Specification of Competency Standards in Social Work Program: A New

Teaching Tool for the Professional Development of Thai Social Workers

Decha Sungkawan, Ph.D.Decha Sungkawan, Ph.D.Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat UniversityFaculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University

skwdecha@tu.ac.thskwdecha@tu.ac.th

Country Geographical InformationThe country is located in the center of Indochina and northern part of Malay Peninsula. It is bordered by Cambodia to the east, Laos to the north, Myanmar and Andaman Sea to the west, and Malaysia to the south. The climate is a tropical climate which has rainy season from May to October which causes frequent floods

Basic Country ProfileArea : 514,000 km2Coastline : 3,219 kmPopulation : approximate 67 millions

GDP (PPP) : $477.5 billionGDP Per Capita : $7,400Population below poverty line : 10.4%

Background on Social Work EducationThe first western model of social welfare agency, the Department of Public Welfare in 1940 and the National Cultural Council as the training institution for pioneer social work practitioners

Background on Social Work EducationSocial work education and social work profession had been introduced and established in Thailand along with the socioeconomic and social welfare development since1950s

The First School of Social WorkFaculty of Social Administration had been founded in 1954 at Thammasat University to offer the social work degree program of study that was firstly developed to serve the Department of Public Welfare

Degree Programs on Social Work Education

Social work degree programs in Thailand are offered both at undergraduate and graduate levels only at the higher educational institutions

The degree programs offer in the higher educational institutions include; Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work and Doctoral degree in social administration

Second School of Social WorkThe second school of social work was founded in 1990s at Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, a private university funded by a local charity organization to serve to more demand of the profession as the welfare system had been expanded

Number of students in social work program

Thammasat University admits 400 students

(250 Bangkok and 150 Lampang Campus)

for bachelor degree in social work and 80 students for master degree in social work per academic year

Number of students in social work program

Huachiew Chalermprakiet University admits 150 students for bachelor degree in social work and 50 students for master degree in social work per academic year

Doctoral program in social work

Thammasat University admits 5 students for doctoral degree in social administration per academic year while Hua Chiew Chalermprakiat University is now offers its doctoral program in social work and social welfare

Social Work Program in Other Institutions

Prince of Songkhla University (South)

Krirk University (Bangkok)Mahachulalongkornrajavidayalaya Buddhist

University (Chiang Mai, North)Mahamakut Buddhist University (Central)

Social Work Standard Curriculum The social work curriculum are approved and accredited by the Commission on Higher Education, Ministry of Education and the curriculum also need to gain recognition of the Office of Civil Service Commission

Development of the Framework for Social Work Education

Thai Association of Social Work and Social Welfare Education has been established in 2013 by the network of existing schools of social work and Thailand Association of Social Workers

Thai Association of Social Work and Social Welfare Education (TASWE). Thai Association of Social Work and

Social Welfare Education has been legally registered with three specific objectives; to develop and promotion of social work and social welfare education, to support the study, research and develop body of knowledge for social work and social welfare practices, and to support social work and social welfare networking at both national and international levels

The founding members of TASWE The Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat

University The Faculty of Social Work and Social Welfare,

Hua Chiew Chalermprakiat University The Faculty of Liberal Arts, Krirk University The Faculty of Social Science,

Mahachulalongkornrajvidyalaya University The Faculty of Humanities and Social Science,

Prince of Songkhla University The Faculty of Social Science, Chiang Mai

University The Faculty of Humanities, Ramkhamhaeng

University Thailand Association of Social Workers

Social Work EmploymentThe approximate numbers of 1,500 social workers are employed mainly in the public welfare agencies while a few are employed in local government and non-government agencies

The Governmental OrganizationsThe Ministry of Social Dev. and

Human SecurityThe Ministry of Public HealthThe Ministry of JusticeThe Ministry of EducationThe Ministry of DefenseThe Ministry of InteriorThe Ministry of LaborOffice of the Prime Minister (The

National Police Bureau)

Local government and non-government agencies

Bangkok Metropolitan AdministrationOther local governmental agenciesHolt-Sahathai FoundationThe Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights

The Council of Social Welfare of Thailand

Other non-governmental child welfare agencies

Social Work Practice Currently Required in the LegislationsThe Social Security Act 1990The Labor Protection Act 1998The Criminal Procedure Act Amendment in 1999

The Narcotics Addict Rehabilitation Act 2002

The Child Protection Act 2003The Social Welfare Promotion Act 2003

Social Work Practice Currently Required in the Legislations

The Welfare for Elderly Act 2003The Domestic Violence Victim Protection Act 2007

The Mental Health Act 2008The Anti Human Trafficking Act 2008

The Establishing the Juvenile and Family Courts Act 2011

Ethical Principles for Social Work Practice

Social work code of ethics guided by Thailand Association of Social Workers founded in 1957 as a national association for social workers

The Association of Thai Medical Social Worker and the Association of Psychiatric Social Worker are recently established as the guideline bodies for the social workers in these specific areas of practice

