Monday, 18 March 2019
IASSW and IFSW to update Global Standards for Social Work Education andTraining.
The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and the International
Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) have initiated a joint process ofreviewing and updating the Global Standards for Social Work Education and Training.
The current version of the Global Standards for Social Work Education and Training
document was adopted at the IASSW and IFSW General Assemblies in Adelaide,
Australia in 2004. Over the last fifteen years this document has served as an
aspirational guide setting out the requirements for excellence in social work education.
However, the social work education and practice landscape, has changed significantly
since 2004. The adoption of a new Global Definition of Social work in July 2014 and thepublication of the updated Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles last year,
require that the Global Standards for Social Work Education and Training document isalso reviewed and updated in order to reflect broader changes and recent
developments in global social work. These developments also include social work’s rolein supporting bottom up development to meet the aspirations of the SDGs, ensuring
countries that are new to social work have global peers to support the advancement ofsocial work education free from colonial influences and creating platforms forindigenous social workers to shape curricula and relevant courses.
To this effect, the two organisations have created a joint task group comprising theIFSW Interim Global Education Commission and IASSW’s Global Standards Taskforce
Professor Vasilios Ioakimidis, Chair of IFSW’s Interim Global Education Commission
mentioned: I am delighted that we have established this joint initiative to update andenhance the Global Standards for Social Work Education and Training. All parts of thesocial work profession need to work together to increase our capacity in facing theincreasing threats to human rights and wellbeing. Both IFSW and IASSW are committed tofacilitating an extensive and inclusive consultation with social work educators,
practitioners experts by experience and trade unionists. Establishing global standards that
prepare graduates to achieve the profession’s mission ( or values) andenact on the professions policies and principles will result in a significant positive impact
on the lives of millions. The joint IFSW and IASSW approach for social work, education
should be a dynamic process that takes into consideration the most recent global
developments in the social work profession while appreciating the diverse political,
historical and cultural contexts within which future generations of social workers will beeducated.

Professor Dixon Sookraj, Chair of IASSW Task group stated: I appreciate the honour ofworking with colleagues at the IASSW and the IFSW to undertake this critical task of
updating the Global Standards. We will inevitably face challenges similar to those of ourpredecessors who developed the original standards. They include the task of maintaining adelicate balance between detailing unifying themes and allowing sufficient flexibility toensure relevance to local-level social work education and practice. I look forward to theongoing dialogue and consultation with colleagues across the globe. They will serve as
critical sources of information to aid in strengthening the document, and enhancing its
utility as a critical resource for promoting social work education across the Globe