International Semester Social Work. September 2016 January Faculty of Social Work and Education

Transcription

1 International Semester Social Work September 2016 January 2017 Faculty of Social Work and Education 1

2 International Semester Social Work Social workers are tasked with analysing social developments and their implications for the social position of their clients. Such developments will have a bearing not just on the individuals and communities that social workers work with, but also on professional practice itself. Often these developments will cut across borders and require an international perspective of both the developments and professional practice. As such, this requires the relevant skills and expertise to be able to operate in an international and multicultural environment. It requires the ability to change perspective: between an institutional perspective and a client perspective, between a local and a global perspective, but also to develop and apply new frameworks of reference and to discover opportunities for new strategies and interventions. In this international semester you will work with students from different countries and different backgrounds to research these kinds of developments, their impact in different national and local contexts and the way that social workers respond to them within their various national contexts. In the second part of the semester, this will be further explored using current developments in the field of social work. You will have a choice of three minors for that: 1. Community Art 2. Human Rights and Social Work. 3. Special Educational Needs Modules The international semester consists of two 10-week study periods. The first 10-week unit is made up of five parts: 1. An introduction to Social Work in The Netherlands 2. Current social and cultural developments and their significance for social work; 3. Social exclusion; 4. Social work across borders: International comparative study on social work and social policy; 5. Organisation of a conference on current social developments and challenges and how social workers might respond to them. In the second period of 10 weeks, students will have a choice of one of three minors: 1. Community Art (page 4) 2. Human Rights and Social Work (page 6) 3. Special Educational Needs (page 8). 2

3 Learning methods Both the first and second parts of the international semester have a theoretical and practical component. The theoretical part uses lectures and seminars to look at current social developments and challenges as they pertain to social work and social policy. This will include site visits and guest lecturers from the field. The practical section brings in individual and group assignments, with weekly guidance from lecturers from various disciplines. Students will also organise a conference during the first 10 weeks. Learning goals Upon completion of the international semester, students will have acquired the following knowledge and skills: analyzing current cross border developments and their implications for social work practice; insight in the theories that explain the processes and mechanisms of social exclusion and their impact on the position of various groups in society; current debates, developments and frameworks of reference in international social work practice; the development of international and intercultural competences, in particular: o the development of a broad international perspective on the social work profession; o an understanding of the context-related character of social work practice; o the development of critical cultural awareness; o the ability to cross over disciplinary and professional boundaries, languages and cultural backgrounds and to work with colleagues with a range of cultural backgrounds and frameworks of reference. processing and presenting acquired understandings and research outcomes by organizing a conference and delivering a workshop. Assessment Following part 1: Introduction to Social Work in the Netherlands: individual paper (1 ECTS) Social exclusion: written exam (3 ECTS) Social work across borders: group project and presentation (3 ECTS) Current social and cultural developments: individual written assignment (3 ECTS) Conference: organisation of a workshop (5 ECTS) Following the part 2 minors (15 ECTS): Individual written exam based on lectures and the literature studied Group assignment: paper / project plan and presentation Individual research assignment 3

4 Minor 1. Community Art This minor looks at the purpose and significance of Community Art. Community Art is about the application of art in addressing social challenges and the collaboration between social professionals, professional artists and people who are rarely exposed to art. It links to a growing interest in the positive impact of cultural interventions on social environments and the quality of life within them. You will learn to use art to address social challenges by developing a Community Art project plan. This will involve working with arts and culture organisations, community and care organisations, social services, housing associations and local residents. Modules Group assignment for an external client, in collaboration with an artist, and completed with a community research report, presentation and project plan; Series of lectures and seminars, workshops and visits to organisations in the field; Individual research assignment. Learning methods An assignment for an external client will be the vehicle through which you learn to address social challenges through art by creating a Community Art project plan. You will work with a range of professional organisations as part of this. Lectures, excursions and workshops will provide a succinct overview of the historical development of and theoretical background to Community Art. This will include a number of practical examples and guest lecturers. You will explore the underlying reasoning behind various Community Art projects, the policies and other relevant developments within government and the arts and culture sector. Project assignment: Lectures and seminars: Excursions: Workshops: 196 hours 84 hours 56 hours 84 hours 4

5 Learning goals Upon completion of this minor, students will have acquired the following knowledge and skills: knowledge of theories, methods and policy developments relating to Community Art; the ability to develop a thorough vision of Community Art; the ability to use community research to explore questions, needs and expectations; the ability to negotiate agreement between clients, artists and residents on the choice of a Community Art project; making clear agreements with clients and artists about the approach, steps, responsibilities and steering of the development process; the skills to write a project plan that addresses the expectations, motivations and requirements of the various stakeholders; the skills to present the project results using artistic means. Assessment: Written exam based on lectures and the literature studied (30%); Individual research assignment (20%); Project plan and presentation (40%) Reflection assignment (10%). All parts must be completed with at least a pass (5.5. or more on a 10-point scale). 5

