International Social Work & Community Development

Identify, practise, enhance and develop key skills. You'll also develop the link between theory and practice. You will gain valuable experience in a social welfare setting that may be unfamiliar to you. You may be able to use an existing workplace role as a focus for your assignment. 

Develop your understanding and explore emerging issues in international social work. Examine the interconnectedness of issues on a global scale. You'll cover such topics as pandemics and health challenges, inequality and poverty, global migration, the rights of indigenous peoples, human trafficking, and the social impacts of climate change. 

Use historical, conceptual and practical tools to understand community development from an international and comparative perspective. Explore transformative approaches to tackle social inclusion and the importance of critical pedagogy. Look at issues involved in working in conflict zones, and how issues of conflict and power shape the possibilities for change. 

This module provides an overview of the key issues and debates associated with practice-based research. The module considers qualitative and quantitative approaches. It consolidates and extends your knowledge of the research process. You'll also develop the capacity to act as independent and critical thinkers. 

This module explores how community leadership now demands a global perspective. You will be provided with an understanding of the historical, conceptual and practical tools to transverse the significance of community leadership.

Engage and take responsibility for the management of a community research project. Respond to challenges in the community and undertake in-depth research in a community context of your choice. Consider ethical issues and the effectiveness of different methodological approaches and potential risks associated with carrying out quality research in a community setting. 

Address issues pertinent to individuals and groups responsible for co-ordinating community resilience. You will look at the pedagogy of Paulo Freire. Here you'll taken an approach that works for the needs and aspirations of the poor and marginalised, the role of faith communities, schools and mobilising young people, and the impact on ethnic minority groups. Examine the importance of ‘indigenous knowledges’ and the means by which these can influence community learning and social development.

Explore a range of definitions of community and the political. Social and economic context for engagement will be discussed. Gain a critical understanding of the concept of community engagement. Critically evaluate case study approaches to community engagement initiatives in groupwork sessions. Explore the impact of community engagement initiatives on research, service development and organisational change.