Janet Williams, Peter Nelson, Sheffield Hallam University SWIPE : Cross-national curriculum development for globalised praxis.

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile This presentation will cover: 1. The SWIPE project in Socrates Erasmus: possibilities and challenges 2. SWIPE Who we are and what we did Aims and Outcomes 3. Globalisation and internationalising the Social Work Curriculum 4. Evaluation 5. Questions and learning from our European collaboration.

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile Socrates - Erasmus Higher Education Institutions are supported, through the Socrates- Erasmus Action, to meet European Union social and economic objectives: Social cohesion (Maastricht Treaty 1992) Prepare citizens to be competitive in a globalised economy (Lisbon Strategy).

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile Socrates ‘ The Socrates-Erasmus Action encourages co-operation between universities across Europe and supports mobility of students and staff in higher education, the development of joint programmes, courses and the development of thematic networks. ’ Funding is available

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile European collaboration Convergence of educational systems ‘Bologna Agreement’ and European Credit Transfer (ECTs) – modules and courses can be used across Europe.

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile SWIPE Six European universities

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile OUTPUTS 2 year curriculum development project. Audit of practice learning in each country A Common Module – framework for delivering learning and teaching Curriculum and menu of learning teaching assessment materials - college and 'on site' Bibliography Dissemination – locally, nationally and internationally Web site Conference.

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile Funded Activities include: Staff time; each partner- tutor and practice educator (administrator, technicians) Regular local network meetings Four meetings of all partners Briefing Visits (2) to Brussels Conference (19 September) Translation costs

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile Tartu 3rd meeting Vilnius 2 nd meeting

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile Module Focus: Globalisation Reasons for movement of people, capital and ideas and their social and economic impact: implications for social work practice. Policy context, international, national and regional Social work responses, policy and practice (what works elsewhere and why?) Recognise and celebrate difference.

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile The module is based on: Learning outcomes - at the end of the module successful students will be able to: Reflect upon and understand personal, professional and cultural values Identify cross-national social problems Make cross national comparisons (learning from others) Identify processes of cross national and cultural communication Engage in empowering practice with marginalised groups.

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile SWIPE: Working together and mirroring the process of dealing with difference Language, terminology, communication whose English and false friends? whose ‘take’ on social problems where to start and what questions to ask? Organisational arrangements – doing similar things in different ways? Fun for progress – time together, group work skills.

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile Is this enough? I

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile Is social work an international activity? Do we have a role as social workers in international affairs? Is there a community of ‘social work’ that can speak with one voice in international affairs? Do our differences and commonalities divide or unite us?

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile Why Internationalise the curriculum? EU agenda UK Academic Benchmarks and Occupational Standards Shaking ethnocentric/Eurocentric focus through learning from other societies Challenging parochial ideas of evidence Critical engagement with personal and professional assumptions (hegemony) Global employment and global problems.

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile How do we know it is a good thing? Healy (1990) identifies four reasons to support international content: The educated person's perspective The increasing level of global inter- dependence and its effects on local social work practice The use of international knowledge to deal with domestic social work problems The opportunity to contribute professional experience to global issues.

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile Evaluation Healy's reasons for action provide a template for evaluation which goes beyond student experience At present evaluation focuses on the educated person as the student There is a need to include the service user and the educator Does SWIPE go beyond creating an educated person? Do international initiatives make a difference and for whom? (Caragata and Sanchez 2002:236).

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile Has SWIPE delivered? Different answers from different partners: Module developed, piloted and incorporated in SW programmes E-learning project (see poster presentation Gevorgianienė, V. Jakutienė, V. Hendriks, P, Kloppenburg, R.) Raised the significance of globalisation within local and national social work networks Partners’ process of collaboration/comparative work mirroring and guiding our understanding of student learning processes (academy and on-site) Combined academic and practice learning and produced shared learning materials- available on line.

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile SWIPE Conference ‘Social Work in a Cross-national context’ 19 September 2006, Sheffield, UK. Contact From end July conference details

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile Information about EU projects Good places to start: Socrates, Leonardo and Youth TAO

Sheffield Hallam University IASSW Chile For information on all the Actions oad_en.html or 1Erasmus for HEIs UK (staff and student mobility, intensive visits etc.) Applying for projects: ew.htm ew.htm 2Erasmus Mundus - Master's programmes for international students