Is There a Role for ‘Foreigners’ as Social Work Educators?

Abstract

Drawing on her experience of teaching social work at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, the author, an Australian social work academic, explores the question of whether there is a role for ‘foreign’ social work educators and refutes the suggestion that this is inappropriate. She does however identify issues which emerge with the employment of ‘foreign’ educators, including potentially differing understandings as to the nature and scope of social work.

Keywords:

• Social Work Education
• International Social Work
• ‘Foreign’ Educators
• Australia
• Scotland

Notes

^[1] In both Australia and Scotland in addition to four-year degrees in social work, there is an option of undertaking a two-year postgraduate qualification in social work after completion of a generalist undergraduate degree. This is different to other parts of the UK where it is possible to qualify as a social worker after a total of only three years of university study.