How do international practicums prepare practitioners for social work practice? A qualitative study

ABSTRACT

Globalization has created a need and opportunity for social work education to prepare practitioners for social work in cross-cultural settings. Semester long international practicum and study abroad opportunities are a response to this need. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of social workers who studied abroad in order to understand how these past experiences have impacted their current social work practice. Findings suggest that international practicums can be valuable preparation for social work practice in diverse cross-cultural settings. This study revealed the following outcomes: 1) a focus on relationship building over theoretical applications, 2) a more subjective view of culture, 3) development of cultural humility, 4) new understandings of privilege, power and oppression, and 5) the application of anti-oppressive practice perspectives. The learning that takes place through international practicum experiences goes beyond the practicum and is part of the overall experience of living, learning and practicing abroad and is supported by good supervision and support to allow participants to process their learning experiences and apply them to social work practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Anti-oppressive practice
• cross-cultural social work practice
• cultural competency
• cultural humility
• cultural sensitivity
• international development
• international practicum
• international social work
• qualitative research
• study abroad

Acknowledgement

This research is a part of a larger study completed for my doctoral dissertation. I would like to acknowledge and thank my advisor, Dr. Ross Klein, and my dissertation committee, for their incredible support and guidance through the process of completing my dissertation.

Disclosure statement

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