Out Vice Chancellor Professor Tolly Mbwette
................
Expressions of gratitude were made in a
speech delivered by the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr.
Hussein Mwinyi at the launching of a new Masters Degree program on
Social Work in the country's most largest students’ intake university,
the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) in Dar es Salaam recently.
The minister said government of the United Republic was extending gratitude to the
US authorities for technical and financial
support through USAID and other agencies which enabled the re-launching
of the Masters Degree program at OUT.
The curriculum of the Masters program was
internationally recognized, leading to requests to pursue the program
from many local and international students opting to take up the courses
being offered on an online delivery mode.
The minister urged those getting the
opportunity to join the program to do whatever was possible to pursue it
diligently and professionally, thus living up to expectations of local
and international agencies and authorities in terms of quality output.
Noting that all nations need advanced
human resources training to achieve sustainable development, he said
social work was vital in mediating between individuals and their
environment, to develop effective interventions for social change.
"Thus, social workers are not only
mandated to mobilize and deliver a wide range of services to their
clientele but also to assist in restoring, maintaining and enhancing
the social functioning of individuals and the society," the minister
asserted.
This responsibility entails the
development and /or delivery of resources and services to meet the many
and varied needs of their clients,, he said, elaborating that social
work plays a major role in national development through empowerment of
the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups of people.
The Master of Social Work program must
prepare graduates for socially responsible practices, leadership in
multiple practice environment, and production of dissemination of
knowledge focusing on knowledge and skills to respond to a wide range of
human difficulties, he said.
It must also focus on diverse client
populations in a multitude of settings such as conflicts, drug abuse,
disabilities, illness, human trafficking, sexual abuse and domestic
violence, he stated.
Ethical commitment to advocate for the
marginalized and oppressed populations, and the ability to respond
creatively to the needs for additional programs and services were
critical inputs in that field, he told the audience.
Out Vice Chancellor Professor Tolly
Mbwette said the Masters of Arts in Social Work was first introduced by
university during the 2008/9 academic year and later the curriculum of
the program was revised to make it more responsive to new needs, as well
as meeting international standards of social work.
On the uniqueness of the Masters program,
the VC said this includes addressing issues which affected people in
their daily lives. Students are trained on how to handle problems facing
people on a day to day basis in their lives with particular reference
to vulnerable groups, the disadvantaged and marginalized.
"The second unique feature of this program
is that the program is embedded in social justice and human rights
towards provision of help and access to quality," he stated.
Entry requirements include being holders
of a first degree in social work or related discipline with second class
honors, while applicants holding an Advanced Diploma in Social Work
need to have upper second class qualifications to register for the
program.
SOURCE:
GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
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