Social Professional Practice (10 ECTS)
Programme » Social Professional Practice (10 ECTS)
The module introduces students to the development of methods in social professional practice all over Europe, including an analysis of the theoretical background of the methods. It also examines the possibilities for cross-European implementation. Guest lecturers from all over Europe travel to Maastricht to inform and critically discuss social practice in their respective countries by drawing on their experience as academics, social practitioners or policy makers.
Similar social challenges are being observed all over Europe: unemployment, poverty, homelessness, multi-problem families and so on. However, not only do the respective social policies differ from country to country and from region to region, but the responses of social practitioners do too. This implies the call for and use of various practices and methods for what are often similar questions and challenges. Can we understand the different ways social workers act in Europe in an accurate way? Can we compare the way social workers practise their profession? Is it possible to identify ‘best practice or best practices’ in this multitude of approaches? What is shaping social work practice in Europe? This module takes the student into the realm of the practices of social work; it explores practical methods and provides a framework for analysing social work practice and methods.
Examination type: Unseen oral exam (30 minutes)
Convener and (guest) lecturers from 2007-2008
- Gabor Hegyesi, Head of Department of Social Work, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest Hungary
- Walter Lorenz, Professor Social Work, Free University of Bolzano, Italy
- Friedrich Seibel, Professor Social Work, Koblenz, Germany
- Steven Shardlow, Professor Social Work, University of Salford, UK
- Gordon Vincenti, Senior Lecturer Social Work, Via University College, Arhus, Denmark
- Maja Rocak, Social Worker, MACESS Alumnus
- Thomas Vollmer, MACESS Alumnus, Ministry of Social Affairs, Switzerland
- Teresa Rossell, Professor of Social Work, University of Barcelona, Spain
