CURRENT TRENDS IN ACADEMIC SOCIAL WORK TRAINING - A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Undergraduate social work education is evolving through the integration of social responsibility, holistic student support, educational partnerships and the use of digital technologies. Programmes emphasise social justice and a culture of non-violence, ensuring adequate professional and ethical training. Psychological and social support becomes a priority for student success, and collaboration with employers and alumni helps improve training. The digitalisation of education, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, offers new opportunities for teaching and learning. Review-type analyses can provide insight into current trends in university training programmes. The present research, although limited in scope, manages to identify a number of key directions for academic training in social work. Current courses reflect contemporary issues by addressing social responsibility, poverty alleviation, mental health and technology. Professional ethics and the need for educational standards tailored to the diversity of students are emphasised. Antipoverty strategies are integrated into programmes to provide effective solutions. Mental health becomes increasingly important, including innovative interventions such as animal-assisted therapy. The use of technology in social work education contributes to improved learning. Courses on digital social innovation, mental health, social entrepreneurship and soft skills development are recommended. Digitisation in social care is becoming essential and training on topics such as cyber safety and social networking can support modern interventions. Adapting the curriculum is essential to meet today’s social needs and to train competent professionals. This process must take into account changes in the field, labour market requirements and the integration of interdisciplinary perspectives. A well-structured programme ensures an adequate preparation for future social workers, providing them with the necessary competences to respond effectively to community challenges.