Alan Turing funding success for social work course
BA (Hons) Social Work degree at Solent has won funding from the Turing Scheme and The British Council to enable eight, second year students to experience social work and community projects abroad.
The Turing Scheme is the UK's global programme to study and work abroad. It provides funding for individuals undertaking education and training in the UK to go on study or work placements across the world. It affords the opportunity for UK organisations to offer life-changing experiences abroad for their pupils, students, and learners.
Working in partnership with Windesheim University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, BA (Hons) Social Work will now be able to provide a set number of social work and community development placements for students who are either disadvantaged/under-represented, or those who have a strong academic record.
The placements will take place over five weeks, beginning in July 2022 and are based where English is widely spoken and/or understood. One such placement is committed to improving the situation of those with a psychiatric background, using social enterprise, where “socialise by doing business” is a guiding motto. For example, retail is used as a therapeutic tool. Another, aims to strengthen the position of disabled people across local government, care providers, schools and welfare institutions. The opportunities and ways of working can be somewhat different to what we are used to in the UK. Successful applicants can expect a grant towards accommodation costs and related expenses.
Course Leader, David Galley said; “Research confirms that through these international field placements, students can gain a cultural awareness of global poverty, discrimination and oppression from which they can explore appropriate intervention strategies, recognise their role as global participants and strengthen their commitment to social justice (Lough, 2009). This will enable students to become culturally aware, contributing to them being 'future ready', developing a greater experience 'real world' situations, increasing their capacity for tolerance and ability to engage different perspectives when assisting service users and carers from other cultures”.
