. Formation of professional competencies of future social educators/social workers in the process of educational (introductory) practice

Abstract

The article highlights the purpose, task, content and features of the organisation and conduct of the educational practice (internship) of students of the 1st year of the educational and qualification level “Bachelor” in the specialty 231 “Social Work” at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. Educational (introductory) practice is the initial stage of students’ acquisition of professional knowledge, the way of acquiring practical skills of socio-pedagogical activity and social work with various categories of children and youth in institutions of social assistance. Internship is mandatory for all students majoring in Social Work. Its duration is determined by the curriculum and is 2 weeks in the 2nd semester. The total duration of practice is 90 hours, which corresponds to three ECTS credits. The result of the practice is a differentiated assessment. Educational (introductory) practice is a passive internship, since students do not yet work independently, although they can be involved in performing simple assignments. It is organised according to the pilot principle, which allows covering various types of institutions and social assistance services of various organisational and legal forms in a short time. The main stages of organising and conducting the practice include preparatory, working, final ones. During their internship, students have the opportunity to form an idea of the real-life activity of social workers/social pedagogues in institutions that provide social support, the main groups of categories of persons with whom a social worker/social pedagogue works. In addition, students are able to understand the problems of clients and the ways to solve them by institutions of the social sphere, public organisations and other structures, to work on the formation of professional competences. Program competences are described as integral competence, general competences, professional competences of the specialty (FC) and program learning outcomes (PLO). Keywords: pedagogical practice, internship, professional training, social pedagogue, social worker, professional competences.