Professional Skills, International Style: The Issue Of Transferability

Abstract

The problem of the transfer of professional social work skills from one country to another has long been a matter of concern for social workers in the international community, for social work educators, and for potential students desiring to earn a Social Work degree in a country other than their own. Concerns about transferability seem to grow from the fact that social work practice is closely associated with the social and cultural fabric of communities, that practice skills and education for practice must be derived from the cultures and customs, perhaps specific to each culture. Traditionally, the problem of “skill transfer” has referred to skills learned in the United States and their application in other countries. However, there is recent evidence that some American students with interests in the international community have been reluctant to obtain degrees in other countries because it may hinder their ability to practice in the U.S. (Licensing and certification of social workers adds to the problems.) This article strongly supports the feasibility of skill transfer in social work practice.