The pandemic as an opportunity for learning and improving the students' reflective learning strategies in the field of social work. Reflections based on an Italian case study

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Covid-19 pandemic has been an important challenge for the training of students of university social service courses, especially with regard to internship activities. The need to define quality training projects, even during a pandemic, has given rise to numerous forms of experimentation and innovation in universities around the world, many of which have proved useful and effective in ensuring high levels of training during the health emergency. Now that the most critical phase of the pandemic seems to be behind us, it is important to reflect on how the new, reflective attitude toward the practical training of future professionals and the activities of the last two years, can become part of the knowledge in the field of practical training of future social workers, even in a non-emergency scenario. This article offers some reflections on the critical issues, resources, and new opportunities that arose concerning practical training, in particular on how the students’ reflective learning strategies in their approach to social work during the Covid-19 pandemic could be improved, starting with the results of research carried out in Italy, during the Degree Course in Social Sciences and Social Services at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. The research, conducted through the combination of a survey and some qualitative research tools, involved university internship tutors, supervising social workers at social service institutions in the area, and students who were confronted with the need for practical training during the pandemic.