Competency Development for Social Work Students and Teaching Strategies in Social Work Curriculum

Abstract

The objectives of this research are to 1) study the competency of professional social workers and 2) study teaching strategies for social work students to acquire desirable competencies and to be proud to work as professional social workers. This research employs qualitative research with in-depth interviews of 12 social workers in governmental organizations and focus group discussions with 3 groups of students, graduates and lecturers in 6 universities which are members of Thai Association of Social Work and Social Welfare Education. (TASWE) The research results indicate that professional social workers should be equipped with 4 essential competencies, namely; 1) Core Competency 2) Functional Competency 3) Management Competency and 4) Change Leadership Competency, and these competencies should inform teaching strategies at bachelor, master and doctoral degree levels in order for social work students to be able to acquire desirable and highly relevant competencies while feeling pride in their work as  professional social workers.