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CHAPTER - N -
CRITICAL REVIEW OF PROFESSIONAL
SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION IN KERALA
The f i s t objective of the present research is to make a critical review of
professional social work education as offered in different parts of Kerala. This chapter
aims to provide a birds eye view of professional socila workeducation as it is offered
in different parts of the state. At the time of this research work there wereonly five
centers in Kerala offerring professional social work education i.e., Rajagiri College
of Social sciences, Kalamassery; Loyola College of Social Sciences, Sreekaryam,
Trivandrum; V i a i a College, Trichur adn two centers of Sree Sankaracharya
IJniversity of Sanskrit, one at Kalady in Ernakulam District and the other at Payyannur
in Kannur District. Of late nearly 15 centers more have been started offening masters
degree in professional social work education. The order followed in this chapter is
as follows.
1. Institutional Profile
2. Faculty Profile
3. Curriculum Profile
4. Student Enrichment and Cuniculum Enrichment Programs
,- .). Critical Review
Profile of the Professional Social Work Insitutions in Kerala
Institutes are the crucial places where a student gets molded into a professional.
Social work institutes must ideally be offering a variety of experiences in t e r n of
knowledge and practice to facilitate an attitudinal change in the aspirants towards
making them -agents for change. In the process many institutional aspects assume
significance.
Following is a brief description of the present state of affairs with respect
to the institutes for social work in Kerala.
Profile of Institutions & Teachers
1. Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, ~alamassery
Name & Address
Telephone / e-mail / web site if any
Year of establishment of social work department
Name of the university to which
institution is affiliated
Course offered under social work
department
Rajagiri college of social sciences
Kalamassery, Ernakulam, Kerala
Mahatma Gandhi university
Kottayam
B.S.W. M.S.W.,PGDAHS
Master of social work
Bachelor of social work
Post graduate diploma in
Administration of human service
organizations
Aided 1 self-finance M.S.W., PGDAHS - Aided
B.S.W - Self-finance
Total number of seats for each course in social work department 1. M.S.W - 25
2. B.S.W - 40
3. PGDAHS - 30
Total intake per year
Mode Of selection
Minimum eligibility for admission
Male I female ratio
Specializations offered
Entrance, GD, Interview
1.M.S.W. - 50% for arts, 55% for science
2. B.S.W - 50% for plus two
3. PGDAHS- 45% for graduation
1. Community development 2. Medical & Psychiatric
3. Family & Child welfare
Number of seats in each specialization Changes as per need
Placement percentage 95%
Placement percentage in government 5 - 10%
Placement percentage in voluntary organizations 90%
Details of Faculty
Name Present Sturus Qualifications Exposures
Dr. Antony Kariyil Principal MA;Ph.D; with several international
(At the time of exposures& author of a
this study) book
Dr. Varghese.K.Varghese Selection grade MA; MSW; with several international
(HOD at the DSD; Ph.D. exposures& author of a
time of this study) book
Dr.V.J.Kochutressia selection grade MA, MSW, with several international
Ph.D. exposures& author of a
book
Dr. Mary Venus Senior lecturer; M.A.; Ph.D. withseveral international Present HOD exposures & author of
a book.
Dr. Joseph.LInjodey Senior lecturer; M.A; Ph.D. with severalinternational Present Principal exposures
Mr.T.O.Poulose Senior lecturer; M.S.W; LL.B; with severalinternational M.B.A.; D.S.D exposures
Dr. Pauline D'cuhna Senior lecturer M.S.W; Ph.D
Sr.Lissy Lecturer MSW; M.Phil
Fr. Prasanth Palackappilly Lecturer M.A
2. Loyola college of Social Sciences, Trivandrum
Name & Address Loyola college of social sciences
Sreekariyam, Trivandrum, Kerala
Telephone I e-mail I web site if any
Year of establishment of social work department 1964
Name of the university to which institution is affiliated Kerala university
Course offered under social M.S.W. work department Master of social work
Aided rself-finance Aided
Total number of seats for each course in social work department M.S.W - 25
Total intake per year 25
Mode of selection Enuance, GD, Interview
Minimum eligibility for admission 1.M.S.W. - 50% for arts , 55% for science
Male I female ratio 311
Specializations offered 1. Medical & Psychiatric
2. Community Development
Number of seats in each specialization Changes as per need
Placement percentage 95%
Placement percentage in government 5 - 10%
Placement percentage in voluntary organizations
Details of Faculty
1. Dr. Helen Selection Grade Lecturer Principal
2. Mrs. Ushakumari Selection Grade Lecturer
3. Prof. T.S Thomas Selection Grade Lecturer
4. Fr.Joy Selection Grade Lecturer
5. Mr. J0seph.K.D Senior Lecturer
3. V i a l a College, Trichur
Name & Address
Telephone I e-mail I web site if any
Year of establishment ofsocial work department
Name of the university to which institution is affiliated
Course offered under social work department
Aided I self-finance
Total number of seats for each course in social work department
Total intake per year
Mode of selection
Minimum eligibility for admission
Vinala college
Trichur, Kerala
Calicut university
M.S.W.
