Quality of social work education and practice in the Arab countries: a comparative study of Palestine, Qatar and Tunisia

ABSTRACT

This comparative study aims to identify student perceptions of the quality of their social work education and practice experience in 3 Arab states. It considers 8 domains: faculty members, the student cohort, curriculum, textbooks, the library, teaching methods, field practicum, and quality of student assessment. The goal is not to produce a set of league tables but to move social work courses in the Arab states towards the achievement of international standards and recognition while recognizing cultural differences and promoting cultural sensitivity. From this study, of the three states, Qatar received the highest relative strength in the 8 domains. This study has several recommendations to improve the quality of social work education and practice in the three studied universities particularly, and for universities in the Arab world in general. In focusing on the 8 domains, it can encourage researchers to study each one individually and build culturally and regionally appropriate recommendations for institutional improvement and professional education in social work.

KEYWORDS:

• Arab countries
• quality
• social work education
• student perceptions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Qusai A Ibrahim

Qusai A Ibrahim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Security Sciences, Intermediate College for Security Studies at Al-Istiqlal University, Jericho, West Bank, Palestine. Email: [email protected]

Magda Sorur

Magda Sorur is a Professor in the College of Art and science, Social science department, Social work program at Qatar University, Qatar. Email: [email protected]

Lassaad Labidi

Lassaad Labidi is a Professor in the Labour and social studies institut at Carthage University, TUNISIE. Email:  [email protected]

Lynelle G Osburn

Lynelle G Osburn (PhD), is Adjunct in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia. Cellphone: [phone], Email is: [email protected]