Course Topics
1) DIRECT INTERNSHIP to be completed in a field of social work chosen by the student During the direct internship, the student accompanies a professional social worker in their daily work and actively participates in selected activities. In consultation with and under the supervision of the practice tutor, the intern takes on an observational or active role in shaping the daily work routine. In consultation with the practical tutor and the academic tutor, the intern carries out tasks independently and analyses and reflects on their experiences and observations. Students are responsible for selecting and finding the internship position. Internships can be completed in South Tyrol, Italy and abroad. For internships abroad, it is possible to take part in the Erasmus Traineeship programme. For further information, students are requested to contact the CareerService. At least one of the internships in the 2nd or 3rd year of study must be completed under the supervision of a social worker registered in the Italian professional register. Internships in the social services of the South Tyrolean district communities should not be completed in the district in whose catchment area the students live (only in justified exceptional cases will such an internship be authorised). The decisive criterion for the approval of internship applications is the conformity with the educational objectives of the degree programme. 2) INDIRECT INTERNSHIP as support for practical experience The indirect internship includes preparation for the internship, supervision during the internship and reflection at the end of the internship (laboratory "Practical reflection"). The dates for the "Practical reflection" laboratory are published in the university lecture calendar. Topics covered in the laboratory: - Reflexive professionalism; - Biography and social work; - Emotions in social work; - Closeness and distance in professional social work - Tools for reflection and critical examination of important topics in social work; - Gibbs' reflection cycle; - Guided discussion of topics from internship experiences. The topics are mainly suggested by the students and discussed and reflected upon together in a protected setting; - Theory-based and critical reflection on one's own practical experience using various reflection methods and tools;

Teaching format
The direct internship takes place in person at the selected social institution/organisation under the guidance, support and supervision of an experienced social worker. The ‘Practical Reflection’ laboratory also takes place in person at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, located in Brixen. The laboratory is interactive and based on contributions and questions from students, which are addressed using the following methods and techniques: - Group supervision - Critical Reflection using various reflection models (e.g. Gibbs' reflection model, Driscoll Model of Reflection, Reflecting Team...) - Case analyses and discussions; - Role-playing; - Exercises, individual and group work;

Educational objectives
The aim of the internship in the second year of study is to gain first in- depth practical experience in a field of social work and to link this with and reflect on the knowledge acquired during the course of study on the basic principles, ethics, theories, methods and organisation of social work, as well as on the fundamentals of social policy. The specific educational objectives of the internship in the second year of study are: - Examination of the role and practice of professional social work in a selected field of activity and organisational context, as well as against the background of the applicable legal provisions and socio-political framework conditions; Expected learning outcomes: Ability of students to critically analyse and reflect on the practice of professional social work in the selected field of action; - Developing professional skills for interpreting and assessing needs and for planning assistance, taking into account life situations and life contexts; Expected learning outcomes: Ability to conduct a needs assessment and develop a professional support plan; - Developing professional skills in the practical application of various social work tools: the importance of practical experience and supervision; Expected learning outcomes: in-depth knowledge of the selection and application of various social work tools; - Theory-based and ethical reflection on practical experience; Expected learning outcomes: Ability to critically analyse and reflect on professional social work and the intern's own role as a future social worker. - The reflective connection between knowledge acquired in studies and practice; Expected learning outcomes: Ability to establish and justify links between theory and practice.

Additional educational objectives and learning outcomes
- Examination of the role and practice of professional social work: after the internship, students should be able to critically analyse and reflect on the legal, organisational and socio-political framework conditions of the respective internship position, as well as recognise and identify the opportunities and challenges of professional social work. - Development of professional social work skills: after completing their internship, students are able to identify, name and assess the needs of the individuals and/or groups they support in their respective services. They assess these needs taking into account societal, social and organisational conditions and draw up appropriate support plans; students have gained initial experience in the active application of professional social work tools and critically analyse their experiences; - Theory-based and ethical reflection on practical experience: students link the ethical principles of the social worker's code of conduct with their internship experiences and recognise ethical dilemmas in everyday practice; they are able to recognise theoretical concepts and principles in social work practice and link them to this practice.

Assessment
The internship examination consists of a written and an oral part: - Written part: Writing an internship report (see guidelines for writing the internship report) and a written reflection on a critical incident according to Gibbs' reflection cycle. Deadline for submitting written work: two weeks before the internship exam by uploading it to the CareerHub portal and sending it by email to the respective academic tutor. - Oral part: Exam interview with members of the internship committee; During the oral exam, experiences gained during the internship are critically reflected upon and the contents of the internship report are discussed and analysed.

Evaluation criteria
The internship will be assessed with a single mark, taking into account the following points: 1. the written report on the placement including the reflection on a critical incident according to the Gibbs cycle of reflection (assessed by the academic tutors in terms of accuracy of content and form, clarity of expression and use of specialised terminology, presence of appropriate references, reasoning skills, critical analysis, ability to self-reflect); 2. Internship experience in a social service (evaluation by the practical tutor, taking into account the skills acquired and the achievement of the goals set at the beginning of the internship); 3. the oral examination on critical reflection, including active participation in the proposed activities The final grade is made up of 70% of points 1 and 2 and 30% of point 3.

Required readings

Bertotti, T., Fazzi, L., Rosignoli, A. (2021), Il servizio sociale: le competenze chiave, Carocci, Roma.

 

Sicora, A. (2021), Emozioni nel servizio sociale. Strumenti per riflettere e agire, Carocci, Roma.

 

Ethikkodex der Sozialarbeit in Italien (Codice deontologico dell’Assistente Sociale)

 

Gesetzliche Grundlagen und Bestimmungen im ausgewählten Handlungsfeld

Supplementary readings

Will be announced during the laboratory

Further information
Consultation hours with the academic tutors can be arranged individually (in person or online via Teams). In any case, an enquiry via e-mail is required.