1. Specification of Competency Standards in Social Work Program: A New Teaching Tool for the Professional Development of Thai Social Workers Decha Sungkawan, Ph.D. Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University skwdecha@tu.ac.th

2. Country Geographical Information The country is located in the center of Indochina and northern part of Malay Peninsula. It is bordered by Cambodia to the east, Laos to the north, Myanmar and Andaman Sea to the west, and Malaysia to the south. The climate is a tropical climate which has rainy season from May to October which causes frequent floods

3. Basic Country Profile Area : 514,000 km2 Coastline : 3,219 km Population : approximate 67 millions GDP (PPP) : $477.5 billion GDP Per Capita : $7,400 Population below poverty line : 10.4%

4. Background on Social Work Education The first western model of social welfare agency, the Department of Public Welfare in 1940 and the National Cultural Council as the training institution for pioneer social work practitioners

5. Background on Social Work Education Social work education and social work profession had been introduced and established in Thailand along with the socioeconomic and social welfare development since1950s

6. The First School of Social Work Faculty of Social Administration had been founded in 1954 at Thammasat University to offer the social work degree program of study that was firstly developed to serve the Department of Public Welfare

7. Degree Programs on Social Work Education Social work degree programs in Thailand are offered both at undergraduate and graduate levels only at the higher educational institutions The degree programs offer in the higher educational institutions include; Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work and Doctoral degree in social administration

8. Second School of Social Work The second school of social work was founded in 1990s at Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, a private university funded by a local charity organization to serve to more demand of the profession as the welfare system had been expanded

9. Number of students in social work program Thammasat University admits 400 students (250 Bangkok and 150 Lampang Campus) for bachelor degree in social work and 80 students for master degree in social work per academic year

10. Number of students in social work program Huachiew Chalermprakiet University admits 150 students for bachelor degree in social work and 50 students for master degree in social work per academic year

11. Doctoral program in social work Thammasat University admits 5 students for doctoral degree in social administration per academic year while Hua Chiew Chalermprakiat University is now offers its doctoral program in social work and social welfare

12. Social Work Program in Other Institutions Prince of Songkhla University (South) Krirk University (Bangkok) Mahachulalongkornrajavidaya laya Buddhist University (Chiang Mai, North) Mahamakut Buddhist University (Central)

13. Social Work Standard Curriculum The social work curriculum are approved and accredited by the Commission on Higher Education, Ministry of Education and the curriculum also need to gain recognition of the Office of Civil Service Commission

14. Development of the Framework for Social Work Education Thai Association of Social Work and Social Welfare Education has been established in 2013 by the network of existing schools of social work and Thailand Association of Social Workers

15. Thai Association of Social Work and Social Welfare Education (TASWE).  Thai Association of Social Work and Social Welfare Education has been legally registered with three specific objectives; to develop and promotion of social work and social welfare education, to support the study, research and develop body of knowledge for social work and social welfare practices, and to support social work and social welfare networking at both national and international levels

16. The founding members of TASWE  The Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University  The Faculty of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hua Chiew Chalermprakiat University  The Faculty of Liberal Arts, Krirk University  The Faculty of Social Science, Mahachulalongkornrajvidyalaya University  The Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Prince of Songkhla University  The Faculty of Social Science, Chiang Mai University  The Faculty of Humanities, Ramkhamhaeng University  Thailand Association of Social Workers

17. Social Work Employment The approximate numbers of 1,500 social workers are employed mainly in the public welfare agencies while a few are employed in local government and non- government agencies

18. The Governmental Organizations The Ministry of Social Dev. and Human Security The Ministry of Public Health The Ministry of Justice The Ministry of Education The Ministry of Defense The Ministry of Interior The Ministry of Labor Office of the Prime Minister (The National Police Bureau)

19. Local government and non-government agencies Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Other local governmental agencies Holt-Sahathai Foundation The Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights The Council of Social Welfare of Thailand Other non-governmental child welfare agencies

20. Social Work Practice Currently Required in the Legislations The Social Security Act 1990 The Labor Protection Act 1998 The Criminal Procedure Act Amendment in 1999 The Narcotics Addict Rehabilitation Act 2002 The Child Protection Act 2003 The Social Welfare Promotion Act 2003

21. Social Work Practice Currently Required in the Legislations The Welfare for Elderly Act 2003 The Domestic Violence Victim Protection Act 2007 The Mental Health Act 2008 The Anti Human Trafficking Act 2008 The Establishing the Juvenile and Family Courts Act 2011

22. Ethical Principles for Social Work Practice Social work code of ethics guided by Thailand Association of Social Workers founded in 1957 as a national association for social workers The Association of Thai Medical Social Worker and the Association of Psychiatric Social Worker are recently established as the guideline bodies for the social workers in these specific areas of practice

