Understanding social work education in China - a field snapshot

Abstract

ABSTRACT Social work education in China has undergone rapid development and faced its multiple growth constraints since the 2000s. This study is an attempt to understand the social work educator’s perspectives on the development of social work, its challenges and prospects in China. Based on the results of qualitative interviews (n = 33) across five schools of social work in three regions (Beijing, Shanghai and Shandong) of China, the study found that social work academia in China is still in the process of organizing and is currently facing numerous practical challenges. This study addresses the definition of the profession in contemporary China, explores the unorganized school curriculum and examines the need for localization to develop China’s own models. Drawing on participants’ testimonies, insight into implications for social work education, pedagogy and practice are outlined in this article.