Social Work and Engineering Collaboration: Forging Innovative Global Community Development Education

Abstract

Interdisciplinary programs in schools of social work are growing in scope and number. This article reports on collaboration between a school of social work and a school of engineering, which is forging a new area of interdisciplinary education. The program engages social work students working alongside engineering students in a team approach to developing and implementing international community development projects. The author chronicles the prevalence and types of interdisciplinary, academic social work collaborations over the past 2 decades and outlines the uniqueness of an engineering and social work partnership. After presenting the components of the collaboration, the author analyzes the collaboration’s fit for social work education using a model of interdisciplinary social work. Implications for social work education and research are discussed.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dorie J. Gilbert

Dorie J. Gilbert is associate professor and director of the Institute for Community Development: U.S. & Abroad at the University of Texas at Austin.