UCCI to offer social work degrees
(CNS Local Life): As part of Social Work Month, the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI), in partnership with the Ministry of Community Affairs and Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), is launching several initiatives including a new degree programme. The UCCI social work programme will commence later this month, offering certificates, as well as associate and bachelor of science degrees, in that course of study.
UCCI director of special projects, Dr Livingston Smith, spoke of the prospect of the new courses. “Given the size of our community and the increasing dysfunctionality and anomie modern living can produce, we were struck by the lack of a social work programme locally to support this expanding field. This programme seeks to meet those needs,” he said in a press release.
He added the introduction of the social work programme will reflect the growing specialisms within the field and its allied branches.
The certificate programme will offer a one-year full-time or two-year part-time course of study; the associate’s degree, two-year full-time or three-year part-time; and bachelor of science, four-year full-time.
The official launch will be held Wednesday, 28 March in UCCI’s Sir Vassel Johnson Hall, starting at 5:30pm. Professor Kirstin Svensson, a social work academic from Lund University, Sweden, will give the keynote lecture and lead a question-and-answer session.
Those attending the launch, which is open to social workers, social work students and allied professionals, will have the opportunity to participate in the Social Sector Expo that follows, set up by UCCI, and representatives of public and private sector social service agencies and entities.
“We are delighted to help with the organisation and sponsorship of these initiatives,” said DCFS Director Felicia Robinson. “The programme that the college is unveiling will have a huge impact on the growth in the number of local social work professionals and will increase the professional development opportunities for advanced training in specialised areas.”
On Thursday, 29 March, UCCI will host a series of professional development master classes from 9am to 11am and 1pm to 3pm. These lectures and discussion sessions will be led by Svensson and Professor Christine Moriconi from West Chester University College of Health Services in Pennsylvania.
For information about registration and costs for the master classes, call (325-6462) or email Dr Livingston Smith
Category: Education
