SACAP’s Bachelor of Social Work is a highly respected programme. It prepares students for a rewarding career in social work. This degree ensures national and international alignment with the Global Norms and Standards for Social Work Education and Training, which were developed by the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW).
Extensive skills and knowledge
The BSW programme at SACAP is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to address the complex social issues facing individuals, families, groups, communities, and societies. The curriculum is comprehensive and covers a wide range of topics. Topics include human behaviour in the environment, social welfare policy, green social work and sustainable development, social development and policy, research methods, and applied social work practice in various fields. Through a combination of classroom instruction, experiential learning, and fieldwork placements, students gain the theoretical knowledge, practical skills and hands-on experience needed to promote people’s empowerment, social functioning and overall well-being.
On 25 January 2023, SACAP’s Head of Faculty for Social Work and Community Development and President of the Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI), Dr Poppy Masinga, invited prominent figures in the Social Work field to visit SACAP and discuss the SACAP BSW programme. As such, SACAP had the privilege and honour of hosting the President of IASSW, Professor Annamaria Campanini, at our Johannesburg campus. Professor Campanini (Parma, Italy) was in South Africa to attend the IASSW International Conference held on 18 – 20 January 2023. Professor Campanini visited South African schools of social work in Gauteng as part of her mandate to support social work training across the globe. During her visit to SACAP, Prof Campanini was accompanied by Dr Varoshini Nadesan, the former President of ASASWEI and current Member of the 5th Professional Board for Social Work (PBSW).
Framework for Social Work education
Highlighted in this meeting was the strengths of SACAP’s BSW programme being aligned with the Global Norms and Standards for Social Work Education and Training. These Norms and Standards were developed to ensure that social work education and training programmes are of high quality. In addition to preparing students to practice ethically and effectively in diverse contexts. The Norms and Standards provide a framework for social work education and training that is grounded in:
- human rights,
- social justice,
- and a commitment to the dignity and worth of all individuals.
When the meeting concluded, the SACAP team was exceptionally pleased to receive high praise, with both Prof Campanini and Dr Varoshini stating how impressed they were with SACAP’s BSW programme, both in terms of curriculum and delivery.
By aligning the BSW programme with these global Norms and Standards, SACAP is helping to ensure that its graduates are well-prepared to work as social workers in a range of settings, both in South Africa and internationally. This alignment also means that SACAP’s BSW programme is subject to ongoing evaluation and review. Thus, ensuring that it remains current and relevant to the changing needs of the profession and the communities it serves.
An internationally aligned degree
Whether students choose to work in South Africa or internationally, they can be confident that they have received a high-quality education that meets global standards for social work training.
Do you feel that your calling is to be a social worker? Then enrol in SACAP’s Bachelor of Social Work degree. Contact an admissions officer for more information.
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