Tag: Social Work Education
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From Student to Colleague
Natalia Martinez, MSW, RSW, and the opening of Thistle and Light Counselling There is a particular kind of joy in this work that nobody warns you about when you start. You meet someone in a policy course. You argue about the welfare state. Months later you are reading their research proposal at eleven at night…
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Twelve weeks. Two extraordinary students. Countless reminders of why I love this work.
This year I had the privilege of serving as Agency Field Instructor for two BSW practicum students whose self-directed research practicum redefined what community-based learning can look like: Brittney Fletcher and Tamarau Bingila.In a self-directed research practicum, students don’t slot into a single agency. They build their own path, mapping community resources, conducting informational interviews…
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Dr. Oleksandr Kondrashov’s BSW & MSW On/Off-the-Ground Cohort Models: Complete Overview
Dr. Oleksandr Kondrashov’s BSW & MSW On/Off-the-Ground Cohort Models: Complete Overview Revolutionary Social Work Education: Breaking Barriers, Building Capacity Over two decades of teaching across Canada, from coast to coast to coast, Dr. Oleksandr Kondrashov has developed complete BSW and MSW program frameworks that transform social work education from exclusive residential programs into accessible, community-grounded…
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Dr. Oleksandr Kondrashov’s Six-Volume Series: A Concise Overview
The Complete Framework: 60 Specializations, 321 Courses, 20 Years of Excellence Over two decades of teaching across Canada, from coast to coast to coast, Dr. Oleksandr Kondrashov has developed six comprehensive volumes containing 60 specialized social work pathways (10 specializations per volume). This student-driven, community-rooted curriculum embodies the collaborative spirit that earned Dr. Kondrashov the…
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Breaking Down Barriers: How Two Professors Are Revolutionizing Social Work Education for Remote and Rural Communities
What if social work education could reach students wherever they are, whether they’re caring for aging parents in a remote Indigenous community, working full-time in a northern town, or juggling family responsibilities hundreds of miles from the nearest university campus? Dr. Sasha Kondrashov from Thompson Rivers University have spent nearly two decades answering that question,…
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Mnohaya Lita, Dr. Juliana West: A Tribute to Radical Solidarity and Relentless Justice
There are people in this world whose presence leaves a lasting imprint, not just on the institutions they serve, but on the hearts and minds of everyone lucky enough to work alongside them. Dr. Juliana West is one of those people. As a scholar, activist, and educator, Dr. West’s contributions to the field of social…
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Making a Difference: Sofiia Shmyhovska’s Journey from Ukraine to Social Work Leadership in Kamloops
Sofiia Shmyhovska exemplifies how international students can make lasting positive changes in their adopted communities while pursuing their education. As a social work student at Thompson Rivers University (TRU), Shmyhovska has demonstrated exceptional research abilities and community engagement skills through multiple impactful projects (Andreas, 2022; Donnelly, 2023). Creating Resources for Ukrainian Newcomers In 2022, Shmyhovska,…
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A Special Way to Support Ukrainian Culture – Through Music, Memory, and Community Connection
This event took place on October 27, 2024. I just learned about an incredible cultural event through Dr. Tetyana Semigina, one of Ukraine’s leading social work researchers and educators. She shared a touching personal connection – the featured artist, Anastasiia, was her former social work student who has now blossomed into a remarkable musician and…
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A Tale of Rural Connections: SWRK 3130 and The Dauphin Cohort
The winter of 2007 was a pivotal moment in my teaching career. Just three years after embarking on my MSW journey, I found myself standing at the front of a classroom in Dauphin, Manitoba, ready to teach SWRK 3130: Contemporary Canadian Social Policy. Little did I know that this first Dauphin cohort would leave an…
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“The Power of Community: How ‘BC Stands with Ukraine’ Can Transform Social Work Practice Globally”
Introduction “BC Stands with Ukraine: Volume 1” is a compelling and timely resource that captures the extraordinary efforts of British Columbian communities in supporting Ukraine during a Russian aggression. Authored by Dr. Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov, Jami Crego, and Dr. Juliana West, this book offers a wealth of insights and practical lessons for the social work…
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Embracing the Power of Unlearning in Social Work Education: A Call to Action
Dr. Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov Over the last 17 years of teaching experience in Canada, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of learning and unlearning in social work education. Throughout my teaching at Dalhousie University, the University of Manitoba, Wilfrid Laurier University, Thompson Rivers University, and the University of Northern British Columbia, I have guided…
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The Path to Purpose: 20 Vital Lessons from Social Work Podcast Facebook Community
Pursuing a degree in social work requires dedication to gain the skills and knowledge to make a real difference in people’s lives. Social work school teaches many invaluable lessons that prepare students for rewarding yet challenging careers. To explore the most important program teachings that social workers apply daily, Social Work Podcast asked members of…