DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK (Self Financing)

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), DEVAGIRI, CALICUT

Department of Social Work started at Devagiri College in the year 2003 in the self financing stream. The department was functioning from an old building outside the main stream until it was given a pride of place in the new edifice, Father Theodosius Block, in 2017.

The new class rooms are in the grade of smart class rooms. The sanctioned strength of the department is 20 students. With autonomy admissions are conducted on time and classes held on the basis of the academic calendar prepared by the college. Admissions are made on the basis of the marks attained at the qualifying examinations, written test, group discussion and personal interview. The procedure is very objective and transparent. Candidate enjoying reservation benefits also will have to go through the above procedures.

The social work students go through myriads of experiences unlike their counterparts in other departments. The two day induction programme, two day perspective development programme (residential), three day street theatre training, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) workshop, Eight days Community Living Camp, observation visits to field work agencies, concurrent field work, summer placements, block field work (both one month each), national study tour are some of the hall marks of the course. The usual academic programmes like regular classes, assignments, seminars, presentations, internal examinations, mentoring etc., go on as per a well structured time table.

Department offers two specializations Viz., Community Development and Medical and Psychiatric Social Work. Specialization specific field work and other activities are conducted regularly. Dissertation and field work are done in appropriate agencies both in the state and outside the state. All these activities are focussed on developing social work skills and attitudes.

Collabre, “fellowship of thoughts and ideas” is the annual national conference of the social work department of St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri. It is the prestigious event of social work department to showcase its collective organizing capabilities. Academic deliberations, paper presentations, group discussions, policy formulations, cultural extravaganza etc., would add colours to the event. Social work student community place a vital role in planning, organizing, executing and evaluating the programme. Renowned social activists like Smt. Vandana Siva, Smt. Medha Padkar, Dr. N. A. Kareem, and Sri. Praful Bidwai are to name a few who have enriched the previous Collabre events.

Association of Social Work Activities of Devagiri (ASWAD) is a common platform for all the social work students of Devagiri College. It mainly aims to develop the leadership capacity of the social work students and also render social welfare services to the community at large through networking with individuals, groups and civil society organisations working in the developmental sectors. One of the major programmes of the association is the observance of National and International socially relevant days.

Department of Social Work is on the vanguard of any social work activities of the college. Students consider it as their sacred calling and respond to it with generosity. At the end of two years of rigorous and systematic training the students turn out to be ready for the tasks awaiting them. In all these endeavours the management (CMI Congregation) and the teaching and non teaching faculty stand shoulder to shoulder in carving out a career for the wards entrusted to thier care. The core competence of the department, to put it in one sentence is professionalism with personal commitment and dedication.