Social Work: An Opportunity to Serve Society

Introduction

In the era of competitive world, many people are running behind to achieve material prosperity. They are very much concerned about accumulating wealth. There is also another world with vision to work for the betterment of the society. It is concerned about bringing meaningful changes in lives of millions who have not been part of mainstream society. Social work is having a scope to work for the betterment of downtrodden section of the society. Many people think that social work is only charity but the profession social work practice provides wider areas to help different marginalized people of the society. It provides opportunities to work in Non-Government sector, industrial sector, government, health and so on.

What is Social Work?

The Social Work is a professional and academic discipline focusing on improving lives of underprivileged and weaker sections of the community through structural changes. The Social Workers are dealing with individuals, groups and community to help and empower from making their lives batter. They are also working to fight against poverty, unemployment, education, gender and caste issues. A person can work in various fields from upliftment of the poor to improving lives of children with special needs. The field is providing ample of opportunities to contribute for development in society.

IASSW and IFSW define that “Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social workengages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing.”

Social Work as a Career

The bachelor degree in Social Work is the first step to pursue you career as professional social worker. However, the bachelor degree in social work is not mandatory if you want to pursue master degree in Social Work. Any graduate can apply for master degree in Social work. The bachelor degree will impart knowledge about basic concept of Social Work, its various methods and fields, Sociological theories, Human Growth and Development, research methodology and so on. This will help to gain holistic perspectives about society and the role to be played for social changes to improve lives of people.

A student who is really interested and committed to contribute something for betterment of downtrodden should also go for Master Degree in Social Work. The master degree will give deep insight about the Social Work field which will help student to become a professional social worker. It will develop various skills among student which can help them to work from grassroots level to higher position in the field. It will help to manage challenges of live in better way.

Professional Opportunities in Social work

The traditional thinking about social work is that it is a philanthropic activity which is an out-dated; but it is considered as one of the most in-demanding professions in the country. The scope is not only limited to work with NGOs but it provides platform for various position at administrative, management and policy planning both in government and private sectors. It depends on your specialization in master degree and skills in which field you would like to work in future.

Medical and Healthcare Sector

A person can get specialization in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work and can contribute for improving mental and emotional well-being of people. It provides opportunities to work in hospitals, counseling centers, metal health institutional, old age home, child care home etc. Social workers try to ensure that proper care is being provided to the patients for their holistic development. A patient can live normal life if proper care and treatment is given. The Social Workers also work with families of patients to mitigate challenges and providing support to the patients.

Corporate Sector

A specialization in Labour and Human Resource Management provides scopes to work in corporate sector. Many industries that are labour-centric hire Social Workers for better management of their human resources. Nowadays, Corporate Social Responsibility is newer field to contribute towards development of marginalized sections in the society. Those industries who meet criteria of CSR are recruiting Social Workers for effectively carry out tasks to fulfill social needs.

Education and Research

Academic is the place where you can make students to be good Social Workers upholding the ethical standard of the profession. You can imbibe values among them which will guide them to be committed for welfare of the people. A person can crack examination like UGC-NET/JRF and pursue Ph.D after master degree if he/she is really interested in academic field. The research is also another field where they can work and contribute even at policy level to make it people centric.

NGOs

The goal of a Non-Governmental Organization is to work for empowerment and welfare of downtrodden groups in the community. They have reached to those sections in the society where government services have not reached. It provides opportunity to work in rural as well as urban areas on wider issues such as poverty alleviation, proper health facilities, education services to poor, employment generation for those sections who have not been part of mainstream society. There are various scopes for working in local, national and international organization.

Government Sector

The government institutions like observation home, social welfare and protection office, health department, women and child protection home are open for social workers. There are various employment opportunities available for social workers where they can effectively work for underprivileged sections. They can play role from grassroots implementation to administrative position at various set up. The prison is also place where social workers can play vital role who are interested in correctional settings. They can help the prisoners to be better human being and help them to live as normal person again in society.

About Ganpat University- Department of Social Work

Ganpat University- Department of Social Work (GUNI-DSW) is known for its unique teaching pedagogy. DSW was established in the year 2009 with a mission to equip students with professional social work values and philosophy which inculcate the skills, aptitudes, and attitudes required by professionals in the discipline of social work. Social Work Education at DSW is not only limited to learning theoretical aspects in classrooms but it also applies theories in the practical fields of Social Work. Continuous fieldwork field work training as a tool of success is offered by us to give an empirical touch to the students.

GUNI- DSW Values

We as GUNI-DSW uphold the following values of social work to promote inclusive growth of society across the globe.

Pursuit of Social Justice
Respect for Human Relationship
Service to Mankind
Dignity and Worth of the Person
Competence in Professional Practice
Integrity of Professional Practice

About MSW Program

Master of Social Work (MSW) is a 2 years full time Master Degree program organized in four unique semesters. The program is designed for holistic growth of social work students. The conventional program has a powerful feature of sound 50 percent professional hands-on training based on a 50 percent classroom teaching module with additional unique features of certified value-added courses. The Program also welcomes candidates with experience in development and allied sectors.

Key Features