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| Acting Programme Director of UIC’s Social Work and Social Administration, Ng Yiu-Fai (4th from right), discusses with Augsburg College students and teachers about what they have learned from the visit to the Social Welfare Centre of Zhuhai at a debriefing session |
A study group of about 20 Master of Social Work students and teachers from Augsburg College completed a four-day programme at UIC on 3 July.
These US visitors took field trips to have first-hand experience at several social work agencies in Zhuhai and Guangzhou, in addition to attending classroom lectures to understand Chinese culture and social work development.
Augsburg College is an institutional member of the Minnesota Private College Council that has developed a strong partnership with UIC since 2007.
According to one of the group leaders Ankita Deka, the programme explored the Chinese social work system and how it compares and contrasts with the US welfare system.
“[As part of the international comparative course they attend in the US,] students go to a certain destination where we have strategic interest but also a great social context,” said Dr Deka. “This is a great opportunity for them to really learn and understand how social workers practise in a cross-culture context.”
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| Visiting UIC's Shadow Puppet Drama Pavilion (left) and Learning Resource Centre |
Ng Yiu-Fai, Acting Programme Director of UIC’s Social Work and Social Administration, briefed on the various types of agencies, before leading the US group to visit the Social Welfare Centre, Gaoxin District Work Rehabilitation Centre and Nanmen Village in Zhuhai, as well as integrative service centres for family and older people in Guangzhou. They then discussed and reflected on what they had learned at a debriefing session after visiting a place.
One of the teachers in the group, Laura Boisen, spoke how the study programme had exceeded their expectations. “We did not expect to see so many social work agencies, and we were really impressed by the collaborative and integrative services that were provided in the agencies that we saw,” she added.
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| The Augsburg students and teachers visit social work agencies in Zhuhai and Guangzhou |
One of the US students Glade Woolstenhulme mentioned all the things they had learned in the US were so different from what they experienced here at the Chinese college, adding that the stay at UIC had been very beneficial to opening his eyes and seeing the world differently.
“The class on historical development of social work in mainland China was impressive. I also really enjoyed the calligraphy and Chinese language classes, and site visits were helpful to understand what happened in the agencies,” he said.
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| Prof Johnston Wong gives the Augsburg visitors a lecture |
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The Augsburg College students have a calligraphy class |
Ankita Deka gave thanks to the programme organiser, UIC’s International Development Office, and student helpers for making the programme delightful.
She continued: “We have long ties with UIC so we knew this was going to be good but we have no idea this is going to this excellent. I will recommend it to my colleagues highly for other people to come to have the same experience and bring Augsburg students back to UIC.”
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| Director of International Development Office Dr Katharina Yu (left) presents a certificate of completion to Ankita Deka |
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| US visitors and UIC student helpers at the Social Welfare Centre of Zhuhai |
Reporter: Deen He
Photographer: Rhonda Wu (Year 2, SWSA), Deen He
(from MPRO)
