Where Academia and Policy Meet

Abstract

This book explores the interface between social work academia and social policy in diverse societies across the globe. It does so by employing a unique cross-national comparative perspective and by focusing upon a field of academic and professional activity in which engagement in socially-relevant activities and those related to the policy process has particular resonance. Based on survey data on social work academics in 12 countries analysed by country experts in each of the nations, the chapters shed light on the policy engagement of faculty members in schools of social work. The findings indicate that social work academics believe that the academic world should play a role in society and, while the level of engagement is only modest, they report engaging in diverse types of policy-related activities. These are undertaken mainly in the public sphere, focus more on changing the discourse than on offering detailed policy proposals, and are generally conducted in partnership with social workers, social work students, service users and advocacy organizations. The level of engagement is affected by the motivation and competencies of the social work academics, by the support they enjoy from their institutions and the access that they have to the policy process in their countries.