The University of Northampton

Transforming Lives, inspiring change

JSWEC 10TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Experiencingsocial workeducation inEngland

Angie Bartoli

Sue Kennedy

Prospera Tedam

An African student

perspective

Aims and objectives • Develop understanding of African student

perspectives:- graduate programme- practice learning- post qualifying learning

• Share findings of study

• Identify support and development initiatives

Background

• Our experience

• Growing number of students (nationally and locally)

• Lack of specific literature

• Which students?

Workshop style•Share our experience

•Reflective questions

Ghana

Nigeria

Cameroon

Zimbabwe

Our Students

Study: Methodology

• Quantitative DataAvailable data (student population, grades)

• Qualitative Data

Focus groupControl groupQuestionnaires

Findings: Qualifying programme

Level One• Unprepared for pace and depth of study

• Challenge of first assignment

• 5-day shadow placement adding anxiety

• “lagging behind”

• Additional commitments

Level Two • Demands to become more analytical, critical and

independent thinkers

• “steep learning curve”

• “playing catch up”

• Research Methods module most challenging

• Direct Work with Service Users module most enjoyable

Level Three• Pressure of workload

Learning strategies

• Familiar with a traditional teaching style where the “teacher knows best”

• “at home we are not taught to argue or share our views with our teachers”

• Familiar with tests/exam situations

What the study revealed : academic work

• Despite finding the IT Module most difficult, the outcomes do not reflect the struggles connected with the data

• 86% of African students failed at least one piece of assessed work (control group 14%)

• 21% (almost one quarter) African Students has failed one of more piece of assessment (control group – none failed more than one)

Teaching strategies and support

• Range of assessment and teaching strategies

• Individual tutorial support

• Signposted to additional support for academic writing, referencing and library tours

• Development of culturally familiar case studies

• Students “should be encouraged to examine and apply the concepts, theories, models and strategies in the societal context of their home country.” (Rai, 2000:26)

Reflective question

What is your experience of social work (academic) education from an African student perspective?

Practice Learning: the ‘other’ world

• “Another world”

• Of the failed placements, 50% of these students are African (misrepresentation)

• All women

Emerging themes

• Gender• Finances• Health• Homesickness• Lack of practice experience• Cultural diversity “culturally taboo for me to

interrogate someone about their family” • Motivation to study social work• Racism and “nipped wings”

Reflective question:

Practice Learning : Who is failing to adapt?

PQ Social Work Education: African Ideas

Challenges• ‘Reasoning my culture out of me’• Written expression and skills• Analytical thinking based on belief of

colonial cultural superiority• Lack of recognition of life experience• ‘reducing’ and undermining self esteem and

confidence• Assessing practice standards in the

modernising agenda

PQ Social Work Education: African Ideas

What worked• Context setting

• Challenging critical thinking about ‘consent’

• Understanding the child in their environment

• Phenomenology – Creativity, Imagination and Art

How do we support the importance of international life

experiences within the curriculum

Support and development initiatives

• Mentoring Scheme• “shadow experience”• ‘Padare’ group• Practice learning opportunities with African

community groups and organisations• National Conference to disseminate good practice• Incorporate international perspectives into social work

education modules• Review assessment strategies• Build a library of relevant African authors• Training and support for Practice Teachers/Assessors

Final reflection . . . .

Mgeni njoo, mwenyeji apone.

Let the guest come so that the host or hostess may benefit

Swahili (Eastern and Central Africa) Proverb