Master of social work
Aided
M.S.W - 15
15
Entrance, GD, Interview
1.M.S.W. - 50% for arts , 55% for science
Male I female ratio
Specializations offered
Female only
1. Medical& Psychiatric
2. Community development
3. Administration of human
service organizations
Number of seats in each specialization Changes as per need
Placement percentage 95 %
Placement percentage in government 5 - 10%
Placement percentage in voluntary organizations
Details of Faculty
1. Dr.Lissy Joseph Head of the mpartment M.A, M.S.W; Ph.D
2. Dr.Asha.E?Rao Senior Lecturer M.S.W; Ph.D
3. Dr. Jaya Cherian Senior Lecturer M.S.W; Ph.D
4. Mrs. Mini Senior Lecturer M.S.W
4. Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady
Name & Address Sree Sankaracharya Sanskrit university
Kalady, Kerala
Telephone I e-mail I web site if any IrC!
Year of establishment of social work department 1995
Name of the university to which institution is affiliated Course offered under social Work department
Aided l self-finance
Total number of seats for each course in social work deparunent
Total intake per year
Mode of selection
Minimum eligibility for admission
Male 1 female ratio
Specializations offered
Number of seats in each specialization
Placement percentage
Placement percentage in government
Placement percentage in voluntary organizations
University department M.S.W. Master of social work
Aided
Entrance, GD, Interview
1.M.S.W. - 50% for arts , 55% for science
3:l
1. Medical& Psychiatric
2. Community . development
3. Administration of human
service organizations
Changes as per need
95%
5 - 10%
Details of Faculty
Name Name and present status qualifications& year of joining exposures
Jose Antony 1995 Lecturer (on contract) MSW; Ph.D
Sophy Jacob 1997 Lecturer (on contract) MSW
Shee1amma.R 1997 Lecturer (on contract) MSW
Baiju.PV 1999 Lecturer (on contract) MSW
Seena Abraham 2000 Lecturer (on contract) MS W
Anitha.A. 2001 Lecturer (on contract) MSW
Rincy Sebastian 2001. Lecturer (on contract) MSW
Sheena Mathew 2001 Lecturer (on contract) MSW
Santhoshkumar 1997 Lecturer (on contract) MSW
Udayabanu A.K. 2000 Lecturer (on contract) MSW
'Pable showing Levels of Training
S1.No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Name of institution
Rajagiri college
Loyolacollege
V i a l a college
Sree Sankaracharya University
Courses offered
Masters Degree; Ph.D; Bachelors
Degree; Post Graduate Diploma
Masters Degree
Masters Degree
Masters Degree
As the table shows out of the four institutes which comes under the purview
of this study except in the Rajagiri college only Masters level programme is offered.
Rajagiri is the oniy center having Ph.D; Bachelors Degree and Post Graduate Diploma
in social work. Professional social workeducation in Kerala generally starts at masters
level. The f i s t level of specialization is offered at masters level and then at Ph.D
level. The result is that many basic and pre- professional social science subjects of
study are included at masters level which ought to be covered at much lower levels.
The second UGC review committee has suggested that it is better to complete
much of social work education at a lower level in the educational ladder pointing to
the need for introducing more bachelor's programs and other training programs.
Table.4.1
Table showing Pattern of Affiliation
Name of University
Mahatma Gandhi
University
Kerala University
Calicut University
Sree Sankaracharya
Sanskrit University
Pattern of Affiliation
Affiliated to state
university
Affiliated to state
university
Affiliated to state
university
University Department
SI.No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
-
Name of institution
Rajagiri college
Loyola college
Vimala c d k g e
Sree Sankaracharya
University
As regards pattern of affiliation 3 institutes are affiliated to state universities
whereas one is a university department. Out of the three affiliated colleges both
Loyola college of social sciences and Rajagiri college of social sciences are primarly
known as social work institutes with primary focus in social work as against Vimala
college or Sree Sankaracharya University where social work is one among many
departments.
