Social Work Field Practicum: Experiences, Challenges, and Perspectives from Malawi

Social work field practicum is the very heart of social work training. It is the vehicle through which students practice the skills, knowledge, and values taught in class. International global standards for social work education require students to undergo rigorous training in the field in order to learn the fundamental dimensions of professional social work with individuals, families, groups, and communities. This chapter examines the context of social work field practicum in Malawi, where social work is a relatively young profession. The chapter notes that despite being in its developing stages, social work field practicum is making strides in Malawi. Students have the opportunity to practice in different settings under the guidance of their university and agency supervisors. However, as the chapter notes, a myriad of challenges face the social work field practicum. They include limited orientation, inadequate time for practicum, lack of resources, poor student assessment, and non-recognition of social work as a profession. The chapter suggests that for the future success of social work education in Malawi, significant interventions that involve both universities and agencies need to be put in place to improve the field practice situation and to thoroughly prepare students for professional practice.