Comparative Social Work – Module 2 – 10 ECTS credits. See the Curriculum Plan Social work in Europe
Module 2 offers three optional themes each one of 10 ECTS credits. All our courses have a Competence based Curriculum Plan, integrating theory and practice.
Which of the three themes that will be arranged every year depends on the number of students that apply for the module.
Theme 2A: Discrimination Oppression and Ethnic Diversity as Phenomena in Europe. Anti-oppressive approaches to social work
This module will allow the student to understand commonalities and differences in terms of the how societies marginalise certain groups of people. In what way are social work theories and methods suitable to deal with questions concerning discrimination and oppression. In some places anti-discriminatory practice has come to be seen as integral to good social practice; in other words, one cannot have good social work practice without it. But how far is this reflected in the reality of everyday practice, and to what extent are students given the knowledge and skills they need to practice it? The module will demonstrate that discrimination and oppression are not homogenous concepts but focus on different target groups in various ways, and therefore are different in their manifestations in relation to these groups. A range of disadvantaged groups will be considered, but particular emphasis will be put on cultural and ethnic diversity, and racism. The implications of discrimination and oppression of marginalised groups for European social welfare and social work will be considered.
Theme 2B: Poverty and welfare systems. Anti-oppressive approaches to social work.
Poverty is one of the core problems for social work throughout the world. This module deals with how social work in Europe can meet and deal with the challenges of social problems caused by poverty.
Social problems are created in a national, European and global context. Every country has its own way of dealing with social problems depending on different historical, cultural, religious and political backgrounds. The commonalities are that all countries have to deal with social problems through resources from the family, voluntary organisations, the state and the market. The difference is that all countries have a “welfare mix” of their own.
A cross-cultural comparison of social work and welfare systems in Europe should facilitate understanding of social problems in the different parts of Europe and should improve strategies and methods of social work.
This module will focus on anti-oppressive approaches in social work. A central questions is: How can social workers fulfil the values written in The International Federation of Social Workers definition of social work: “In solidarity with those who are disadvantaged, the profession strives to alleviate poverty and to liberate vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion”.
Theme 2C: Social work Practice in a European Context
The traditional background of social work has been connected to two different roots of origin, the individual casework tradition and the community work tradition. Modern social workers in Europe have to deal with social problems that need multiple methods for solution. Knowledge about society and law as well as psychological understanding of the human nature is important and is paid great attention in the educational programmes in Social Work. However, achieving “Best Practice” is in many part of Europe a challenge to the educational programmes.
Social work emerges in the space between person and environment or person-in-situation. In a comparative study of social work in Europe we will focus mainly on system- and critical- theories and methods. We believe it will be interesting to see how these theories and methods will appear when they are used in different contexts on similar problems and with people from different countries. A central question will be what skills and competences are needed in different social contexts?
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