Consultative meeting with NGOs and Governmental Organizations, Organized by School of Social Work, MLCU November 29, 2024
At the School of Social Work, Martin Luther Christian University, we have been constantly updating the curriculum based on the developing competencies and policy landscape at the national and international levels. To further improve our competencies and practices in the light of the changing infrastructural and policy landscapes driven by emerging social issues, we prioritize a proper communication to exchange ideas whereby a one-day consultative meeting was organized on November 29, 2024 with Governmental and Non-Governmental organizations. As we continue to explore areas for interventions and learning, our goals and objectives are only achievable through the platforms for experiential learning provided by both government and non-government organizations (NGOs). Social Work is a profession in which over 50% of the education occurs within organizations through fieldwork and internships, allowing students to acquire practical applications of the subject from numerous organizations across different sectors.
Social Work profession is in a constant state of evolution in a landscape shaped by emerging social issues and the active interplay of physical and social infrastructures. Through these processes of evolution, Social Workers strive to remain efficient in their attempts to improve the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. This effort requires the integration of emerging values, practices, and technical skills with the core ethos of the discipline. This meeting is a benchmark in our Curriculum Development where the objectives are of the meeting are:
- Revision and feedbacks on the fieldwork/internship performances of Social Work students from MLCU
- Development of skills and competencies to be imbibed in our curriculum development
- Emerging technical skills
- Communication and collaboration between faculty and field supervisors
- Improvement of student’s preparedness for the internship and fieldwork
The meeting was held in a hybrid mode, whereby 16 distinct organisations were able to participate from both inside the state and from other states in the North Eastern Region. The meeting commences with a welcoming address by the Dean of the School of Social Work, followed by a presentation about the School and its program. The primary activity of the conference is the focus group discussion, in which organizations are categorized according to their operational areas and competence. The discussion was productive, during which they discussed the essential skills and information to be incorporated into the curriculum. Furthermore, they contribute to the improvement of fieldwork and internships. The meeting concluded with many organizations agreed in the signing of MOU so as to formalize our partnerships and collaborations.
