Social Work
You know what all future and current social workers have in common? They are not indifferent to what happens to another person - whether they belong to a group facing social exclusion or have different needs and possibilities.
Your patience, empathy, tolerance for the weaknesses of others, strong character, and willingness to help are already a solid foundation for choosing Social Work studies at Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija.
Whether this is really your calling, you will have the opportunity to find out through practical placements and volunteering in different social service institutions.
Studies at Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija can be combined with work - both in full-time and part-time modes. Individual needs are accommodated on a case-by-case basis.
Admission to a higher year of studies is possible for those who have a professional qualification as a social worker's assistant at level IV.
We consult entrants by phone +370 615 97 114, e-mail priemimas@svako.lt or at the Central building of the ŠVK (Aušros al. 40, room 211, Šiauliai).
Why in Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija?
When preparing social workers, great attention is paid to experiential-practical learning, during which students explore the social environment, study the factors influencing personality psychology and behavior, and develop teamwork skills.
Social Work study programme subjects are also taught by teachers from abroad who bring the context of intercultural and international social work.
In 2022, the study programme was updated with a focus on the principles of inclusive social work practice: (self-)inclusion, partnership, advocacy, and honesty.
– All practical placements are accompanied by practice case analysis group sessions conducted by a lecturer with supervisor training.
– An experiential trip in nature is organized for first-year students to encourage learning from practice and improve reflective skills, foster cooperation, and raise awareness of the need to constantly rethink one's values.
– The specialized subjects for deepening knowledge in the field are based on current trends in social work, helping students learn and manage various forms and techniques of social work related to today's social policy changes.
Further possible career paths
| Access to professional activity | Graduate will be able to work as social worker, provide and organise as well as administer social services in state and private social security, education, health care, and law enforcement institutions: social services centres, family and child welfare centres, day care centres for children, people with special needs, the elderly and the aged, social care homes, community childcare homes, hospitals, rehabilitation units, rehabilitation centres, prisons, various non-governmental organisations, create social business, etc. |
| Access to further study | Graduates can continue their studies at universities under the Social Sciences study fields group Social Work field and other study fields programmes. Graduates can get their learning outcomes recognized, if they want to take university study programmes of the first cycle. After completion of bridge courses or fulfilling other requirements of the accepting higher education institution, students can pursue second cycle Master's studies. |
Study programme information
| Mode and duration | Full-time – 3 years. Part-time – 4 years. |
| Study Programme national code | 6531JX018 |
| Scope of the study | 180 credits (ECTS) |
| Language of instruction | Lithuanian |
| Field of education | Welfare |
| Group of study fields | Social Sciences |
| Study field | Social Work |
| Qualification degree and (or) qualification to be awarded | Professional Bachelor of Social Sciences, Social Worker |
| Chairman of the Study Programme Committee | The Head Physical, Aesthetic and Social Welfare Department Indrė Skirmantaitė, email i.skirmantaite@svako.lt, tel. +370 41 52 49 71 |
Objectives of a study programme and intended learning outcomes
Objective of a study programme – to train social work specialist, capable to initiate social changes in society and to enable a person, family, group and community to create social welfare in the changing global environment in accordance with the principles of human rights assurance and social responsibility
Learning outcomes
| Knowledge and its application | 1. He/she knows theory and methods of social work, theories of human behaviour and its change in the social environment, the development of the social work profession, the principles of ethics, human rights, social justice, national social security, and applies interprofessional cooperation in research-based social work practice, determines the need for social services, provides social services using information, communication and assistance technologies. 2. He/she knows and applies the fundamentals of social, humanities and other theories in providing social services to clients. |
| Research skills | 3. He/she carries out practice-oriented social work research, interprets its results in the context of the activities of institutions providing social services and social policy. 4. He/she applies the results of applied research to solve social problems and develop professional activities by introducing innovations in social work. |
| Special abilities | 5. Recognizes, analyzes and evaluates the needs, strengths and possibilities of a person, family, group, community (hereinafter - the customer), follows regulatory legal acts and institutional documents, develops a person's social skills, anticipates the emergence of social problems in the community, organizes and evaluates the impact of social services on the client, applies social work methods, creating a full-fledged communication and trust based relationship, representing the client's rights and interests, using internal and external resources, motivating and empowering the client for self-help. 6. He/she develops and implements social assistance plans for client, institutional, regional, national programmes and projects, plans rational resources, evaluates the effectiveness of social services, programmes and projects. 7. He/she collaborates with representatives of various institutions, organizing and developing innovative social services, empowering clients to contribute to social welfare. 8. He/she analyses and explains the impact of social policy on ensuring human rights and reducing social exclusion. 9. His/her practical activities are guided by the principles of social justice, human rights, values of social work and professional ethics, and provides for the improvement of the social assistance process. |
| Social abilities | 10. He/she communicates and collaborates with clients, colleagues, team members and other professionals, politicians, media, scientists in accordance with the norms of respect, understanding, agreement and ethics. 11. He/she fluently expresses thoughts in writing and orally in the state and foreign languages, discusses relevant professional issues, generates ideas in order to strengthen the prestige of the social work profession. |
| Personal abilities | 12. He/she critically evaluates and reflects on his/her professional growth, professional activities, improves personal and professional competences, recognizing the importance of lifelong learning. 13. He/she systematizes and analyzes information from national and international information sources, uses media and assistance technologies, ensures confidentiality and independently makes decisions, acting professionally in changing situations. 14. He/she takes care of personality cognition, development and professional qualification improvement, shares best practices in creating the image of the social work profession. |
Study subjects (modules) and practical training
| YEAR I | II metai | III metai |
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| Semester I | Semester III | Semester V |
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| Semester II | Semester IV | Semester VI |
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| YEAR I | YEAR II | YEAR III | YEAR IV |
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| Semester I | Semester III | Semester V | Semester VII |
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| Semester II | Semester IV | Semester VI | Semester VIII |
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