students learned about screening the alcohol culture and the relationship between society, addiction, gender, family, life phases, ageing, maternity and substance use. The data for this study was collected through focus group discussion, with students reflecting on one question: ‘Do we need cross-border education?’ Data from instructors was collected through discussions during the planning and post-course discussions. Overall, the experiences of students and instructors were positive. The collaboration did not face insuperable challenges. The findings highlighted four main themes: globalization, networking, comparing theory and practice, and using technology. Globalization has set new demands for social work and its professionals. Experts in cultural diversity and international social issues, as well as people with a comparative approach to different societies, are needed the world over. Regarding implications for cross-border education, we would recommend collaboration in the particular field of social work, developing specific courses together supported by both universities and international networks of universities.

scholarly journals Barefoot Tutors? Navigating the Barriers between student, university and field in social work education

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-19
Author(s):  
Gary Clapton ◽  
Ruth Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Work Education ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Student Integration ◽  
University Of Edinburgh ◽  
Integration Of Learning ◽  
Work Education ◽  
The University

Bridging the gap between theory and practice has long been a challenge for social work students. Facilitating this process has also taxed practice teachers and academic tutors. In 2004, the University of Edinburgh, in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University undertook a pilot project testing and researching a change in the traditional tutor role with a view to enhancing students’ integration of learning during the practicum. This paper outlines the background to and the activity and findings of the project. Then, drawing upon a discussion of the interface between psychodynamic theories and theories of education, we explore some ideas that have begun to emerge that have the possibility of enhancing the tutor role in student integration of learning.

Hong Kong social work students at the University of Hull

1995 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 44-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicky W.K. Leung ◽  
Bill Y.P. Lay ◽  
Anne Ketchell ◽  
Cindy Clark ◽  
Robert Harris
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
The University

scholarly journals Analyzing the Integration of Human Rights into Social Work Education

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Paulette Andrea Henry
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Work Education ◽  
Academic Discipline ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Collective Responsibility ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Work Education ◽  
The University

<p>The understanding of human rights are important to social work education and practice especially since the global definition of social work highlights the dual role of social work as a practice based profession and academic discipline emphasizing the principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversity. Concomitantly, social work education must ensure that students know and understand human rights laws especially since human rights are inherent to all human beings and are often expressed and guaranteed by international law which Governments are expected to uphold. Social workers have a commitment as duty bearers in supporting governments in the upholding of those agreements pertinent to the wellbeing of the people. Using the University of Guyana as a frame of reference this paper examined students’ knowledge on international agreements prior to leaving the University since these laws not only speak to nation states but to universal practices and many social work issues transcend borders. This paper utilized a mixed method approach to ascertain students’ awareness of international human rights laws and their perceptions on the applicability to practice. The findings show that there is limited knowledge amongst social work students on human rights covenants and conventions. This assessment is instructive to social work educators locally and internationally pointing to the need for integration into the curricula. It is imperative that generalist practitioners leave the University with a clear understanding of these laws as many practice issues are transnational. There will be the need for international social work to be a taught course for undergraduates training to become generalist practitioners.</p>

scholarly journals Online and face-to-face role-play simulations in promoting social work students’ argumentative problem solving

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kati Vapalahti ◽  
Miika Marttunen ◽  
Leena Laurinen
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Role Play ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Teaching Experiment ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Alcohol And Drug Abuse ◽  
Role Play Simulation

This paper reports on a teaching experiment in which social work students (n=38) practiced problem solving through argumentative tasks. A teaching experiment was carried out at a Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences in Finland in connection with a course concerning preventative work against alcohol- and drug abuse. This quasi- experimental study investigated whether role-play simulation conducted either online (15 students) or face-to-face (14 students) improved students’ problem solving on social issues. As a pre-test, the students wrote an essay after having watched a dramatization of problematic cases on elderly people’s use of alcohol. The students also attended lectures (30 x 45 min) on the effect of substance abuse and preventive work, and after the role-play simulation they wrote another essay (post-test). Nine controls wrote an essay without participating in the role-play simulation. Lastly, the students filled out feedback questionnaires.

The Practice Pyramid: A model for integrating social work values, theory and practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 64-80
Author(s):  
Jean Gordon ◽  
Gillian Mackay
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Practice Theory ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Learning Processes ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Field Placements ◽  
Social Work Values ◽  
Extensive Evaluation

The Practice Pyramid is a learning tool that supports social work students’ ability to integrate their understanding of personal and professional values, theory and practice during field placements. Although it has been used by practice educators in Scotland for over 20 years, it is not well known elsewhere and has yet to be evaluated. This paper, written by a practice educator and a student social worker, describes the Practice Pyramid and provides a case example to illustrate how it contributed to one student’s learning during a practice placement. Four factors that appear to contribute to its success are proposed: its model of pedagogy, the visual and accessible nature of the tool, flexibility and the support it gives to collaborative learning processes. It is suggested that the Practice Pyramid may usefully support learning in a range of social work and non social work contexts, and would benefit from more extensive evaluation of its role in supporting practice - theory integration.Keywords: Practice Pyamid; social work students; field placements; Scotland; collaborative learning

Enhancing Community-Based Learning in Social Work Education Through a Social Marketing Approach

2020 ◽  
pp. 306-321
Author(s):  
Carlo Mari
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Social Marketing ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Graduate Course ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Professional Degree ◽  
Work Education

How do universities engage with local communities? How is a pedagogy of engagement introduced into a graduate professional degree? Are there any new approaches for linking campuses with communities? Is social marketing a useful approach when considering community engagement? The chapter aims to answer these questions by proposing a novel approach based on applying social marketing to the scholarship of teaching. Specifically, it draws on an example of a university graduate course in social marketing within a master's program in social work at an Italian university. The experience shows how a social marketing perspective helps social work students address social issues that face local communities through service-learning.

scholarly journals Professional writing: Description of the writings of social workers in Botswana

2012 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-402
Author(s):  
Unity Nkateng ◽  
Sue Wharton
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Teaching Writing ◽  
Professional Writing ◽  
Support Unit ◽  
University Of Botswana ◽  
The University

The main purpose of this study is to identify the professional writing needs of undergraduate students studying social work in the University of Botswana. In order to do this, it seeks to analyse the types of texts produced by social workers in their professional setting, to find out what relationship exists between the writing done by professional social workers and the writing taught in the dedicated English Language Support unit at the University of Botswana, and to explore the similarities and differences between the documents written by the students and those produced by professional social workers. It also examines current approaches to teaching writing in the University, with the aim of identifying the writing needs of social work students and exploring how these can be effectively addressed.

Contribution of the Social Work Study of the Institute of Sociology the University of Silesia in the process of professionalisation of the social worker profession – historical outline

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 7-25
Author(s):  
Kazimiera Wódz ◽  
Ewa Leśniak-Berek
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Work Study ◽  
Work Unit ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
25Th Anniversary ◽  
Historical Outline ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The University

The main goal of the article is to present the achievements of the Social Work Unit at the Institute of Sociology of the University of Silesia, accumulated during the 25 years of its functioning. Aside from the rich experience in terms of educating towards the position of a social employee, the unit is characterized by scientific research activity and is engaged in numerous cooperative endeavours locally, nationally and internationally. The entirety of the activity contributes to the pursuit of processes that strengthen the professionalism and prestige of the job of a social employee. The activity results from the belief in the significance of combining theory and practice, which is evidenced in the various forms of the realized tasks. The text was created for the 25th anniversary of the existence of the Social Work Unit and is a summary of the most important achievements.

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