The current situation in social work education in Papua New Guinea
Keywords:
Fieldwork, field supervisors, international standards, review, social work, ; University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG)Abstract
Across the developed world, schools of social work typically offer their field education programs in an organised fashion that meets the accreditation standards set down by the national accrediting professional association which, in turn are consistent with international standards. In developing countries this is not necessarily the case. This paper reports on a small research project that was conducted to review the current situation in social work education in Papua New Guinea, and to act as the basis for ongoing review and development of the offerings from one available program. While there is a high level of commitment to ensuring that students experience a positive field education experience, there are many challenges to be confronted, particularly at the structural level. In order to raise the standard of social work field education, institutional and structural barriers need to be addressed.
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