Development of the Standard of Practice for Social WorkersThe Social Work Profession Act 2012 has passed and been enforced. The social work profession is recognized and will be registered under the new Act. The Council of Social Work Profession has been established to provide the standard guidelines for the social workers and social work practice

Development of the Standard of Practice for Medical Social WorkersThe medical social workers are on their way to call for licensing of practice in these specific procedures;Social assessment/diagnosis and social treatmentSocial surveillance and preventionSocial promotion and rehabilitation Social resource managementCommunity work and advocacyResearch and development

Current Problems and Issues in Social Work Education

Lack of interest among the students in the field of study

The social work curriculum, as the others, is regulated by the national educational standard framework in general

(standard of social work and social welfare curriculum is in the process)

Educational institutions do not interest to offer SW degree

Limited numbers of qualified practice agencies and supervisors for field instruction

Current Problems and Issues in Social Work Practice

Numbers of social workers were recruited from persons with degrees in other fields of study

Social workers in most practice areas are struggling for the professional status

Lack of professional development in most areas of practice

The demand for clear and concrete on the ethical principles for practice

More demand of social workers in the local government bodies

Specification of Competency Standards in Social Work and Social Policy Programs in Thailand

Thai Qualifications Framework for Higher Education in Social Work and Social Policy

BSW, MSW, DSW (Social Work)BA, MA, Ph.D. (Social Policy)

Degree Programs in Social Work and Social Policy

Professional expression in personality, behavior and communicationUtilize the practical tools to protect rights and interest of clients and societyValue in social justice and maintain quality of life for clients, community and societyMaintain professional integrity and responsibility

Desired Social Work and Social Policy Graduates

Maintain the professional ethicsUnderstand and tolerance in conflict situationsRespect in human dignityRights protection and advocacyThe practical value in participation

Standard Learning Results in Professional Ethics

Knowledge in social science theories and conceptsKnowledge in social work and social policyKnowledge in the context of professional development

Standard Learning Results in Knowledge

Systematic analytical abilityAbilities in searching, analyze, evaluate, integrate and sanitizing of knowledgeAbility to analyze and evaluate the practice and intervention subjectiely

Standard Learning Results in Cognitive Skills

Professional relationship developmentResponsibilities for self and the others, for task and duty, organization and societyReadiness in roles of leaders as well as supporters

Standard Learning Results in Responsibility and Interpersonal Relationship

Skills in fundamental quantitative analysisAbility in applying information technology in searching and data analyzingCommunication skills with clients and diverse communities

Standard Learning Results in Quantity, Communication and Information Technology

Fundamental skills in professional relationship developmentSkills in data gathering, recording, analyzing and prepare the reportAbility in providing basic services for individual, group, and communityCoordinating ability among the service organizations

Standard Learning Results in Professional Practice

Council of Social Work Profession(Licensure)Thailand Association of Social WorkersThailand Association of Social Work and Social Welfare Education

The Related Professional Organizations

Minimum Credit Hours 120 in 3 parts

General education30

Social work 84Elective 6

BSW Curriculum Structure

Minimum social work credit hours 66

Theory causes 51Field practicum 6Specific area of practice

15

Social Work as a Major Field of Study

Minimum credit hours 15Human behavior 3Social welfare 3Social policy 3Specific area of practice 6

Social Work as a Minor Field of Study

Minimum credit hours 9Specific area of practice3Social welfare administration3Social welfare policy 3

Social Work as A Subject of Study

Behavioral and applied social scienceAnalytical methodsTheory and philosophy of social workSocial work and social welfare body of knowledgeSocial work methodsSpecific area of practice and field practicum

Social Work Subjects of Study

Problem-based teachingEvidence-based approachParticipatory knowledge buildingLearning process focusField practice learning

Teaching Strategy and Learning Results Evaluation

Case studyGroup learningSituational learningSeminar and reportSelf studying

Coursework Teaching Strategy

During and end semester evaluationsLearning portfolio assessmentObservationSelf and group evaluations

Learning Results Evaluation Strategy

Review teaching subject matters and methodsCoursework evaluation criteria Learning results evaluation criteriaReview learning results evaluationResearch on teaching and learning management

Coursework Learning Results Review

Stakeholders review meetingSchool of social work network meetingCurriculum reviewReview by impartial third party

Curriculum Learning Results Review

Curriculum standing committee membersTeaching faculty membersField instructorsFaculty/student ratioAdjunct faculty membersSupporting staff

Teaching Personnel and Supporting Staff

Teaching unit; school/department/divisionProgram budgetingLibrary or learning centerLearning supervision facilities Networking with other schools/departmentsInstruction for field practicum

Teaching/ Learning and Management Resources

Curriculum standing committee membersDetail of program specificationsDetail of coursework instructionsReport of coursework instructionReport of curriculum management

Curriculum Quality Assurance

Review of standard learning resultsDevelopment of teaching and learningNew instructors orientationFaculty and personnel developmentStudent/stakeholders satisfaction

Curriculum Quality Assurance

Thank you

Q /A Round Table Discussion