The second UGC review committee asks to reconsider the general tendency
for mixing up other courses with social work education as it tends to dilute the
academic atmosphere bringing down the value of social work values. The committee
feels that the prevailing culture within the institute assumes a lot of significance
towards facilitating an attitudinal change in the students.
Geographically the institutes are evenly distributed with one in the north,
one in the south and two in the center part of the state of Kerala. One center of Sree
Sankaracharya University is in the northern end which is at Payyannur in Malabar.
There is also a urban- ~ r a l balance regarding location of these institutes. Loyola
college and Vimala college are in corporation areas; Rajagiri college in the
municipality and the two centers of the Sree Sankaracharya University are located
in panchayats.
The second UGC review committee has observed regional balance as one of
the important aspect to make social work education more relevant to the social needs.
The report emphasizes the need to provide proper ~ r a l exposure as majority lives in
rural areas.
'Table.4.2
'Table showing Selection Procedures
All the institutes in Kerala follows more or less the same admission
procedtires. But not much effort is seen to orient aspirants towards the program in
general. After the selection some efforts are seen in one of the institutes to prepare
the aspirants for the course before the commencement of the actual corse by way of
providing Remedial program, Bridge course, Social sensitization programs
ctc.Remedia1 program generally include mining in basic English, communication
skills, public speaking, popular theatre etc. Bride program include basic accountancy,
general economics, basic human psychology to fi the gap of pre-professional courses.
Social sensitization programs are like rural camp, calypso training etc.
The second UGC review committee observes that generally no efforts are
made by social work institutes to assess the motivation of the students or to study
their personality characteristics which would go a long way in assessing their
suitability for the profession. If institutions could think of some imaginative pre-
admission procedures to orient aspirants towards the program in general, candidates
with better aptitude and motivated aspirants can be attracted. In many institutions a
good majority of students join professional socialwork education program simply
because that becomes their only choice.
Selection Procedures
Entrance Test; GD; Interview
Entrance Test; GD; Interview
Entrance Test; GD; Interview
Entrance Test; GD; Interview
- SI.No.
1.
2.
:3.
4.
Name of institute
Rajagiri college
Loyola college
Vimala college
Sree Sankaracharya University
Table showing student enrichment programs
certificate courses, Guest Lectures, Semina
Study tours, Conferences
Guest Lectures, Seminars, Study tours,
Conferences
Guest Lectures, Seminars, Study tours,
Conferences
Guest Lectures, Seminars, Study tours,
I .
2.
:3.
4.
1 I university 1 Conferences
Type of programs SI.No
Rajagiri college
Loyola college
V i a l a college
Sree Sankaracharya
As many of the current topics do not find a place in the social work cuniculam,
schools of social work try to compensate the inadequacy by arranging talks by experts
and practitioners on current topics, organizing periodical seminars on emerging social
themes, having consultations with organizations working on social realities etc. Only
one of the institute offer certificate programs on topics like child rights, gender
sensitivity, popular theatre etc as a method of incorporating current topics in the
training of students.
The council on social work education as well as the second UGC review
committee has mentioned the need for incorporationg such current topics in to social
work training by some mechanism. The social work cuniculam should be enriched,
the committee says, by in a way responsive to societal needs. The review committee
observed that even after sixty years syllabus is yet to be designed as attempts are
always to try to fit in the existing curricula to the prevailing conditions.
I I
Name of institute
Table.4.4
Table showing Nature of Extension Programs
Out of the four institute of professional social work education in Kerala only
one institute is more than one type of program to train social work trainees. Skill Lab
include community centers, day care centers, training centers and family council
ling centers which acts as skill lab for students. Live Labs are extension departments
headed by trained professional social workers working in the areas of community
sponsorship. Child rights, adoption, tralning community leaders, taking up research
projects etc. Students are continuously involved in the activities of these departments
throughout their training period. Moreover field work of professional
Social work students is routed through these live labs so that supervision is done by
trained practitioners.
Type of programs
Community projects, Skill Labs, Live Labs,
Psychology Labs
Community projects
Community projects
Community projects
SI.No
1.
2.
3.
4.
