Internationalization of social work by educational projects implementation Maria Bulgaru, doctor habilitat, university professor, Moldova State University

1. Social work and globalization Social work systems are working in the conditions of the intense development of globalization processes, characterized by fundamental changes in the economy, division of labor market, new information and communication technologies, etc., and also by the significant increase of peoples interdependence, wherever they are be located. Globalization is a reality that affects all societies and their domains, including welfare systems and practices of social workers. In these circumstances, social workers must be prepared, considering local, community and their own country’s requirements, to activate in an interdependent world, which, undoubtedly, generates the need for them to review their knowledge and practice through the international events and perspectives. So, it is the time to redefine the mission and forms of social work and professional education to become these relevant in the new globalizing conditions. [K.Lyons]

2. International social work International social work, according to Lynne Healy, is a complex and multidimensional concept that includes global social problems, comparative analysis, international practices, specialized intergovernmental relations, standards and global vision etc. An important step in promoting social work as a profession with an international dimension, able to meet the challenges of globalization, is related to the creation of “Global Standards for the Education and Training of the Social Work Profession”, adopted at the common Congress of IFSW and IASSW (October 2004, Adelaide). The main goal of "Global Standards..." is to reflect the ideals to which schools of social work should tend to ensure a high intellectual level of education in this field, to enhance the education and practice of social workers at global level through the development of inter-national and inter-regional practices”. The definition of social work as a profession with international dimensions is formulated by the “Global Standards for the Education and Training of the Social Work Profession”: „The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilizing theories of human behavior and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work”.

3. Relevant global problems for international social work Among the most relevant global problems for international social work are: poverty; social and economic inequality, huge differences between rich and poor, both within countries and as well as between them; natural disasters, and those that are “man-made”; migration processes; discrimination by sex, race, ethnicity, class and religion etc.; “population ageing”; the increase of human trafficking; increase of the drug trafficking and of the number of dependent persons; the expansion of diseases with global dimensions (HIV/ AIDS), etc. Of course, the listed above problems can be completed with others, all of them intensifying the need for collaboration, integration of social work professionals in the various aspects and thereby contributing to the development of a comprehensive / international social work.

4. The role of educational projects in the development of international dimensions of social work Changes arising from globalization processes require, at the same time, need to increase the knowledge of social workers about the impact of these changes on people's lives, about the practices of international welfare, on innovative strategies to solve existing social problems and prevent the emergence of the new ones etc., and ability to use them in concretely socio-cultural situations. A significant role in shaping the skills needed to meet global challenges and in developing international dimensions of social work belongs to the social work education. A great potential in the development and internationalization of social work education is contained in the international projects, focused on the collaboration of universities in the field of specialists’ formation.

5. The Tempus projects impact on the social work profession development (the case of MSU) Resources, accumulated by the Department of Social Work during the last 15 years, have been formed with the significant contribution of the international projects: by means of these projects was accumulated a rich collection of specialty literature: manuals, course materials, methodical works, monographs, purchased or elaborated by faculty authors; within the Faculty were opened several centers of professional training (Republican Social Work Resources Center, Center of Excellence, Teaching and Learning Center, Social Research Center) equipped with advanced technical means, which created the possibility of quick connection to international informational bases, etc.; international projects constitute an important mean that support the international mobility of teachers and students; A positive consequence of international projects nominated for social work education in the Republic of Moldova is related to strengthening the cooperation capacity of the country's academia with social services, with local public administration, NGOs, civil society, to involvement in activities for social policies elaboration, etc. The most important thing achieved at Faculty of Sociology and Social Work (FSAS) by implementing projects is related to renewal of the curricula in accordance with the recommendations of the Bologna Process and the requirements of labor market, and as a result – is created the possibility of training social workers capable to adapt easily to the new requirements at national and international plane.

6. New specializations opened through the TEMPUS projects The TEMPUS projects: “Child Rights Education Development − Moldova and Serbia”, “Professionalisation of Social Work Education”, “Master Programmes in Public Health and Social Services” have had a significant role in the curriculum modernization. Through the these TEMPUS projects were opened: Two specializations/options at Licentiate (undergraduate) level (“Social Work with Family and Child at Risk”, “Social Work with Elderly Persons”) and three Master's programs (“Childhood Studies and Children's Rights”, “Management of Social Services”, “Family-Centered Social Policies”). The creation of these specialties was made on the basis of a thorough analysis of necessities in the Republic of Moldova, labor market requirements, in order to reduce the gap between the process of formation/training social workers in higher education institutions and problems which the contemporary society faces. This is the first experience in the Republic of Moldova, when takes place the change from generalist approach in the training of social workers to the specialized preparation on domains, in accordance with the requirements of the labor market.

7. The new courses introduced in the curricula The curricula were essentially renovated and supplemented with new courses according to new specializations/options, such as: Social Policies: Comparative Perspective; Diagnosis and Resolution of Social Problems; Migration and Its Social Consequences; Evolutions of Demographic Processes; Social Gerontology, Resolution of Social and Ethnic Conflicts; Intercultural Communication; Social Inclusion of Minority Groups; Human Development; Community Development, Management of Projects (Human Resources, Social Services); Family Health; Social Work with Elderly Persons (with Discriminated, Trafficked, HIV/AIDS Infected, Drug Addicted Persons); Family Protection in the National and European Context etc. The new courses introduced in the curricula reflect contemporary perspectives for professionalisation of social work, being focused on practical skills training, that would enable graduates to adapt to changing society and to involve themselves actively in the solution of the arising problems.

8. Instead of conclusion The theoretical approaches of the internationalization of social work in the conditions of globalization you can find in the my recent published textbook “Social Work in the context of globalization”