From Management to Governance: The Transformation of Social Work Education under the New Framework of the CPC’s Social Work Departments—A Case Study of the “Social Work Administration” Course
This paper argues for reforming China’s social work education, specifically the “Social Work Administration” curriculum, to align with the new governance context and the establishment of the CPC’s Social Work Departments. Current curricula, based on Western theories, inadequately prepare graduates for China’s policy implementation and administrative realities. The study proposes an indigenized approach, integrating local governance knowledge and practical policy execution skills. This includes reconstructing the core knowledge framework and adopting innovative teaching methods like localized case studies and field-based learning. The aim is to cultivate social work professionals who can effectively navigate the new governance ecosystem, translate policy into services, and contribute to social work with Chinese characteristics.
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