Service Learning and Field Work Workshop for Social Work Lecturers of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS), in Kalady, Kerala, India

Nur 'Ain Mohd Shahroom

In March, Dr Shanti Chandran from Language Academy, FSSH had her first leg of the Service Learning workshops that was triggered by her keynote address at the International Academic and Practitioner Conference ‘Positive Thoughts, Positive Impacts and Positive Social Work: the wherewithal of hope?’ in December 2017, at Kathmandu City, Nepal (read more here).

Her first stop was to the Department Of Social Work at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS), in Kalady, Kerala, India. Here, she was appointed as a resource person for a two-day workshop on Service Learning and Field Work for social work lecturers from SSUS as well as colleges in various parts of Kerala.

On the 25^th of March, she had her first session for staff of social work of colleges from the Southern region of Kerala, and held at the SSUS campus. Her sessions included an introduction to service learning as a teaching and learning pedagogy, the reflective component of service learning, assessment rubrics and, importantly how service learning could enhance fieldwork practicum of social work postgraduate students and the reporting of their community experience. The session ended with a sharing of experience and Q&A.

And on the 26^th of March, she conducted a workshop at the Department of Social Work SSUS Regional College at Tirur, for social work staff from various colleges in the northern region of Kerala. Her sessions included an introduction to service learning as a teaching and learning pedagogy, the reflective component of service learning, assessment rubrics and, importantly how service learning could enhance fieldwork practicum of social work postgraduate students and the reporting of their community experience. The session ended with a sharing of experience and Q&A.

Handling questions from lecturers of social work

Participants completing tasks and discussions

With staff of Social Work Department from the northern region of Kerala

Feedback from organiser:

“There were thirty participants at each of the service learning workshop sessions. The concept and process of service learning is very effective and useful for the social work teachers who are engaging themselves in the field supervision and client engagement. I take this opportunity to thank all those who have participated and supported. A big thanks to Dr Shanti C Sandaran from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia” (Professor Jose Anthony, Social Work Department, SSUS, Kalady Kerala).

Author: Dr Shanti Chandran a/p Sandaran

Editor: Nur ‘Ain Mohd Shahroom, Nur Hazwani Mohd Muhridza, Ghazali Bunari, Zaid Shamsuddin