The Bachelor of Social Work degree is a four year course consisting of classroom and field practicum training. In 2013, the Automotive Information and Development Centre (AIDC) and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University agreed upon placing fourth year social work students within the Employee Assistance Programs affiliated with the AIDC. The research goal of this study is to enhance an understanding of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) as a context for practicum training for (4th) fourth year social work students by exploring and describing the perceptions and experiences of students, campus supervisors and EAP company representatives. In this respect, the study seeks to determine whether EAP provides the opportunity to meet the Exit Level Outcomes for the Bachelor of Social Work degree. This study is focussed on the practical application of social work knowledge and skills; it is framed within the principles of the Outcomes Based Educational Approach to Education. It was thus considered relevant to introduce a literature review on this particular approach with the focus on the achievement of outcomes. In order to understand whether EAP is an effective learning context the researcher needed to understand how students apply the experience and bridge the gap between theory and practice to gain meaning and understanding and, essentially, learn from the practicum training experience thus further enhancing the framework. The experiential learning cycle presented by Kolb (1984) extended the framework to provide an appropriate model for facilitating learning by linking practice to theory and knowledge. Kolb’s experiential learning cycle was thus explored. The study utilised an exploratory, descriptive, qualitative approach, which is contextual in nature. Non-probability, purposive sampling was utilised to select fourth year social work students, supervisors and company representatives who were involved with EAPs and fourth year social work students at their company. Data collection incorporated semi-structured interviews. Data analysis resulted in themes, sub-themes, categories and sub-categories emerging. Upon analysis of these themes, it was clear that with the appropriate support and creativity, students were able to meet the required Exit Level Outcomes of the Bachelor of Social Work degree. The study concludes that the overall the experience of fourth year social work students placed at EAP companies has been a positive one, with students meeting the Exit Level Outcomes for the Bachelor of Social Work degree. Although this was a positive experience, greater preparation is required and communication between the relevant parties needs to be improved.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nmmu/vital:28218 |
| Date | January 2017 |
| Creators | Cummings, Nicki |
| Publisher | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Faculty of Health Sciences |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Masters, MA |
| Format | viii, 205 leaves, pdf |
| Rights | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University |
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