23. Development of the Standard of Practice for Social Workers The Social Work Profession Act 2012 has passed and been enforced. The social work profession is recognized and will be registered under the new Act. The Council of Social Work Profession has been established to provide the standard guidelines for the social workers and social work practice

24. Development of the Standard of Practice for Medical Social Workers The medical social workers are on their way to call for licensing of practice in these specific procedures; Social assessment/diagnosis and social treatment Social surveillance and prevention Social promotion and rehabilitation Social resource management Community work and advocacy Research and development

25. Current Problems and Issues in Social Work Education Lack of interest among the students in the field of study The social work curriculum, as the others, is regulated by the national educational standard framework in general (standard of social work and social welfare curriculum is in the process) Educational institutions do not interest to offer SW degree Limited numbers of qualified practice agencies and supervisors for field instruction

26. Current Problems and Issues in Social Work Practice Numbers of social workers were recruited from persons with degrees in other fields of study Social workers in most practice areas are struggling for the professional status Lack of professional development in most areas of practice The demand for clear and concrete on the ethical principles for practice More demand of social workers in the local government bodies

27. Specification of Competency Standards in Social Work and Social Policy Programs in Thailand Thai Qualifications Framework for Higher Education in Social Work and Social Policy

28. BSW, MSW, DSW (Social Work) BA, MA, Ph.D. (Social Policy) Degree Programs in Social Work and Social Policy

29. Professional expression in personality, behavior and communication Utilize the practical tools to protect rights and interest of clients and society Value in social justice and maintain quality of life for clients, community and society Maintain professional integrity and responsibility Desired Social Work and Social Policy Graduates

30. Maintain the professional ethics Understand and tolerance in conflict situations Respect in human dignity Rights protection and advocacy The practical value in participation Standard Learning Results in Professional Ethics

31. Knowledge in social science theories and concepts Knowledge in social work and social policy Knowledge in the context of professional development Standard Learning Results in Knowledge

32. Systematic analytical ability Abilities in searching, analyze, evaluate, integrate and sanitizing of knowledge Ability to analyze and evaluate the practice and intervention subjectiely Standard Learning Results in Cognitive Skills

33. Professional relationship development Responsibilities for self and the others, for task and duty, organization and society Readiness in roles of leaders as well as supporters Standard Learning Results in Responsibility and Interpersonal Relationship

34. Skills in fundamental quantitative analysis Ability in applying information technology in searching and data analyzing Communication skills with clients and diverse communities Standard Learning Results in Quantity, Communication and Information Technology

35. Fundamental skills in professional relationship development Skills in data gathering, recording, analyzing and prepare the report Ability in providing basic services for individual, group, and community Coordinating ability among the service organizations Standard Learning Results in Professional Practice

36. Council of Social Work Profession(Licensure) Thailand Association of Social Workers Thailand Association of Social Work and Social Welfare Education The Related Professional Organizations

37. Minimum Credit Hours 120 in 3 parts General education 30 Social work 84 Elective6 BSW Curriculum Structure

38. Minimum social work credit hours66 Theory causes 51 Field practicum 6 Specific area of practice 15 Social Work as a Major Field of Study

39. Minimum credit hours 15 Human behavior 3 Social welfare 3 Social policy 3 Specific area of practice 6 Social Work as a Minor Field of Study

40. Minimum credit hours 9 Specific area of practice 3 Social welfare administration3 Social welfare policy 3 Social Work as A Subject of Study

41. Behavioral and applied social science Analytical methods Theory and philosophy of social work Social work and social welfare body of knowledge Social work methods Specific area of practice and field practicum Social Work Subjects of Study

42. Problem-based teaching Evidence-based approach Participatory knowledge building Learning process focus Field practice learning Teaching Strategy and Learning Results Evaluation

43. Case study Group learning Situational learning Seminar and report Self studying Coursework Teaching Strategy

44. During and end semester evaluations Learning portfolio assessment Observation Self and group evaluations Learning Results Evaluation Strategy

45. Review teaching subject matters and methods Coursework evaluation criteria Learning results evaluation criteria Review learning results evaluation Research on teaching and learning management Coursework Learning Results Review

46. Stakeholders review meeting School of social work network meeting Curriculum review Review by impartial third party Curriculum Learning Results Review

47. Curriculum standing committee members Teaching faculty members Field instructors Faculty/student ratio Adjunct faculty members Supporting staff Teaching Personnel and Supporting Staff

48. Teaching unit; school/department/division Program budgeting Library or learning center Learning supervision facilities Networking with other schools/departments Instruction for field practicum Teaching/ Learning and Management Resources

49. Curriculum standing committee members Detail of program specifications Detail of coursework instructions Report of coursework instruction Report of curriculum management Curriculum Quality Assurance

50. Review of standard learning results Development of teaching and learning New instructors orientation Faculty and personnel development Student/stakeholders satisfaction Curriculum Quality Assurance

51. Thank you Q /A Round Table Discussion