SOCIAL WORK ONLINE COURSES IN ENGLISH - Sosnet

Autumn        SOCIAL WORK ONLINE COURSES IN ENGLISH
20            Start of the module 08.10.2020
study         The duration 8 weeks on the period of 08.10.-26.11.2020
period II     Registration: 16.9.-6.10.2020

Global Perspectives in Social Work (5 ECTS)

Preamble: Finnish social work education seeks to prepare students for employment within
communities and human and welfare services across Finland, Europe and internationally. Essential
knowledge for achieving this aim involves an understanding of the global context of professional
practice (Sosnet 2006; IFSW & IASSW 2020). The reality that people’s lives increasingly
transcend national boundaries and that global events shape local realities has led to the
recognition that the scope of social work is essentially global in scale. Social work structures,
problems and interventions are no longer located and contained within local and national
boundaries. Well know theorist such as Dominelli (2004), Ife (2010) and Akimoto (2008) have
outlined the consequences of global issues including mass migration, superdiversity, universal
human rights, growing inequality, sustainability, natural disasters, , indigenous rights, and
transnationalism on professional practice. An in-depth theoretical analysis of the local global
dialectic and global perspectives is a priority for scholars of social work and the rationale for this
course.
Target group: Master and PhD level studies for Finnish, European (Erasmus exchange) and
international social work or social sciences students.
Learning objectives/outcomes: The aim of the course is providing students with an in depth
understanding of social work practice in a global context. On completion of the course students will
gain:
     • knowledge of the theoretical concepts essential for the analysis of the local global context
         of social work practice
     • a critical understanding of a shared profession and the structures and standards of
         international social work
     • knowledge of sustainable development goals and opportunities for transnational practice
     • knowledge of human rights, inequality, and power relations as the basis of structural social
         work
     • understanding of mass migration and superdiversity and the implications of critical
         multicultural practice and policy
     • recognition of indigenous realities and the decolonisation of social work practice,
         education, and research
     • knowledge of conducting comparative and practice research and the implications for
         theory, policy, and practice

Course structure: This is an 8-week DigiCampus based course of video presentations,
recommended readings and assessments addressing the specific learning outcomes. Teaching
and learning will be facilitated using critical questioning, reflective thinking, case studies, blogs, and
involvement of experts by experience.
Assignment description: To complete this course students will be required to complete and pass
Learning Tasks 1 and 2.
Learning Task 1: Compile a Group Learning Portfolio (GLP) (Week 1 to 7)
Step One (Week 1): The course teacher will allocate students to small working groups (limit of 4
students) for the purposes of completing the GLP.
Step Two (Week 1 to 6): After reviewing each weekly presentations and prescribed readings, the
student working groups are encouraged to meet online, to discuss, write and post (on
DigiCampus) a written response to either a reflective question or a critical case study. Each post
is limited to 350 words (not including the required 2-4 references). In the first week of the course
students are also encouraged to give individual feedback on at least 2 of the student group blogs
posted.

Step Three (Week 6): On completion of 6 weeks of learning activities, the student working groups
are encouraged to meet to collate the 6 postings and reflect upon learning outcomes, using the
GLP and Self-assessment Form (to be found on Digicampus).
Step Three (Week 7): Students groups must upload their Group Learning Portfolio and Self-
assessment Form to Digicampus for grading by Course Teachers.
Learning Task 2: Submission of an Comparative Analysis Essay (Week 1 to 8): Essay Topic:
A comparative analysis of Social Work practice, research or policy, in response to a global issue,
across two or more regions or countries, using a critical review of the literature as evidence (5,000-
word limit, not including references). To be submit on Digicampus for grading by Course Teachers.
Students will have access to the presentations and material required for undertaking this task from
Week 1.
Election criteria: Master and PhD level
Assessment and grading: Learning tasks are marked according to the UEF marking scale 1 to 5.
For marking purposes, the division between the group and individual activities is 40% (group tasks)
and 60% (individual tasks) of total marks. See course site for assessment criteria.
Essential Readings
Web links are provided to all essential readings for each weekly session.
Recommend Readings:
Anand, J.C., Das, C., (2019). Global mindedness in international social work practice. London.
Palgrave Macmillan.
Dominelli, L. (2010). Social work in a globalizing world. Cambridge, Polity.
Gray, M., Coates, J., & Bird, M. Y. (Eds.). (2008). Indigenous social work around the world:
Towards culturally relevant education and practice. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
Gray, M., Coates, J., & Hetherington, T. (2013). Environmental Social Work. Routledge.
Harrikari, T., & Rauhala, P-L. (2018). Towards glocal work in the era of compressed modernity.
Routledge. (Chapters 1, 2)
Healy, L. M. (2008). International social work: Professional action in an interdependent world.
Oxford University Press.
Hiitola, J. & Turtiainen, K., Gruber, S. & Tiilikainen, M. (2020) Family life in Transition: Borders,
Transnational Mobility and Welfare Society in Nordic Countries. Routledge.
Ife, J. (2012). Human rights and social work: Towards rights-based practice. Cambridge University
Press, 2012. (Chapters 1, 9)
Jäppinen, M. T. H., Metteri, A., Ranta-Tyrkkö, S., & Rauhala, P. L. K. (2016). Kansainvälinen
sosiaalityö: käsitteitä, käytäntöjä ja kehityskulkuja.
Lyons, K., Manion K., Carlsen, M. (2006). International perspectives on social work: global
conditions and local practice Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.
Mullaly, R. P. (2007). The new structural social work. Oxford University Press. (Chapters 1, 2)
Number of participants: UEF MA Social Work students and up to 30 students from other
SOSNET universities. Cut off at a total of 100 students.
More information: The module will be delivered on DigiCampus Moodle
Responsible university: University of Eastern Finland
Author(s): Janet Carter Anand, Gorana Panic, Anu-Riina Svenlin
Responsible teacher: Professor Janet Carter Anand
Assisting teachers: Gorana Panic, Anu-Riina Svenlin
Evaluation of the course: Standardised evaluation will be undertaken across the 6 Sosnet Online
Courses in English.
Inquiries: Mari Suonio (mari.suonio(a)uef.fi)

