Abstract:

In today’s globalizing world international migration is on an increase, acquiring new forms and characteristics.While the scope, conditions and intensity of migration differ across the globe, migrants coming to Russia predominantly from the former republics of the USSR are a source of extra labour force and demographic growth. Thus, their adaptation to the new environment and inclusion in the receiving country’s society have been growing in importance.

In Russia, social support is rendered to migrants by both agencies of federal and local government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). However, government-run agencies are authorised to provide assistance only to those immigrants who have obtained the legal status –registration or residence permit. Thus, the bulk of work with newly arrived migrants, initially getting informal or illegal employment, is performed by non-commercial, non-governmental organisations or private companies where migrants work. Expert interviews were conducted with workers of the charity foundation PSP-Fund located in St Petersburg and providing assistance to migrants and centres working with them in this city and in the North-West of Russia. The interviews demonstrated that social workers, having to deal with a whole range of diverse challenges that migrants face: linguistic, legal, cultural, health issues, often find themselves unable to effectively respond to them.

Some Russian universities offer bachelor’s and master’s programmes preparing specialists in social work. Their syllabuses of university contain lists of competencies which students are supposed to develop by the end of their course of study. However, this formal approach is insufficient if we aim to prepare highly effective specialists responsive to the diverse needs and situations of migrants, adopting the view that competence should bring together ‘the individual, the context, the different variations in competence, and workplace relationships’ (Velde, 1997). Thus, this study explored the situation and prospects of the application of the competence-based approach to learning at the workplace in the conditions of ever changing environment: political developments, financial decisions, new legal acts and the like.

References:
[1] Velde Ch. Crossing borders: an alternative conception of competence and implications of professional practice in the workplace, 27th Annual SCUTREA conference proceedings, 1997

Keywords:

International migration to Russia, social work with migrants, NGOs, competence-based approach, university programmes of social work.