An analysis of social work education and practice in Vietnam and Canada

Douglas Durst, SPR Associate, Faculty of Social Work, University of Regina doug.durst@uregina.ca June 2006 The Social Policy Research Unit The Social Policy Research Unit (SPR) was established in 1980 as the research arm of the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Regina. [...] Vietnamese culture, the political ideology, and social and economic influences are shaping the rebirth and development of social work practice and education. [...] With respect to the social work education models in Vietnam and in Canada, the researchers based their analysis mainly on the review of the newly approved core curriculum of social work education at university level in Vietnam and the BSW curriculum of the University of Regina. [...] THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL WORK IN CANADA AND VIETNAM History and Context of Social Work in Canada (1914-2004) Social work practice in Canada has been shaped by, and is a reflection of, the culture of the country (Johnson, McClelland, & Austin, 1998). [...] Local NGOs such as the Social Development Research and Consultancy in Ho Chi Minh City, the Child Welfare Foundation, Ho Chi Minh City Youth Association, the Social Worker Training Group in the North and local government departments contributed to the recognition and rebirth of social work in the new context of the Vietnamese society.