Vol. 8 No. 1 (2020)
Space and Culture, India

Special Articles

Indigenous or Blended Model for South Asian Social Work?

Published 2020-06-29

  • Venkat Rao Pulla
    • ,
  • Tulshi Kumar Das
    • ,
  • Bala Raju Nikku

Venkat Rao Pulla
Foundation Professor, Brisbane Institute of Strengths Based Practice and Adjunct Senior  Research Fellow Institute for Land Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury-Wodonga , NSW, 2640

Tulshi Kumar Das
Professor, Department of Social Work, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Bala Raju Nikku
Assistant Professor, School of Social Work and Human Service, Faculty of Education and Social Work at Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, Canada

Abstract

An argument about indigenous social work education often surfaces in South Asian schools of social work. In this study, central concerns around the indigenous argument, together with a review of the pervasive influence of the western model of social work in Asia is undertaken.

The three author- research team, utilised a methodology that featured a desk review and an analysis of communications with select South Asian scholars and academics that were respondents for the study. Additionally, the authors present their personal reflections, that prudently address their positionality and reflexivity.

The primary finding in this research paper is that the legacy of Western-influenced social work education is thriving within the region, despite criticism from different quarters about its effectiveness. The secondary finding is the admittance by respondent academics in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Nepal that relevant to their societal context, limited adaptations have been introduced and are working in their respective countries. The current research provided an opportunity to research participants to view and summarily reject claims by certain bogies that western influence in social work is solely responsible for lack of cultural appropriation within the curriculum in South Asia.   The study suggests that there is a lot that can take place by way of adaptation without sacrificing the cultural elements while rearranging the social work curriculum within the region. The authors strongly advocate a blended approach as a suitable course of moderation in the re-construction attempts of social work futures in South Asia.  

Keywords

Indigenous social work, Blended social work, South Asia, social work curriculum

pdf

Author Biography

Tulshi Kumar Das

Professor of Social Work, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh

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