Social Work Field Education: Manuals Suggested Learning Outcomes

Abstract

Field education is an integral part of social work education that equips social work students
with professional skills and competencies. Field education, the signature pedagogy of social
work education, facilitates the transfer of theoretical knowledge and understanding into
practice. However, signature pedagogy undergoes continuous revisions to make the social
work profession more fully attuned to the diversity of clients. This article describes findings
from a review of field education manuals or frameworks of four universities in four countries:
India, the United States, Australia and Canada. A comparison of the field learning outcomes
proposed by the universities confirmed the common goals of achieving a professional identity
through ethical and competent training. Furthermore, it highlighted the need for a structured
manual for field training to ensure the exposure of social work students to diverse populations
and their needs and to design and deliver bespoke services under adequate supervision.