Abstract:

The concept of literacy has been evolving over the past one hundred years, expanding the definition from an ability to read and write to the emphasis on professional literacy which is not only the functional literacy attributed with a job-oriented capacity and skills, but also characteristic of the opportunities for developing “critically intelligent adults” (Kazemek and Rigg, 2002). Recognizing that literacy is “a socially constructed form, shaped by and reflecting wider social practices, relations, values, goals, and interests” (Apple, 2000), the present research focuses on the updating and improvement of critical social work education. The development of professional literacy is taken into consideration as an important component of university studies in social work. This approach to a broader concept of literacy on social work is relevant when aiming to develop critical social work competencies in university students through employment of innovative study methods, such as critical service-learning in critical social work education theory and practice.
The current research focuses on the educational development of professional literacy on critical social work and aims to answer the research question: what are the current trends in the development of university students’ professional literacy on critical social work. The research is based on the analysis of scientific literature dealing with the cultivation of professional literacy and, more specifically, draws on the experiences of the development of professional literacy on critical social work in undergraduate and graduate university students by embedding the service-learning method. The paper discusses current theoretical and practical approaches to the curriculum design in social work education at university, revisits the teaching and learning strategies and draws insights based on experiences gained while teaching professional literacy on critical social work by embedding the method of critical service-learning.

Keywords:

Professional literacy, social work education, critical social work, development of competencies and skills, service-learning, university students.