Linguistic affinity and achieved geographic mobility: evidence from the recognition of non-national social work qualifications in Ireland and the UK1

This text is an enlarged and adapted version of a paper with the same title which was presented at the IFSW–EASSW–FESET European Seminar in Copenhagen, 29 May 2003.

Abstract

This article presents statistics from the national authorities of two EU countries responsible for the recognition of non-national social work qualifications: Ireland and the United Kingdom. This material is drawn upon in an attempt to identify the role of linguistic affinity in relation to the geographic mobility of social work graduates.

L'article présente des données statistiques provenant des autorités nationales de deux États membres de l'Union européenne—l'Irlande et le Royaume-Uni—compétentes pour la reconnaissance de diplômes en travail social d'autres pays. L'analyse de ces éléments vise l'identification du rôle joué par les affinités linguistiques en relation avec la mobilité géographique des diplômés.

Keywords:

• Social Work Education
• United Kingdom (Great Britain)—Ireland (Republic)
• European Union (EU)—European Community (EC)—European Economic Area (EEA)
• Mobility (Geographic)
• Free Movement (Workers)
• Free Movement (Self-employed)
• Statistics
• Recognition of Non-national Qualifications (Recognition of Diplomas)
• Validation/Accreditation

Notes

Jacob Kornbeck is an Administrator in the European Commission, but facts and opinions in this paper are solely the responsibility of its author and do not reflect the opinion of the European Commission or any other institution of the European Union.

This text is an enlarged and adapted version of a paper with the same title which was presented at the IFSW–EASSW–FESET European Seminar in Copenhagen, 29 May 2003.

Reference is made to the EU/EEA as a whole, because many rules and procedures are EEA relevant and therefore may apply to the entire EEA entity.

‘Any diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications or any set of such diplomas, certificates or other evidence: [//] which has been awarded by a competent authority in a Member State, designated in accordance with its own laws, regulations or administrative provisions; [//] which shows that the holder has successfully completed a post-secondary course of at least three years’ duration, or of an equivalent duration part-time, at a university or establishment of higher education or another establishment of similar level and, where appropriate, that he has successfully completed the professional training required in addition to the post-secondary course [;] and [//] which shows that the holder has the professional qualifications required for the taking up or pursuit of a regulated profession in that Member State, provided that the education and training attested by the diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications were received mainly in the Community, or the holder thereof has three years’ professional experience certified by the Member State which recognized a third-country diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications’ (Directive 89/48/EEC, Article 1; European Communities, 1989).

Facts and opinions in this paper are solely the responsibility of its author and do not reflect the opinion of the GSCC or the NSWQB. However, the author gratefully acknowledges assistance and advice from Ms Eilis Walsh, Director, NSWQB, Dublin, Ireland; Ms Diane Smith, International Recognition Manager, GSCC, London; and Mr Andrew Skidmore, Head of Standards and Registrar, GSCC. All three persons were very helpful and gave me much of their attention and time. Thanks are also owed to the two anonymous assessors of this Journal whose input was extremely helpful to me.

In Community law, ‘third’ countries are countries outside the Community (implying that the host country is the ‘first’ and the other Member State the ‘second’ country).

‘These data come from a publication issued today by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities in Luxembourg, which presents key statistics coming from the joint UNESCO–OECD–Eurostat data collection on education, and from the Eurostat questionnaire on languages. It covers the 15 EU Member States, the 10 Acceding and 3 Candidate Countries, Iceland, Norway, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)’ (European Commission, 2003).

There is anecdotical evidence of this from the author's personal life experience: in the international community of Brussels, people often seem to socialise after work in two groups: Northern and Southern Europeans. Though Ireland is Catholic and many parts of Germany are Protestant, it is the author's impression that Irish and German people socialise more spontaneously than, e.g. Irish and Portuguese or German and Portuguese people. On a more humourous note, yet not without earnest, there are undeniable cultural affinities within the beer-drinking North, and likewise within the wine-drinking South.

Herbert Hoover closed his campaign for the presidency in 1928 with this speech (Hoover, 1928).

The ambiguity of the term ‘European social work’ is fully realised by the author, who recognises the diversity of European realities.

I base my assumption on discussions with some social work professors/lecturers.

‘The reputation of the British as “reluctant Europeans” may be about to change after a report revealed young people in the UK are increasingly looking to continental Europe rather than the US as a model. Without providing figures, it suggests they are also more open to British membership of the euro than opinion polls indicate. The report by Informer, a youth research and brand development consultancy, finds the stereotype of British europhobia increasingly out of tune with the sentiments of the younger generation. […] They value their own nation for its multiculturalism, creativity, tolerance, and music scene. But they associate continental Europe with sophistication, an attractive lifestyle, better working conditions and better public services’ (White, 2002).

Or so tradition has it, as the quote has been ‘attributed in this and other forms, but not found in any of Shaw's published writings’ (Partington, 1996, p. 302).

Unfortunately more recent figures are not known to the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jacob Kornbeck

Jacob Kornbeck is an Administrator in the European Commission, but facts and opinions in this paper are solely the responsibility of its author and do not reflect the opinion of the European Commission or any other institution of the European Union.