1. SOCIAL WORK-VIRTUAL CAMPUS
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
SOCIAL WORK-VIRTUAL CAMPUS
SW-VirCamp International Specialization
SW-VirCamp Consortium Meeting. Vitero april 2010 .

2. Presentation by: Remmelt Veenkamp Wp 1 Leader.
School of Social Work. INHolland University of Applied Science (Haarlem, Netherlands)

3. Starting points and Aims of SW-Vircamp
Those were already presented by Anne Karin Larsen in her overview

4. The Presented model of an International Specialization:
Part 1: The first 1.5 years of study, (or 2.5 years if the BA is 4 year) students will study at their home university.
Part 2: After this, students who register for the IS participate in international e-learning courses (30 ECTS credits)
Part 3: Students who have started on the IS continue the next semester with study abroad/placement abroad at one of the partner institutions/countries (30 ECTS credits).
Part 4: Students return to their home university and participate in the national programme. They complete their education by writing their BA thesis (in English) on a comparative international theme in SW.

5. Partners Positions towards a joint IS:
Positive
Conditional
Negative
unknown
P1: HØGSKOLEN I (HiB)
P2: HOGESCHOOL INHOLLAND, HAARLEM, THE NETHERLANDS (INH)
P4: HÄLSOHÖGSKOLAN, JÖNKÖPING UNIVERSITET, SWEDEN (HHJ)
P12: de BOBIGNY, Universite de Paris
P3: UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID, SPAIN (UCM)
P8: HOCHSCHULE MITTWEIDA (HSM)
P7: SWANSEA UNIVERSITY, WALES, UK (SWANSEA)
P5: INSTITUTO SUPERIOR MIQUEL TORGA, COIMBRA, PORTUGAL (ISMT)
P10: HØGSKOLEN I (HIBO)
P9: LIEPAJAS UNIVERSITATE, LATVIA (LPA)
P6: HOCHSCHULE MANNHEIM, MANNHEIM GERMANY (HSMA)
P11: UNIVERSIDAD LUSOFONA LISBOA, PORTUGAL (ULHT)
P12: KATHOLIEKE HOGESCHOOL KEMPEN, BELGIUM (KHKEMPEN)

6. Points of discussion:
Essential in the time path in this IS is the theoretical part. This has to be tuned between the participating partners. The practical placement part, and the research part/ final thesis, can be done in the perspective of the specific time paths ( 3 – 4 year curriculum program) of each institution
Flexibility towards the content of the Theoretical part. Beside Virclass partners offer other International orientated programs. It should be possible for students to take part in those courses instead of the e-learning courses.

7. Points of discussion:
The time path of the presented IS model demands that there has to be made an adjustment to the current structure of M1 & M2, to fit this into the period of the spring semester in the 2nd year.
The holiday period of the German partners in the beginning of the spring semester ( February) can cause problems for German students to take part in the theoretical part of the IS
English language skills of students, as well as teachers have to be adequate. English lessons, to improve the writing and speaking skills of students have to be an optional part of curriculum/ the study program.

8. Points of discussion:
A creative solution to solve the language problem in relation to practical placement is that countries of the same language region exchange students ( e.g. Scandinavian countries, Iberian countries)
The number of hours in relation to an ECTS differs between the partner countries. The Vircamp consortium partners which have less hours in relation to the indicated Bologna level of hours per ECTS will have to develop additional tasks, to solve this .

9. Number of students able to join the courses.
Points of discussion:
In order to give students the possibility of having practical placement abroad it is necessary that every partner offers min 5 placements in which International students can develop their SW competences.
Number of students able to join the courses.
Some institutions expect low numbers of students admitting for the courses. The IS changes of course the perspective of this for students, but still, recruitment, intake etc need to be discussed.

10. Placements possibilities in English by each partner
Points of discussion:
Placements possibilities in English by each partner
Studying abroad possibilities by each partner

11. HiB: Internasjonal Specialisation alt.1
1 year
Autumn: Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
Spring : Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
2 year
Spring: International e-learning modules (30 ECTS credits)
3 year
Autumn: Practice placements abroad/ study abroad (30 ECTS credits)
Spring: BA-thesis in English in a comparaitve international perspective on social work (number of credits according to the national Curriculum)

12. HiB: Internasjonal Specialisation alt.2
1 Year
Autumn: Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
Spring : Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
2 Year
Autumn: Ordinary Curriculum plan + international e-learning course (15 ECTS credits)
Spring : Ordinary Curriculum plan + international e-learning course (after Easter) (15 ECTS credits)
3 Year
Autumn: Practice placements abroad/ study abroad (30 ECTS credits)
Spring: BA-thesis in English in a comparaitve international perspective on social work (number of credits according to the national Curriculum)

13. HiB: Internasjonal Specialisation alt.3
1 Year
Autumn: Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
Spring : Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
2 Year
Spring : Ordinary Curriculum plan + international e-learning course (after Easter) (15 ECTS credits)
3 Year
Autumn: Practice placements abroad/ study abroad (30 ECTS credits)
Spring: international e-learning course (15 ECTS credits from January) + BA-thesis in English in a comparative international perspective on social work (number of credits according to the national Curriculum)

14. UCM: Internasjonal Specialisation alt.1 (Best alternative)
1 year
Autumn: Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
Spring : Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
2 year
Spring: : Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
3 year
Autumn: : Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
Spring: International e-learning modules (30 ECTS credits)
4 year
Autumn: Practice placements abroad/ study abroad (30 ECTS credits)
Spring: BA-thesis in English in a comparaitve international perspective on social work (number of credits according to the national Curriculum)

15. UCM: Internasjonal Specialisation alt.2
1 year
Autumn: Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
Spring : Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
2 year
Spring: : Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
3 year
Autumn: : Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution
Spring:Practice placements abroad/ study abroad (30 ECTS credits)
4 year
Autumn: International e-learning modules (30 ECTS credits)
Spring: BA-thesis in English in a comparaitve international perspective on social work (number of credits according to the national Curriculum)

16. INHolland university of applied sciences: alt.1
1 year
Autumn: Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution (2 x15 ECTS)
Spring : Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution (2 x15 ECTS)
2 year
Spring: International e-learning modules (15 ECTS) + obliged elements of ordinary CP(15 ECTS)
3 year
Autumn: Practice placements home country (30 ECTS credits)
Spring: Practice placements home country/ abroad (30 ECTS credits)
4 year
Autumn: International e-learning modules (15 /30ECTS) / Ordinary Curriculum plan – Home institution (15 /30 ECTS credits)
Spring: BA-thesis in English in a comparative international perspective on social work (number of credits according to the national Curriculum)