This module takes students through different skills of research methodology: qualitative and quantitative methods, basic skills in reporting results, and discussing findings.
The aim of this module is to provide students with skills, knowledge and values necessary for competently practicing Social Work at different levels with focus on Micro and Mezzo levels. Practice I is undertaken after preliminary activities that introduced students to the community through study visits (Observations and voluntary work in different agencies. Prior to this, students have been and they continue to be familiarised with social work ethics and values.
The module focuses on the placement of students in situations allowing them to work with individuals, families and groups of different sizes. Students manage to develop practical skills that they need for effective practice and these include active listening, assessment, communication, relationships building, report writing and administration. They work under supervision of a field work professional designated by the receiving agency and an academic staff delegated by the concerned Department. The two supervisors collaborate closely and they guide the student in a manner that the latter is enabled to work toward the fitness of theory and practice.
Overall, students are helped to understand the needs and problems of the people; at the same time they learn how to work effectively with (and not on their behalf) these people in the process of involving them in the problem-solving process by using the methods of social work intervention and referring as much as possible to the social development and welfare policies in place in Rwanda.
The key activities to be conducted in this module are threefold:
- Preparatory sessions in class
- Effective field practice
- Report writing and presentation
Before going in the field, students will take some refresher training about social work ethics and principles, social work theories, methods for effective social work intervention and specific exercises on case management and group work will be given. Three sessions of 5 hours each will be enough. They will get also opportunity to explore different policies and Home Grown Solutions (HGS) to refer to for social work practice in different settings.