14.1.3 DEGREE PROGRAMME IN SOCIAL SERVICES

BACHELOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES, 140 CR / 210 ECTS CR

- MULTICULTURAL SOCIAL WORK

Mission Statement, Aims and Objectives of the programme:

Multicultural theory and practice is founded on the principle that cultural, linguistic and other differences can and should be used as a basis for learning and teaching. In Multicultural Social Work this principle serves as an important starting point for all client interactions while enriching individual experiences.

Multicultural Social Work means encouraging cultural competencies in order to increase student flexibility in responding to client needs. Multicultural Social Work seeks to recognize, acknowledge and utilize the unique contributions of individuals and other groups in a pluralistic society by building on their strengths and recognizing how factors such as race, class, gender, religion etc. affect their lives and the provision of holistic client care.

This demands the employment of both anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive social work methodologies in order to effect the empowerment of marginalized and socially excluded groups such as ethnic minorities, the elderly, the unemployed, the disabled, youths, and the mentally ill. An understanding of the altering nature of welfare provision, economics and political structures, a recognition of the effects of globalization, cultural pluralism and the importance of networking, multiprofessional, and multifaceted approaches to client care are other key areas of competence.

Multiculturalism demands that social workers give up mere cultural sensitivity as the endpoint and instead use it as a way of understanding the specific needs of individuals and cultural groups, the cultural contradictions, and the unique working methods these require.

STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME

The Structure of Degree Programme in Social Services (pdf)