Social work field education: Manuals suggested learning outcomes

Field education is an integral part of social work education that equips social work students with professional skills and competencies. Field education, the signature pedagogy of social work education, facilitates the transfer of theoretical knowledge and understanding into practice. However, signature pedagogy undergoes continuous revisions to make the social work profession more fully attuned to the diversity of clients. This article describes findings from a review of field education manuals or frameworks of four universities in four countries: India, the United States, Australia and Canada. A comparison of the field learning outcomes proposed by the universities confirmed the common goals of achieving a professional identity through ethical and competent training. Furthermore, it highlighted the need for a structured manual for field training to ensure the exposure of social work students to diverse populations and their needs and to design and deliver bespoke services under adequate supervision.