Name of institute
Rajagiri college
Loyola college
Vimala college
Sree Sankaracharya
-University
The table brings out the quality of social work teachers in Kerala. Out of the
four institute two institute have comparatively better faculties in terms of experience
but only one school can claim to have academically competent faculty. In the university
centers all faculties am on contract basis with consolidated payment package resulting
in continuous change of faculty members which is likely to affect the quality of
training given to students of those centers.
The knowledge as well as the attitude and values teachers reflect, observed
the second UGC review committee, great significance in the learning process. The
report pointed out the main shortcomings of social work teachers in general.
1. Teachers mostly rely on old text book material or journals for their teaching.
Efforts for updating themselves with latest issues and concepts and integrating
them into teaching hardly take place.
2. Many of the teachers do not get involved with work in the field and th9s
handicaps them in generation of new knowledge based on their own experience
Table showing qualification and experience of faculty members
No. of faculty
with more than 10 yrs
7
5
I
0
No. of Ph.DIMphil
5
0
2
1
S1.No
Y .
2.
3.
4.
Name of institute
Rajagiri college
Loyola college
Vimala college
Sree Sankaracharya
University
in concrete situations of practice.
3. Educators do not maintain continuing interaction with practitioners or social
activists which in turn limits their insights into field realities.
Table.4.6
Table showing specializations
The table shows that only one of the institute offer specializations different
from other three institutes. New specializations like Rural institutions and Agriculture;
Social work with weaker sections; Social work with special groups; Welfare of the
backward classes Social research and statistics; Tribal welfare etc are not available
in the state of Kerala.
The hard core realities of society like poverty, deprivation, unemployment,
illiteracy, mal-nutrition, scarcity of drinking water, insanitation, non-availability of
adequate shelter, discrimination. gender inequality, environmental degradation,
Specializations offered
Community development; Medical and
psychiarric social work Family andchild welfare.
Personnel management; Correctional
adminiswtion, Medical and psychiamc social work
Community developmen$ Medical and
psychiatric social work Family andchild welfare.;
Community development; Medical and
psychiaaic social workFamily and child welfare
S1 No - I .
2.
3.
4.
.
Name of institute
Rajagiri college
Loyola college
V i a c o l l e g e
S m Sankaracharya University
population explosion, exploitation of consumers, neglect and abuse of children, youth
and aged, debt bondage, sexual deviance, inter community clashes . intercaste strives,
atrocities against SUST, terrorism, AIDS, corruption, broken family issues, suicide,
problems of people with differential ability, dowry, child maniage, child rights etc (
CSWE 2001) are not adequately touched or taught in the present specializations.
These topics should find a place in the social work cunicularn either by introducing
new specializations or incorporating such areas in professional social work education
system by some mechanism by each social work institute.
Pt-oiessional Social work education has failed to develop specializations suite
to the changing times and social changes. Majority of social work institutions offer
specializations wherein students do not take up necessarily take up employment in
the area of their specialization either because of non-availability of jobs in the
respective fields or he feels ill equipped in his own area, observed Armaity Desai in
her book on 'Social Work Education in India - Retrospct and Prospect' (1987).
Social workers identify more with their specializations than with social welfare and
social work practice, comments ASWI in Social Work Education and Social Work
Practice in India.
Table.4.7
Table showing NAAC accreditation status
. Out of the four institutes three has got Five Star status from National
Assessment and Accreditation Council which is a very good indication that the se
institute has got high potential with its infrastructure and man power to provide
quality social work education. Professional social work education institutions in
Kerala can take pride in this recognition and try to rise themselves to bench mark
themselves at a National standard. The NPLAC team make assessment on the following
aspects.
1 Infrastructure
2 Teaching
3 Co and Extra curricular Activities
4 Health Protection
5 Alumini Association
6 Research & Publication
NAAC Accreditation Status
Five Star Plus
Five Star
Five Star
Not yet accredited
SI.No
1.
2.
3.
4. .
Name of institute
Rajagiri college
Loyola college
V i a l a college
Sree Sankaracharya University
Curriculam Profile The following table gives a brief description of papers taught in professional social work education program in various institutions in Kerala.
1" semester
Rajagiri College Sanskrit University Loyola College V i a l a College
History, philosophy Philosophy of social work History & philosophy History, philosophy and fields of social workwork of Social Work and fields of social work
Sociology for social work Methods & fields of social Sociology & economics for Sociology for social work work Social work
Social economics Social work tenets in Sanskrit Psychology for social work Social economics
Human growth & Indian society & social Social casework& group Human growth & Development problems work Development
Work with individuals Human growth & Behavior N A Work with individuals
Work with Communities N A N A Work with Communities
I . -- 100 --.