Spring 21    SOCIAL WORK ONLIE COURSES IN ENGLISH
Study        Start of the module 11.1.2021
period III   The duration on the period of 11.1.-14.3.2021
             Registration: 23.11.-13.12.2020

Social Work in Ecosocial Transition ( 5 ECTS)

Target group: Advanced studies of social work
Learning objectives/outcomes: The student understands the links between sustainable
development and environmental and economic issues in social work, and that ecological
sustainability is crucial for transgenerational, local and global responsibility in social work.
The student understands the importance of ecosocial transition in social work and the role
and opportunities of social work in the transition. The student recognizes different ways of
implementing ecosocial work in social work environments.
Content: The course introduces the concepts of ecosocial transition and ecosocial approach,
and their historical development and current discussions in social work. In addition, the
course provides concrete applications and tools on how to implement ecosocial work in
different settings.
Course structure: E-learning course
Content and assignment description: The course consists of online lectures and other
material, on the basis of which the student makes three assignments.
Election criteria (Sosnet e-learning course): The first 20 applicants (other than from the
University of Jyväskylä) will be admitted to the course.
Assessment and grading: 0–5
Literature:
· Matthies, Aila-Leena & Kati Närhi (eds.) (2017): The ecosocial transition in society.
The contribution of social work and social policy. Routledge Advances in Social Work.
Routledge. (ISBN 9781317034605)
· McKinnon, Jennifer & Margaret Alston (eds.) (2016): Ecological social work: toward
sustainability. Palgrave Macmillan. (ISBN 978-1137401359 paperback ISBN 978-1-
137-40136-6)
· Other material to be announced separately in the course.
Number of participants: Limited.
More information: The module will be carried out in University of Jyväskylä Moodle.
Responsible university: University of Jyväskylä
Authors: Satu Ranta-Tyrkkö, Aila-Leena Matthies and Kati Närhi
3
Responsible teacher: Satu Ranta-Tyrkkö, satu.ranta-tyrkko(at)jyu.fi
Assisting teachers: Aila-Leena Matthies and Kati Närhi
Inquiries (other than JYU students): Mari Suonio mari.suonio(a)uef.fi

Spring 21     SOCIAL WORK ONLINE COURSES IN ENGLISH
Study         Start of the module 11.1.2021
period III    The duration on the period of 11.1.-14.3.2020
              Registration: 23.11.-13.12.2020

Multicultural Social Work (5 ECTS)
(TBA)
Target group: Bachelor level studies, exchange students
Learning oblectives/outcomes:
Content:
Course structure:
Content and assignment description:
Election criteria:
Assessment and grading:
Literature:
Number of participants: 60
More information:
Responsible university: Turun yliopisto ja Kokkolan yliopistokeskus Chydenius
Authors: Merja Anis, VTT, Turun yliopisto; Kati Turtiainen YTT, Kokkolan yliopistokeskus
Chydenius
Responsible teacher: Merja Anis, VTT, sosiaalityön professori, merja.anis(a)utu.fi, Turun
yliopisto. Kati Turtiainen, YTT, sosiaalityön yliopistonlehtori, kati.turtiainen(a)chydenius.fi, Kokkolan
yliopistokeskus Chydenius.
Assisting teachers: