Challenges in Internationalising Social Work Curricula

Abstract

This chapter explores challenges encountered in internationalising social work curricula and suggests principles that facilitate the creation of reciprocated. It highlights guidelines for future exchanges of curricula, students and staff. Simplifying the experiences and creating dichotomous versions of exchanges in social work in the absence of mutual dialogue in contested terrains can distort events and opportunities for growth. The document presents basic principles that are open to local interpretation and use without prescribing one model curriculum for all schools of social work across the world. The privileging of Western models of teaching and learning, particularly those emanating from English-language groups, occurs alongside the mutual sharing of curricula and reclaiming of locality specific know ledges. Implementing these principles is problematic in practice, requiring constant reflection on how to further egalitarian relationships between participants in actual situations. Care has to be taken if mutuality and reciprocity amongst participants are to feature in their interactions.