2"d semester 1 --- -
\L'--' vr rc k i t h groups Soc:al case work Theory & practice of Counseling
Counseling Social group work Administration of '
Human service oganisations
Abno~nial psychology Community organization & Community organization & Social action legislation
Soc~ai work research Social work reseuch Social work research & Statistics
Statist~cs for soclal work Soc~al legislation N A
Soclai analysis & srrateglrs NA Of soc~al change
Adm~n~strat~on of human Statistical methods for N A Seivice organizat~ons social research
Social legislation Social welfare N A Administration
Partic~patory program NA N A 'I rliielil Plannlns & M a n . g
Genatr~c soc~al work N A NA
3rd semester
Work with groups
Counseling
Abnormal psychology
Social work research
Statistics for social work
Social analysis & strategies Of social change
Administration of human Service organizations
Social legislation
Participatory program Planning & Management
Geriatric social work
4" semester I Social psychology Counseling - theory
And practice
Developinent comlnun~cation Project planning And implementation
N A Social psychology
N A Development communication
( Social work in education N A N A Social work in education I Total number of common papers taught
The above table very clearly shows the lack of consensus among schools of social work in Kerala on what is to be taught in professional
social work education. The big difference between the number and types of common papers ranging from 19 to 8 shows the difference in the quan-
tum of input given for a professional course at masters level. The same is seen in the number and type of specialization papers offered in various
schools of social work within the state of Kerala
Total number of specialization papers taught
Vimala College
4
4
4
N A
Loyola College
5 5 5
5
Sanskrit Universty
4 4 4
NA
~ o m m u n i t y ' ~ e v e 1 o ~ e m e n t Family and Child Welfare
Medical and Psychiatric
Social Work
Personnel Management
(More details in rlnnexure-5 ) -
Rajagiri College
4
4
4
N A
Critical review
At the time of the data collection of this study there were only four institutes
in Kerala offering professional social work education. Off late several institutes have
started professional social work education. The following is a brief profile of institutes
offering professional social work education and a critical review of professional
social work education as offered in different parts of Kerala.
1. At present there are 19 institutions offering professional social work education
in Kerala. All institutes except the Rajagiri college of social sciences,
Kalamassery offer masters degree program only. Rajagiri college offers
bachelor's degree (B.S.W.) and diploma program (PGDAHS).
2. Except for Sanskrit university all other colleges are affiliated to state
universities. In Sanskrit university social work education department is a
university department.
3. It may be observed that professional social work education starts at a higher
level than the basic degree course. Much of the professional social work
education should be completed at a lower level in the educational ladder so
that specializations would be deeper and with professional nature at masters
level or Ph.D. level. This brings out the need for starting bachelor level program
and other training programs in professional social work field.
4. All the institutes of professiona! social work education coming under the
purview of this study are located in urban centers though many of the institutions
started off late are in rural sector. I f professional social work education is to
become more relevant, the regional imbalance in the location of institutions
offering professional social work education is to be corrected.
5. Many of the professional social work departments in many colleges started
off late have been established without ensuring the basic infrastructure of trained
and experienced staff 1 field work facilities which may result in lowering the
overall standard of professional social work education in the state though the
institutes coming under this research stand as exceptions in this regard.
Existence and possibilities of field settings and organizations for field work is
ari important factor in training professional social workers. But institutes
thinking of starting professional social work education are not seriously taken
this factor.
6 . Lack of strong professional bodies to set norms and basic standards to a
profession is another key factor. The existing professional bodies are either
inactive or the involvement of professional social work educational institutions
in these bodies is negligible.
7. No institutes in Kerala in general have any pre- admission activities to orient
the aspirants towards the program. More over no efforts are being made to
asses the motivation of the students or to theirpersonality characteristics which
would go a long way in assessing their suitability for the profession. Rajagiri
college of social sciences may be projected as an exception to this. This institute
conducts presentations in aU parts of India on professional social work education
and its scope and possibilities with the intention of attracting students from all
parts of India and as a result this institute h a s the largest number of students
from other state of India and from abroad.
8. Among all the four institutes coming under this study except for Rajagiri
college of social sciences, extension programs are only name sake and are
being run for charitable purposes than as unitsof study for the students. In this
context it is worth mentioning the Rajagiri model.
