To the Ministry of Education and Science, Republic of Latvia
To the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Science
To the Centre for Evaluating the Quality of Higher Education
Application for Accreditation of a Programme of Studies
Name of institution of higher education / University of LatviaLegal address, telephone number / Raiņa Boulevard 19, Rīga LV-1586, Latvia, telephone +371-703-4301
Registration number / No. 3341000218
Name of study programme / Second-level professional higher education study programme in the area of social work
Code number of study programme / 46762
Duration and scope of study programme / 2 years, 4 semesters full time studies
2.5 years, 5 semesters part time studies
80 credits
Requirements for matriculation / BA or higher second-level professional education in the social sciences, humanities or health sciences, or a BA or higher professional education in another area, with at least two years of practical experience in the social welfare system
Qualifications obtained / Social worker (Code 2446 01)
Location of study programme / Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Latvia
Person authorised to handle accreditation / Docent Ingrīda Jansone, study programme director
Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences / Assoc. Prof. Inta Brikše
Director of the second-level professional higher education study programme Social Work / Docent Ingrīda Jansone
Table of contents
AGREEMENT on Ensuring Further Studies if the Programme is Shut Down 6
Annotation of the Professional Social Work Study Programme 8
Description of the Professional Social Work Study Programme 9
1. The goals, missions and planned results of the study programme 9
2. The future of the study programme from the perspective of Latvia’s interests 9
2.1. Results of a survey of employers 10
2.2. Correspondence of the study programme to the profession’s standards and to those of a professional higher education 11
3. Comparison of the study programme to similar programmes in Latvia and abroad 12
4. Organisation of the study programme 13
4.1. The content and structure of the study programme 14
5. Sources of financing and the infrastructure of the study programme 15
6. Requirements for matriculation 16
7. Practical implementation of the study programme 16
7.1. Study methods and forms 16
7.2. Planning and organising internships 17
7.3. System of grading 18
8. Students 19
8.1. Analysis of a survey of students 19
8.2. Analysis of a survey of graduates 21
8.3. Participation of students in improving the study process 23
9. Academic personnel in the study programme 23
10. External communications 25
10.1. Co-operation with employers 25
10.2. Co-operation with similar study programmes in Latvia and abroad 25
11. SWOT analysis of the programme 26
12. The development plan of the study programme 27
13. Cost calculations for the study programme 29
14. The curriculum 31
Appendix 1. Courses in the study programme 36
Appendix 2. List of faculty members 94
Appendix 3. CVs of faculty members
Appendix 4. Materials from the survey of students
Appendix 5. Materials from the survey of graduates
Appendix 6. Materials from the survey of employers
Appendix 7. Internship contracts
Appendix 8. Statutes for internships
Appendix 9. Participation by academic personnel in projects
Appendix 10. Publications and conference papers by academic personnel
Appendix 11. Methodological instructions for annual and graduate papers
Appendix 12. Study programmes with which comparisons have been drawn
Appendix 13. Reviews of the programme
Appendix 14. The professional standard
Appendix 15. Number and qualifications of social service workers and independent workers
Appendix 16. Advertising and informational publications about the study programme
Appendix 17. Documentation of entrance exams
Appendix 18. Correspondence of the study programme to the professional standard
Appendix 19. Material, technical and methodological aspects of the study programme
AGREEMENT on Ensuring Further Studies if the Programme is Shut Down
The University of Latvia (hereafter – University), acting in the person of rector Ivars Lācis, who is acting in accordance with the Constitution of the University; and
The limited liability company Social Work and Social Pedagogy University College ‘Attīstība’, hereafter University College, acting in the person of rector Lidija Šiļņeva, who is acting in accordance with the Constitution and statutes of the University College;
Have concluded this agreement on the following:
1) The subject of the agreement is co-operation between the University and the University College to ensure the ability of University or University College students to continue their education if the study programme is shut down;
2) The University College shall allow University students who are pursuing the second-level professional higher education study programme “Social Work” to continue their education at the second-level professional higher education study programme “Social Work” of the University College if their programme is shut down;
3) The University shall allow University College students who are pursuing the second-level professional higher education study programme “Social Work” to continue their education at the second-level professional higher education study programme “Social Work” of the University if their programme is shut down;
4) This agreement shall take effect upon its signing;
5) The agreement has no expiration;
6) The agreement may be supplemented, amended or abrogated at the initiative of one of the parties after the signing of a relevant protocol.
7) Signatures:
University of Latvia SIA SDPA
Rector: Rector:
______
Ivars Lācis Lidija Šiļneva
University of Latvia “Attīstība”
Raiņa Boulevard 19, Rīga LV-1586 Eiženijas St. 1, Rīga LV-1007
THE UNIVERSITY OF LATVIA
The second level professional higher education study programme “Social Work” (Code 46762 01) to obtain the professional qualification of a social worker (Code 2246)
Programme director: Docent Ingrīda Jansone
APPROVED APPROVED
Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences
Council on Professional Social Work Council Meeting, 15 December 2006
Study Programmes Protocol No. 12
Meeting, 1 November 2006, Protocol No. 4 Council chairman
Council chairwoman
______
Docent I. Jansone Professor J. Rozenvalds
APPROVED APPROVED
University of Latvia University of Latvia Senate
Quality Evaluation Commission
Decision No. ___ Decision No. ___
Chairman Senate chairman
______
J. Krūmiņš M. Auziņš
Annotation of the Professional Social Work Study Programme
The aim of the professional social work study programme is to allow students to become qualified as social workers in accordance with the national standard on second level professional higher education and with the standard for the profession of social workers.
The programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Latvia is open to people who have completed a bachelor’s degree or a higher professional education in the social sciences or humanities, or to people who have obtained a bachelor’s degree or a higher professional education in another area and have at least two years of practical experience in the social welfare system.
The higher education professional social work study programme is a full-time study programme of four semesters, or a part-time study programme of five semesters. Students must earn 80 credits.
Section A of the study programme (32 credits) includes courses related to professional development, psychology, social policy and legislation. Section B (22 credits) allows students to choose courses in accordance with their professional interests. Courses in this section involve professional development, psychology and related areas of study.
Professional internships are a part of the study process. This involves 26 credits, and students actively take part in the work of social institutions at the state, local government and non-governmental level. The Faculty of Social Science has ongoing co-operation with various institutions at which internships can be organised.
At the conclusion of their studies, students are required to take a qualifications examination and to defend a thesis. The thesis commission is made up of leading practitioners in the field of social work, as well as instructors from the University.
Upon satisfaction of all requirements, the student receives a diploma testifying to his or her second-level professional higher education and fifth-level professional qualification, “Social Worker”.
This programme offers everyone who works in the social sector and has completed a higher education in some other area of specialisation to obtain a higher professional education in the field of social work.
Description of the Professional Social Work Study Programme
1. The goals, missions and planned results of the study programme
The goal of the professional social work study programme is to ensure that people can receive the professional qualifications of a social worker in line with the second-level professional higher education standards of the Republic of Latvia, qualifications which also correspond to the professional standards of social workers.
In order to ensure this, the missions of the study programme are:
1) To educate highly qualified social workers for Latvia who work in the social sector in accordance with European standards;
2) To offer theoretical knowledge to students and to promote their ability to learn the professional skills that are needed by social workers;
3) To develop the skills and abilities of students to work in accordance with the professional code of ethics of social workers;
4) To encourage students to take an interest in ongoing education and systematic improvement of their qualifications.
The following results are expected as the study programme is implemented:
· The level of professional qualifications among social workers will improve in Latvia – something that is particularly important in rural regions, where there is a catastrophic shortage of social workers (see data from the Social Board in Appendix 15);
· The range of strategies related to solving social problems will expand at all levels of social work;
· The likelihood that the requirements contained in Section 41 of the law on social services and social assistance, which was approved in 2003, will be met will increase – the law says that all social workers must have a higher second-level professional education.
2. The future of the study programme from the perspective of Latvia’s interests
Latvia’s socio-economic situation is such that there is a far, far greater need for professional social workers. Rapid polarisation in society and radical economic inequalities have created a whole series of problems which will require new and productive working methods and competent personnel before they can be solved. The actual life situation of many people in Latvia is bad, and social work has been entrusted to specialists without the necessary academic and professional education. Local governments often face this situation not because they think that this is how it should be, but rather because there is simply a lack of the necessary professionals. According to the Welfare Ministry’s Social Aid and Service Board, there were 1,658 social workers who were working for the social assistance services of local governments in 2005, but only 507 of these people had a higher education in social work (see Appendix 15). Some of these people are only responsible for organising social work (773). The board says that only 107 people in the country have a first-level professional higher education as a social caretaker, social rehabilitation specialist or organiser of social assistance. This shows that the level of professional qualifications in Latvia is quite low, particularly in the countryside. Thus, for instance, the Social Board tells us that in 2005, there were just one or two people with a higher education in social work in the Ventspils, Liepāja, Jelgava, Preiļi and Ludza districts (see Appendix 15). Data about courses which help people to improve their qualifications in the area of social work are also not too encouraging, because few people become involved in this process of ongoing education. One really must ask, in other words, who is working at the social services? The area of social work is both specific and rapidly changing, and improvements to qualifications are an absolute prerequisite if social workers are to do their work at a high level of quality.
Sadly, 186 people who are already working in the field of social work have only taken training courses in the field, and that is very much inadequate in terms of the level of training. Others who work in the social sector are not students and do not have an appropriate education. 2003 data about the education of social workers working for cities, parishes and amalgamated local government territories showed that 21% had a higher education in social work, 3% had a secondary professional education in social work, 25% had a higher education in some other area of specialisation, and 51% had just a general or professional secondary education in another area. This shows that the need for a higher education in social work is important for people who have a secondary or higher education in some other area of activity. Various training courses in psychology or administrative management will not be the solution here – they will not allow employees to gain the necessary knowledge and to develop their skills. Courses cannot replace a high-quality and well-established study programme or the ability to gain a second higher education or to continue pursuing the first one. In 2005, 77people gained a second-level higher professional education, and all of them already had a first-level professional higher education. Clearly that is not a large number of people at all, and we can stress again that there is full reason to think about how to improve a two-year second-level higher professional study programme. The two-year post-graduate programme offered by the University of Latvia in the area of social work will take a step toward the secure and stable development of the Latvian state and its integration into the European Union. By offering a chance for specialists who have a higher education in the humanities to retrain themselves – those who are interested in social work or are already a part of that system – we can truly improve the quality of social services in our country by making use of existing resources. Of particular importance in the context of the prestige of the state and the world of social work is that these specialists are trained by a national institution of higher education which is at the level of the University of Latvia.
The programme of study is also of importance from the perspective of the University of Latvia’s interests:
· First of all, social work programmes in most European Union member states are the direct competence of universities. This shows that our university is following along with the good example of other European universities by implementing this social work study programme;