Teaching International Social Work

1. Teaching International Social Work Stockholm Conference July 2012 Nigel Hall Kingston University, UK n.hall@sgul.kingston.ac.uk Sage Publications, IFSW

2. Purpose of the module encouraging discussion of students’ own diverse international experiences developing awareness of international issues and linking this to social work knowledge and values promoting consideration of best practice in social work from around the world

3. International social work Four dimensions: internationally related domestic practice and advocacy professional exchange international practice international policy development and advocacy. Healy, L. (2001) International Social Work: Professional Action in an Interdependent World. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

4. Context of the module • Taught at Kingston University, London from 2010 as part of a post-qualifying course for practitioners in both adult and children & families' services. • International module an optional module but proving quite popular with students • Small numbers allowing for sharing of experience and discussion (approx 10 students per year).

5. How is the module assessed? • Each student will research and develop a proposed international social work project (3,500 words), which will critically analyse how international social work knowledge can be applied in the context selected (the project may be either actual or imagined) (70% of mark) • Using a poster presentation the project is shown to both class and academic members of staff who then grade it (30% of mark)

6. Topics covered (1) History and background of the three key international professional organisations: IFSW, IASSW, ICSW International code of ethics, international values, International definition of social work Social development and social work Indigenous social work theory and practice social work and human rights issues.

7. Topics covered (2) Poverty alleviation, structural adjustment and movements for economic justice Humanitarian initiatives – tsunami, disaster, HIV/AIDS pandemic and the social work response Ethnic and inter-state conflict, refugees and forced migration International approaches to user and carer involvement and empowerment

8. Linking students with international practitioners... Connecting the class with international social work practitioners adds value to the module and in 2011 a Skype connection was used to link the classroom to the IFSW international office in Berne, Switzerland. Students were able to interview the recently appointed Secretary General of IFSW on his plans for the future and following the earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, a Consultant Social Worker dealing with the recovery and relief operations.

9. ...and external speakers a Zimbabwean UK based social worker discussing his experiences of moving to and finding work in the UK KU Professor detailing his work in the development of welfare policies as consultant with the Russian-European Trust for Welfare Reform. Children’s Society explaining their work with young carers in Africa and developing a toolkit website which supports black and minority ethnic young carers and their families Social work experience in situations of political conflict, especially Palestine.

10. Examples of student projects Action for Disabled People in the Ivory Coast The Activity of Shell in Ogoniland The Freedom Project (Afghanistan) The Start Programme: Supporting Street Children in Brazil Hope from Hospital Project (Nigeria) Child soldiers in Congo: Demobilisation Assisting Tanzanian street kids through uilding awareness of the Global Agenda

11. Project – Tanzanian Street Kids meet Swedish young people • Develop local project (e.g. working with street children, but link this is project materials to relevant international global agenda theme(s). • Link the project to Street Kids International and publicise these connections, including Global Agenda issues • Develop an exchange programme so that local street kids will visit a young person’s project in Sweden • Funding – application to SIDA and to local social work charities • Time period – a 3-year project • International social work is: “…the promotion of social work education and practice globally and locally, with the purpose of building a truly integrated international profession that reflects social work’s capacity to respond appropriately and effectively…to the various global challenges that are having a significant impact on the well-being of large sections of the world population” • (Cox & Pawar, 2006 International Social Work: Issues, Strategies & Programs. London: Sage, p.20) Project: Building Awareness of the Global Agenda to assist Street Kids • Themes • Social and economic inequalities within countries and between regions • Dignity and worth of the person • Environmental sustainability • Importance of human relationships

12. Differing Perspectives in social work • STUDENTS’ • OWN • PERSPECTIVE • Personal values • Individual • experience • INTERNATIONAL • SOCIAL WORK PERSPECTIVE • Social change • Social justice • Socio-political • awareness • Global /systemic • UNIVERSITY/ • AGENCY • PERSPECTIVE • Deepening knowledge • Building values • Improving professional capabilities

13. Learning from Best Practice in International Work Developing confidence in students’ professional role & values Appreciating examples of best practice – local, national & global Engaging in positive, solution focused & pro-active approaches Building on anti- oppressive & ADP values Sustaining critical reflection and analysis Deepening values of respect , participation & social development

14. Student feedback (2011 class) “Enjoyed the assignment and poster presentations” “A good way of bringing together various interests” “Skype links very interesting – appreciated the chance to interview key people in IFSW” “helped me think about working internationally and what this would involve” Interesting to think through factors causing social exclusion and poverty”

15. Resources International Teaching Resources http://www.swap.ac.uk/themes/int.html#ext http://www.swapbox.ac.uk/ International Federation of Social Workers http://www.ifsw.org International Association of Schools of Social Work http://www.iassw-aiets.org/ International Council on Social Welfare http://www.icsw.org/

16. THANK YOU!