Educational and professional partnership as an element of an integrated model of participatory training of social work professionals

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the interaction between employers and educational institutions in the field of social work training. The key issues that are in the focus of research by Ukrainian scientists in this process are identified: institutionalization, regularity of interaction, use of a wide range of forms of interaction, including the use of digital platforms, establishment of a feedback system and approximation of the content of the educational program to the requirements of the labor market. The purpose of the article is to determine the specifics of employers' vision of social work training in colleges, their knowledge, skills and competencies. For the applied part of the study, the interview method was used, which allowed obtaining information directly from employers, based on their experience, personal vision of the interaction process and their professional expertise.

It has been found that employers of the separate structural subdivision «Economic and Law Specialized College of Zaporizhzhia National University» identify a combination of theoretical and practical training, development of professional competencies, and establishment of professional contacts with specialists outside the educational institution as factors that determine the success of the educational program. Five groups of competencies of specialists that are in demand by modern employers are identified: professional (knowledge of current legislation, procedures for the provision of social services and the code of ethics); communication and organizational (ability to work in a team, self-management, ability to solve problems in a timely and effective manner); technical (documentation of professional activities, ability to work with software packages and systems); general (fluency in Ukrainian, critical thinking and analysis skills, cultural awareness). The key aspects of forms of effective cooperation are identified: regularity, variety of forms (workshops, counseling, information support, guest lectures, etc.) and multilevel (combination of theoretical and practical components, conducting research, involvement in volunteer activities).