Fields of Practice - the Social Worker's Professional Role and Tasks (International), 13.5 Credits

Contents

The course International Field-based Studies recognizes the importance of preparing social work students to function and work in different cultural contexts and an increasingly globalized world. By exploring social problems and social work in an international context, students will learn to be sensitive to, and to value and respect diversity. This course takes a practical orientation to studying broader contexts of social work based on the study placements in which students find themselves.

Under supervision, students will actively participate in and observe social work practice, advocacy and social action practices from a global perspective.

International Field-based Studies also contains written tasks such as the written individual scientific work in which students critically explore and problematize a subject of interest, that is in some way connected to their place of field based studies.

Written reflections are a further means for students to reflect critically on learning that has taken place - personally and professionally. Finally, this course also includes lectures and seminars. Preparatory seminars provide a theoretical and methodological anchor to field based studies. Concluding seminars provide students the opportunity to share experiences from different contexts through presentations of written work and discussions concerning them. Students will have further opportunities to discuss similarities and differences in the meaning and practice of social work in different cultural contexts.

The content above reflects the followiont three educational themes Pedagogical Competence, Professional Awarness and the development of Research Skills and are operationalized through the learning outcomes.

Expected learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this moment will be able to

- orient to practical social work with individuals, groups and communities based on the conditions, social and cultural contexts in which the field studies take place,
- reflect on ethical aspects involved in international field-based studies as well as within the social work profession, varied working conditions and practice contexts,
- reflect on the role of social workers in relation to age, class, gender, sexual and ethnic perspectives within contexts of social work practice,
- reflect upon on the significance of differences and similarities in people, cultures and worldviews as they impact social work practice.
- describe and problematize how this new knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of another culture has impacted one's own views of the world and of the role of social work in it,
- carry out an overview (at least 1 page in length) of international sources of knowledge, identify and critically analyze a social phenomenon or social problem in an international context.

Required Knowledge

Form of instruction

International Field-based Studies is carried out as primarily but not exclusively as field based studies abroad. For one week prior to the study period abroad, students will participate in  seminars and exercises to prepare them for an international learning opportunity and to support the integration of their learning and practice across culturees and settings. Focus will be on improving student's understanding of reciprocal and mutual learning that takes place between and among cultures. Students will be abroad for a minimum of 5 weeks. The final two weeks take place in Sweden where students complete their individual written scientific work, reflections and participate in seminars with other students.

In this course the student and field supervisor will determine together the days and hours of work during these studies. Absence due to other than written scientific work, of more than one week must be reported to the responsible course coordinator in order to determine how the lost time can be made up.

Examination modes

To successfully complete this course, students must

* Activly participate in preparation seminars

* Alongside the participation in seminars and lectures about how to write an scientific reportwork the students must be active and reflective about the forthcoming filed base studies and what impact  the  new culture will make

* Conduct a written scientific work
The scientific work shall be articulating and analysing knowledge gained from the exploration of a social issue in a particular social setting, which should be tied to formal, scientific and informal sources.

* Participate in a final seminar
Conduct a presentation of the scientific work and participate in an open discussion about knowledge gained from studying in a different social, political and cultural context.

* Write an reflection report
The student shall individually write a reflection concerning professional and cultural knowledge that the student has gained. The reflection shall also include a discussion of the student's personal and professional development.

* Hand in a certificate
Upon completion of the field based studies, the field supervisor will complete and sign a certificate of completed field based studies under 5-7 weeks. This certificate must be handed in to the course coordinator (kursansvarig).

All of these elements form the basis for the grade the student receives. Grading will
only take place once all of the elements above are completed.

Rules regarding Examination

The grades for the Individually written scientific work is either Pass with Distinction, Pass or Fail. The grades for the following examinations is either Pass or Fail:

* Activly participate in preparation seminars and lectures

* Activly reflect about the forthcoming field base studies and what impact the new culture will make

* Activly participate in a final seminar

* The written reflection report

* Hand in the certificate

A student who fails to obtain a pass result at the regular test is entitled to the opportunity of a re-take. A re-take must be offered not more than three months after the regular test. A re-take must be offered not more than three months after the regular test, but it must not be offered earlier than ten working days after the result of the regular test has been announced and a copy of the student's examination script is available. Re-take time(s) should be announced not later than the day of the regular test. In addition, at least one further re-take opportunity (known as a "catching-up test") must be offered within one year of the regular test.

A student who has passed an examination may not be re-examined.

If a college or university limits the number of occasions on which a student may enrol for a test in order to obtain a pass grade for a course or sub-course, the number of attempts must be at least five. In order for an opportunity of examination to be regarded as forfeited, the student must have failed formally on the test. Absence from an examination may not be counted as a forfeit examination. Participation in an examination without submitting a result, handing in a blank paper, counts as an opportunity.
Anyone who has not passed and examination has the right to take a re-take on a course where she/he has once been registered, provided that any limitations on the number of times of examination have not been exceeded.
In cases where examinations or compulsory course elements cannot be repeated according to the rules of re-takes and work practice that has to be done again, these can be replaced with a different task. The extent and content of such a task should be in a reasonable proportion to the missed compulsory course element.

A student has the right to be tested in accordance with the same syllabus as during the original examination twice, for up to two years after the first registration.

A student who has taken two tests for a course or segment of a course, without passing, has the right to have another examiner appointed, unless there exist special reasons (Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 6, section 11b). A request of another examiner should be sent in to the Director of studies at the Department of Social Work, Umeå University.

If the student has a certificate of special pedagogical support, the examiner has the right to decide on an adjusted form of examination.

Examinations are normally held in the place where the course was conducted. In special circumstances a student may be examined at some other location. Special consideration shall be given to candidates wishing to be examined at Campus Skellefteå, Campus Örnsköldsvik and in Lycksele. A student wishing to be examined at another location must make an application to the department in question not less than one month prior to the day of the examination. Prerequisites of examination at another location are that recognised invigilation, premises and all other conditions required for the examination in question can be arranged at reasonable cost to the department. Students who play elite-level sport and who have an agreement with Umeå Sport Sciences Centre are seen as having special reasons to be examined in a different location (Decistion by the Vice-Chancellor, reg. no. 102-329-07; in Swedish)

Other regulations

The course is one of two elegible courses the third semester.

Exchange Students
Individual study plans will be made with outbound international scholarship students.

Advanced Course Credit (Tillgodoräknande)
Determined on an individual case-by-case basis.
http://www.student.umu.se/examen/tillgodoraknanden