6 Minor 2. Human Rights and Social Work If you analyse a client's situation from a human rights perspective, you may come to different conclusions and discover opportunities for new strategies and interventions. Working from a human rights perspective may contribute to the development of a critical and global perspective on social work and the problems social work is facing, oppose tendencies of individualisation, and to link the local to the global. Social workers often associate Human Rights with law topics. A human rights approach typified only by law can be characterised as a top-down approach. But human rights also can be explored from below, taking the situation of a particular group of clients or local community as a starting point. In this minor we will explore both perspectives and what it means for you as a social worker in order to develop your personal human rights approach. Modules 1. Human Rights and Law 2. Human Rights and Social Work 3. Group Assignment: research assignment integrating Human Rights and Social Work 4. Guest lectures and field visits Learning methods After completing this minor, the students will have gained knowledge of the development of human rights and relevant institutions, and the connection between human rights and social work. This knowledge will be acquired during two separate, weekly theoretical lectures: Human Rights and Law and Human Rights and Social Work. Students will also work in groups of 5-6 on a group assignment which will draw on a specific theme or target group to analyse the meaning of Human Rights for Social Work practice. Guest lecturers will be brought in and field visits organised. Learning goals Upon completion of this minor students will have acquired knowledge and experience of: the history of human rights and its relation to social work; the importance of a focus on human rights agenda for an understanding of social problems in terms of social justice and (human) rights; 6

7 topics and target groups, seen from a human rights perspective; the application of human rights in the everyday practice of social work; important questions and dilemmas in social work. Assessment Theoretical test in class (40%) Paper about the integration of theory and practice (20%) Presentation (20%) Diary/paper of the excursions and quest speakers (20%) A pass must be achieved in all of these assessments (meaning at least 5.5 on a scale of 10). 7

8 Minor 3. Special Educational Needs Introduction The Special Educational Needs course is newly developed by the Teacher Training for Primary Education programme but is also open to Social Work and Social Education students interested in the field of Special Educational Needs. Content In a considerable amount of countries there are ongoing developments in the educational field as a result of the Salamanca statement. This Unesco declaration has progressed a movement in The Netherlands that made it possible for more children to be put in regular education. Students are provided with lectures/input about the development in Special Needs Education. Within these lectures multiple methods will be used to make cooperation between students possible. Because of the international character of the group the module will make use of cooperationmethods to be able to engage in collecting information from a more international perspective concerning Special Educational Needs. The morning sessions are provided with lectures given by a (guest)teacher and the afternoon sessions will consists of processing the input of the morning sessions in essays/assignments/presentations using cooperation methods within groups. Not only will the student be provided with generic knowledge concerning the theme Special Educational Needs, but the student is also expected to research at least one disorder the student might encounter when he/she will work with children. The research will be supervised by a professor. The student will have a considerable amount of freedom of choice when it comes to choosing a disorder. If multiple students choose a certain disorder, a researchgroup will be apointed. Learning method This minor gives a considerable amount of attention to research skills and skills concerning writing and oral presentations. Written essays, presentations, assignments and practical assessments. 8

9 Modules There s an indepth in multiple theme s concerning the developments of Special Educational Needs. From a historical perspective there will be a forcus on the Dutch situation. The upcoming developments and the view of Dutch education (law and system) will be placed in a more international perspective. Assessment Written essays, presentations, assignments en praktijk beoordelingen, reflections and 360 graden feedback. We will also mark your attendance. Learning goals The learning goals is twofold: By the end of the minor the student is well aware of why and how Special Educational Needs is developing the way it is in The Netherlands as an outcome of the law and regulations which have been empowered in When using the input given through lectures and research, students can use the acquired knowledge to be able to function as a teacher. This all happens in an international enviromental setting wherein students are able to compare the acquired knowledge with the reality in other countries. Throughout the minor one is expected to constantly think and discuss from an international perspecitive. By the end of the minor the student has acquired knowledge about at least one disorder in the development of a child he or she may encounter in their workfield. He or she acquires this knowledge by doing research and using the guidelines that are applicable to doing research. Students use international (English) research sources. A research paper is an essential part to complete the minor. Prerequisites Some experience in working with minorities or migrants and their children 2 years in (teacher) education At least 4 semesters in an educational setting. 9

10 Total number of credits: 30 ECTS Period: Sept January 2017 Language: All modules are taught in English Programme: Period 1 (Sept. Nov. 2016) Period 2 (Nov Jan. 2017) 1. Introduction to Social Work in The Netherlands (1 ECTS) 2. Current social and cultural developments and their implications for social work (3 ECTS) 3. Social exclusion (3 ECTS) 4. Social Work across borders: international comparative study on social work and social policy (3 ECTS) 5. Organisation of a conference on current social developments and challenges and the way in which social workers might respond to them (5 ECTS) 1. Minor Human Rights and Social Work (15 ECTS) or 2. Minor Community Art (15 ECTS) or 3. Special Educational Needs (15 ECTS) More information: Rudy van den Hoven (Coordinator Internationalisation, Faculty of Social Work and Education) r.f.m.vandenhoven@hhs.nl Further information about The Hague University of Applied Sciences and registration: 10