Attempts are always to fit the existing cumcula to the emerging concerns
instead bf building the cumcula based on identification of problems faced in society
and the tasks to be undertaken and then locating the subject matter to suit the tasks to
be. performed. The theoretical base rooted in western culture and the lack of culture
based modification makes the application of theory irrelevant bringing down the
effectiveness of practice. In specialization programs there is no agreement as to the
number of specializations or the number of papers to be offered. There is no consensus
as to what constitute a generic program. Majority of institutes offer specializations
whereas the students do not necessarily take up a job in the area of their specialization.
This might mean training a person for a specific field making him ill-equipped to
take up a job in another field. The selection of subject matter follows a set pattern
without any attempt to integrate new topics or relevant issues corresponding to local
needs or on a wider perspective. This does not help the students to acquire knowledge
pertaining to the needs of the time or future concerns and leave them grossly unaware
of important issues they are going to face in their current field practice or in their
future operations. The social work cumcula tends to be more in terms of information
accumulation and transmission using the vaditional methods of teaching. Lack of
integration of creative and activity based methods of learning makes the education
pattern largely ineffective in initiating and promoting the capacity of the students for
self-learning and realizing their own creativity.
Though extension programs and demonsaation projects like community
centers, family welfare agencies, foster care etc have been organized in some of the
institutes, majority do not have any such programs which can act as skill labs for the
students. The institutes of social work education should set up extension / community
outreach programs which should be action - oriented, around particular problems.
This will allow opportunities.for the students to put in to practice their knowledge
and skill. The social work institutes should also take up training for para-professional
frontline workers. The social work educational institutions should be alert to the
emerging social issues and should be prompt in analyzing and responding to them.
The social worker is very often called upon to organize people, formulate
plans of action for them and mobilize resources to implement them. He is sometimes
the only person working towards coordinating several activities. All programs need
not appear to be supportive of the main goal. Planning, coordinating and organizing
functions which do not lend themselves to much coordination is the unenviable task
of the social worker. Making meaning out of an apparently meaningless situation
can be seen an opportunity or as a dead end. The professional social worker is one
who posses the attitude and aptitude to lend meaning and content to such a situation.
In any educational process, the educator or teacher becomes the role model
and hidher actions are under the constant scrutiny by the student community. The
knowledge, attitude and values they reflect assume great significance in the learning
process. The social work education system in India has failed to find or produce an
adequate number of educators who have succeeded in molding students into workers
who act as advocates for social change on behalf of the less fortunate and
underprivileged. Most teachers rely only on text book material for teaching. Lack of
field involvement, lack of regular interaction with practitioners and lack of enough
research by faculty tells upon the consequent poor attitude of the students during and
after training.
It is universally accepted for any profession, its professional status is largely
determined by the extend to which it exhibits the characteristics of professionalism.
For any profession training form the basis for practice, as this is what moulds an
individual into a professional making him / her distinct from others. So if the social
work profession has failed to make strong footing India, it can be attributed to the
failure of education system to bring about the expected standards of performance in
its students to meet the need of the time. This in turn calls for a radical change in the
social work education system.
Ithas been a matter of great concern for educators as well as practitioners for
quite some time and there is a growing consensus that the need of the hour is to
develop a pattern responsive to the social realities. In the Indian context this would
mean producing workers who can act as agents for social change in a developmental
milieu with a heightened sense of commitment and social consciousness.
Rajagiri model
Rajagiri college of social sciences. Kalamassery has made a substantial
difference by introducing and establishing the concept of live-labs for student practice
and training. The live- labs are separate social work units undercommunity extension
program with large number of community projects catering to the needs of the
various sections of society in different parts of Kerala. They are all community
partnership efforts. Social work students are sent for their field work through these
live-labs headed by professional and experienced practitioners dealing with all type
of current community issues like poverty, unemployment, broken family issues, child
abuse, geriatric problems, drug abuse and alcoholism, noh- institutional Foster care
and sponsorship, rehabilitation of various categories of displaced and deprived etc.
As these live-labs are located within the campus the practitioners gets actively
involved in the training of students and continuous contact with practitioners and
community issues students automatically get exposed to the current issues and this
results in skill enhancement to deal with current social issues. In other schools of
social work the extension departments do not remain as units of training but instead
for charitable purposes or for social work thrust.