SABV270 Community Work from an International Perspective

Contents and structure

The course consists of three parts:

Part 1 | Analyzing communities | 12/01/2026 - 27/02/2026

Part 2 | Methods in community work | 02/03/2026 - 17/04/2026

Part 3 | Global challenges in local communities | 20/04/2026 - 05/06/2026

Community work from an international perspective is an online course, that offers social work students, living and working in very different situations the opportunity to learn from each other and to share information and knowledge important for their work. Community work involves mobilizing communities to use their own social structures and resources to address their own problems. It fosters relationships, organizes additional resources from outside, and collectively fights against structural inequalities. Community work focuses on participation and fosters empowerment, emancipation and change through collective action.

Part 1 : Analyzing communities:

Content -This part of the course focuses on defining communities and community work. The position of community work within broader social work and the underlying concepts and theories of community work are covered. More specifically, this part also goes into ways to analyze a community, including understanding what a community is and how it defines itself as a community—often by distinguishing itself from others. You will choose a community in your own country and analyze it, based on the models and theories and compare your findings with fellow students.

Part 2: Methods in Community work

Content - This part of the course focuses on the methodological approach. ABCD (asset-based community development) is used as a basis approach in this part. While ABCD emphasizes leveraging internal community resources, it is also important to critically examine the external barriers and inequalities that may hinder communities from achieving their goals on their own. In this sense, communities should not be expected to solve all problems alone but should be empowered to demand additional resources and support from outside to address structural inequalities. Working in a participatory and empowering way will be main topics. At the end of this part, you will interview a community worker and compare its way of working with the concepts you were taught in the course. You will compare the result with the interviews fellow students had in their countries.

Part 3: Addressing global and local challenges in Community work

Content - Although community work naturally focuses on the local community, global challenges also have an impact at a local level and vice versa. This part examines how community work can support local communities in dealing with global challenges and sustainable development goals (SDG). Giving voice to all stakeholders and experts by expertise is key in this part. At the end of this part, you will be challenged to work together with students on a global topic like climate change, digital inclusion or migration. You will look into the impact on local communities and come up with ways to deal with this, based on project approach.

Learning Outcome

Part 1: Learning outcomes

The student is able to analyze and compare communities on the basis of theories ·

The student is able to collect and analyse relevant information about communities and is able to report the findings ·

The student is able to reflect critically on the role of communities in social work

Part 2: Learning outcomes ·

The student is able to describe and reflect critically on how different methods are used in a community work

Part 3: Learning outcomes ·

The student is able to transfer individual problems and solutions to a community and global level ·

The student is able to recognize the importance of the global level in addressing local issues ·

The student is able to facilitate different voices in a community in a process of solution finding.

Entry requirements

• Subjects from the 1. year of study must be passed.
• English language skills ·
• Internet access

Teaching methods

Throughout the study program students will work with a solution-oriented focus. By working on assignments, they will reflect on situations concerning community work from a social work perspective and compare with the situation in other countries. They will work both individually and in groups. During the course students will cooperate with a buddy for supporting and feedback.

The course will start with an introduction to the e-learning platform and the virtual classroom and will be acquainted with the international group of students and teachers they will be working with. The course is divided in time periods of one or two weeks. Each period, students will receive new learning material such as literature, lectures, triggers, discussions and assignments to work on, both individually and in the group. The assignments are related to the objectives of the course. Students who deliver their tasks on time during the program receive feedback and guidance from the teacher. All elements in the course will be organized and administrated through a common learning management system.

Compulsory learning activities

The following compulsory work requirements must be approved for students to take the exam:

• Portfolio assignments (e-portfolio)

The student will deliver written assignments throughout the course. When assignments are delivered in time, the students will receive feedback and have an opportunity to improve their initial work.

All assignments must be completed and submitted to the online e-portfolio before the final assessment.

Approved work requirements are valid for 4 semesters.

Assessment

• The exam consists of three portfolios:

• The portfolio consists of a compilation of previously completed, enhanced assignments from this course - (30% of the final grade)

  • Assignment 4: community work in your country: 1.000 words +/- 10%
  • Assignment 6: comparative paper: 1.500 words +/- 10%
  • Assignment 7: community analysis: 1.500 words +/- 10%
  • Reflection note on your learning process with references to assignment 5 and 8 and your expected learning outcomes
  • Oral presentation of theory, concepts and principles in regard to the community analysis paper
• The portfolio consists of a compilation of previously completed, enhanced assignments from this course - (30% of the final grade)
  • Assignment 10: paper about the ABCD method: 1.200 words
  • Assignment 12: comparative work on the Barrio del Sol Community: 1.000 words
  • Assignment 14: (written) presentation of an interview with a social worker: 6 slides
  • Reflection note on expectations and outcome
  • Oral presentation of interview with a community worker
• The portfolio consists of a compilation of previously completed, enhanced assignments from this course (40% of the final grade)
  • Assignment 16: sustainable community development & climate change: 1.500 words +/- 10%
  • Assignment 18: group assignment - project plan: 4.000 words +/- 10%
  • Reflection note on expectations and outcome

• New exam: if the group assignment (part 3) is not passed (grade F) the project plan can be presented orally

Examination support material

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More about examination support material

Course reductions

• BSO215 - Community Work from an International Perspective - Reduction: 15 studypoints