Career 0ption in Social Work at IGNOU
- Part 2 -

Dr N Samungou Singh *

The objective of IGNOU's Certificate in Social Work and Criminal Justice System is to train a cadre of graduate professionals interested in working in the correctional settings such as jails, family courts, beggars home, special schools for boys and girls, observation home, rescue home, etc.

Thus, the programme would be relevant for the various NGO professionals who are working in the correctional settings. The Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work among the Tribals (PGDSWT) is the first of it kind in Indian higher education system. This programme is not on offer in any conventional or ODL institute in the country.

It has been designed to provide basic knowledge and information regarding the Tribes/Tribals in India. Attempts have also been made to help the learners understand the relevance of social work in the tribal regions and/ for the tribals.

The programme aims to provide trained professionals for tribal development in all respects who would be able to address the issues and problems confronted by the tribals in India.

IGNOU's Bachelor Degree programme is Social Work (BSW) is meant for candidates who are interested in providing professional assistance to people in need. Persons with professional training/ degree in Social Work generally work in socially relevant areas such as health care, community development, education, industry, counselling, family, correction, social defense, women, children, disability etc.

With globalisation, market economy and liberalisation, new concerns and human problems are emerging which needs to be addressed. This programme will be particularly useful to people employed at middle and lower levels with NGOs and social and developmental agencies both in government and private sector.

The Master of Social Work programme at IGNOU offers opportunity to learners for higher studies in professional social work. Besides offering the core courses pertaining to social work curriculum across the globe and India, it includes themes in some of the emerging areas of social work such as globalization, migration, history of social work in India, theory paper on social work practicum and a course on HIV/AIDS which are expected to be highly useful in the present day context.

IGNOU also offers Master of Social Work (Counselling) programme to provide both academic learning and professional education and training in counselling, extending beyond theoretical knowledge. This programme is tailored to suit counsellors working in a private range of organizational and community contexts as well as individuals in a family.

In this fast changing social scenario, the problems being faced by people across the board are numerous. Unlike in the western world, counselling services are very inadequate in India. IGNOU's Master's Programme in Social Work is so designed that it will prepare a cadre of dedicated and qualified professionals to work in the field of counselling, apart from being an excellent human being.

Job opportunities are available for professional social workers with central and state governments, NGOs, social and welfare agencies including schools, hospitals, mental health settings, women and child care services, counselling centres, research organisations, donor agencies, charitable trusts, corporate houses and institutional set up for various vulnerable sections of the society.

Concluded ...