This essay aims to provide a critical overview of both social work practice and education in Spain. An analysis of social work practice and education will be undertaken in relation to the history, traditions and ideologies of the country. Furthermore, an examination and analysis of emergent international demands in relation to social work practice and education will be conducted. Lastly a critical comparison of social work practice and education within Spain and the UK will be provided, in an effort to compare similarities and differences between the two countries.
It is commonplace for social work in its varying degrees and contexts to be associated with striving towards implementing support and positive development to the most vulnerable …show more content…
In Spain cloth traders would provide a set of clothes to the ill, impoverished and those deemed in need, which in form marked early welfare contributions (Payne, 2005). Social Work as a profession developed in Barcelona in 1934 during a time of political turmoil (Gómez and Buendía, n.d). However, Social Work education began between the periods of 1932-1936 with the formation of the first Social Work schools, including a ‘Social Assistance’ school for women being marked as the first (Feu, …show more content…
The first obvious difference at undergraduate degree level is in regards to the timespan of the degree. In the UK an undergraduate degree lasts 3 years. However, in Spain the undergraduate program contains an additional year amounting to 4 years of education to qualify (Universitat de Barcelona, n.d). The Spanish Social Work curriculum encompasses many subjects, which are taught as part of Social Work degrees available in the UK such as, law, sociology and psychology. This being said it is important to note that Social Work curriculums can vary across different Spanish universities (…..). Although both UK and Spanish universities cover some of the same subjects within the degree there are some, which differ. Spanish curriculums seem to offer a more thoroughly deconstructed curriculum, which allows subjects relevant to Social Work to be dismantled to their core elements, see (Universitat de Barcelona, n.d). Arguably due to the extra length of the degree there is more scope and provision for this, however one must also consider the difference between practice placement lengths within the UK and Spain. Undergraduate degrees within the UK require students to undertake 200 days of practice placements. The difference in Spain is quite stark with 240 hours being required across the four years (Báñez, n.d). To put that into perspective, by assuming an average working day
It is commonplace for social work in its varying degrees and contexts to be associated with striving towards implementing support and positive development to the most vulnerable …show more content…
In Spain cloth traders would provide a set of clothes to the ill, impoverished and those deemed in need, which in form marked early welfare contributions (Payne, 2005). Social Work as a profession developed in Barcelona in 1934 during a time of political turmoil (Gómez and Buendía, n.d). However, Social Work education began between the periods of 1932-1936 with the formation of the first Social Work schools, including a ‘Social Assistance’ school for women being marked as the first (Feu, …show more content…
The first obvious difference at undergraduate degree level is in regards to the timespan of the degree. In the UK an undergraduate degree lasts 3 years. However, in Spain the undergraduate program contains an additional year amounting to 4 years of education to qualify (Universitat de Barcelona, n.d). The Spanish Social Work curriculum encompasses many subjects, which are taught as part of Social Work degrees available in the UK such as, law, sociology and psychology. This being said it is important to note that Social Work curriculums can vary across different Spanish universities (…..). Although both UK and Spanish universities cover some of the same subjects within the degree there are some, which differ. Spanish curriculums seem to offer a more thoroughly deconstructed curriculum, which allows subjects relevant to Social Work to be dismantled to their core elements, see (Universitat de Barcelona, n.d). Arguably due to the extra length of the degree there is more scope and provision for this, however one must also consider the difference between practice placement lengths within the UK and Spain. Undergraduate degrees within the UK require students to undertake 200 days of practice placements. The difference in Spain is quite stark with 240 hours being required across the four years (Báñez, n.d). To put that into perspective, by assuming an average working day