SAVPU301 Practice studies. Into the world! Interprofessional collaboration across borders

Contents and structure

Future professionals need new skills in increasingly global and multicultural societies. International collaboration and dialogue across borders are prerequisites for addressing the world's major global challenges.

Through practice studies in Into in the World!, students will gain valuable perspectives through international exposure and interdisciplinary collaboration. They will experience different work cultures and become familiar with the norms and values, formal and informal, that regulate the working life in these countries. Furthermore, students will be challenged in general skills and traits such as problem-solving abilities, teamwork, self-confidence, tolerance, acceptance of alternative approaches, decision-making skills, and active citizenship in a multicultural environment. Human rights and the UN's sustainable development goals are central topics in preparation for practice and the course.

Students should expect to participate in preparatory courses specifically for travel to Botswana and Tanzania before the start of the course. The focus will include language, culture, human rights, and relevant sustainability goals.

Learning Outcome

Upon course completion, students should have the following learning outcomes defined regarding knowledge, skills, and general competence.

Knowledge: The student…

• has broad knowledge of the significance of living conditions, health, education, work, social inclusion, and active participation in different life stages for individuals, families, and society in the current context
  
• has broad knowledge of ethical and critical reflection theory
  
• has broad knowledge of communication, interaction, and collaboration and knowledge of how language and culture affect these
  
• has broad knowledge of problem-solving at the individual, group, and system level through observation, investigation, exploration of values, desires, and life conditions, goal formulation, intervention design, and evaluation
  
• has knowledge of theoretical perspectives, experiential and user knowledge in relevant fields
  
• has knowledge of inclusion, gender equality, and non-discrimination regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion and belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age from a national and global perspective

Skills: The student...

• can apply professional knowledge of relationships and communication

• can apply professional knowledge to discuss their own work process critically

• can apply professional knowledge to initiate and contribute to interdisciplinary, interprofessional, and intersectoral collaboration

• can apply professional knowledge, relevant findings from research and development work, and scientific methods as a basis for addressing practical and theoretical issues and making informed choices

• can reflect on their professional practice and make adjustments under supervision

General competence: The student…

• has insight into political and administrative decision-making processes and how professionals can contribute to general enlightenment
  
• has insight into the organisation of welfare services and collaboration between authorities and organisations
  
• has insight into ethical issues and can handle ethical dilemmas in their professional role and encounters with others, especially those from different cultures
  
• has insight into and can critically reflect on their professional role in meeting institutional and political demands in their own professional practice.

Entry requirements

For Social Educator Students: Passed the second year of studies.

For Social Work Students: Passed the second year of studies

Teaching methods

In practical studies, the student is expected to learn by participating in various professional situations and by reflecting on their own actions as well as the actions of others in the professional field.

Compulsory learning activities

The following compulsory learning activities must be approved for the student to assess the practical placement.

1. Approved individual training plan - within 2 weeks after starting
2. One workshop with employees at the practice site based on human rights and relevant sustainability goals
3. Participation in practice with 90% attendance
4. Production of a podcast or video, five to ten minutes long, with first- or second-year students (in child welfare, community health care, and/or social work) as the intended audience
5. Critical reflection assignment of up to 1500 words +/- 10 percent.

Approved coursework is valid for the current practice period only and need to be repeated if the student does not pass the practice.

Assessment

Practice is assessed based on a final assessment of the student's performance in the practice period. The mandatory learning activities are included in the basis for assessment.

Assessment criteria: The practice studies are assessed as pass/fail.

Absence exceeding 10% in practice is assessed as a failure.

The entire practice period must be repeated if the student fails the practice assessment. In such

cases, the student must complete a new practice period the next time it is offered.

Please refer to Regulations for Studies and Exams at Høgskulen på Vestlandet, Chapter 10 for

more detailed information.