Naslov
Ethnicity as a theme in the curriculum and research of the Department of Social Work

Autori
Delale, Eva Anđela ; Branica, Vanja

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Poglavlja u knjigama, znanstveni

Knjiga
Ethnicity in Eastern Europe: A Challenge for Social Work Education

Urednik/ci
Zaviršek, D. ; Zorn, Jelka ; Rihter, Ljiljana ; Žnidarec Demšar, Simona

Izdavač
Fakulteta za socialno delo Univerze v Ljubljani

Grad
Ljubljana

Godina
2007

Raspon stranica
197-213

ISBN
978-961-6569-09-5

Ključne riječi
Ethnicity, social work education, ethnically sensitive social work

Sažetak
Ethnicity and race issues have shaped social work in western societies over decades. Within the context of post-socialist transition and ten years that have passed since the end of the ethnic war in Croatia, it was interesting to explore if there is open dialogue on the theme of ethnicity, and whether social work education is ethnically sensitive and ethnically competent at the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb. Research of social work curriculum was provided. Intention was to find out the degree of recognition of multi- ethnicity and specific needs of individuals and groups regarding ethnicity and related topics within the theories and methods of social work included in the curriculum. Aim of the research was to explore the inclusion of the topic of ethnicity within curriculum as well as in the area of the Department of social work’ s faculty research. For this purpose an adequate questionnaire was created. Analyses of titles and content of obligatory and elective courses was completed, within both Old and New Program. Old Program was accepted in 1993 and lasted until 2004 when the New Program started in accordance with the European Bologna process. Title and content analyses of 34 obligatory and 12 elective courses within the Old Program shows there was not a single course that included term ethnicity or related topic (e.g. nation, minorities, and nationalities) neither in the title nor in the content. In spite of that, results of questionnaire filled by faculty show the presence of ethnicity and more or less systematic lecturing within numerous courses (e.g. “ Case work” , “ Social psychology” , “ Marginal groups” ). It is similar within New Bologna Program. Not a single one of 30 obligatory and 18 elective courses at the pre-graduation bears title that regards ethnicity and related topics. Neither the graduation level students who have choice between Social work and Social politics majors have a course thus titled as well. Finally, at the post-graduate level, there is a elective course named “ Multicultural social work” which enables students to learn about methods of work in multicultural social work an ethnically sensitive approach to social work practice. Examining the contents of courses at the pre-graduation level, two courses’ content includes ethnicity as topic (“ Case work” and “ Marginal groups” ). At the graduation level two courses, “ Community organizing and development” , “ Human rights and social work” , are also explicit about ethnicity and multicultural social work in the course description. Faculty responses indicated several more courses included ethnical topics specifically or within larger lecturing topics. Ethnicity topics are explicitly present in small number of courses, even though there are present through different teaching units. That could lead to the conclusion that awareness about ethnicity and its importance for social work education is well recognized. On the other hand, it is obvious that there is no consciousness or there is no need to be transparent and explicit about naming topic within curriculum and courses’ contents. Ethnicity is not very well present as research topic of faculty's research work and it is rarely used as socio- demographic variable. It is possible to look at this research as a kind of action research. Dialog about suppressed topic of ethnicity is initiated, which could lead to discussions and raise awareness of varieties of its presence and importance in social work education. Also, the research results could make lecturers and academic community more ethnically sensitive and competent.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Socijalne djelatnosti

POVEZANOST RADA