Career Guidance 2021: What majors should you study if you want to work in philanthropy?

Social work is a profession with high demand for personnel due to the fact that people in modern society are increasingly facing significant pressures and risks, and need the care and support of the community and society.

In our country, since 2010, when the Government issued the Project on the Development of Social Work Profession for the period 2010-2020 (Decision 32/2010/QD-TTg), officially recognizing social work as a science and a professional occupation, this profession has begun to develop strongly.
 

To date, the entire country has only about 70,000 practicing social workers.

Shortage of skilled labor

In many countries around the world, social work has developed into a professional occupation. In Vietnam, however, the social work profession is only just beginning to take shape and has not yet developed comprehensively in all aspects of this field.

In reality, the workforce of social workers has developed spontaneously, mainly from mass organizations such as the Youth Union, Women's Union, Senior Citizens' Association, Veterans' Association, ward and commune officials, and even volunteer citizens. They largely rely on experience and lack formal training in the necessary methods and skills of social work. Therefore, the effectiveness in addressing social issues, as well as problems faced by individuals, families, groups, and communities, is low and lacks sustainability.

According to a 2018 report by the Department of Social Protection (Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs), the number of people in need of social assistance nationwide is currently very large, approximately 22.5 million people, accounting for 25% of the population.

This includes over 10 million elderly people without pensions; 7.6 million people with disabilities; 1.5 million children in special circumstances; 2.9 million poor and near-poor households, more than 1.8 million households needing monthly subsidies; approximately 254,000 people infected with HIV/AIDS, over 234,000 drug addicts, over 48,000 sex workers; 30,000 victims of domestic violence and many women and children who are abused, trafficked, exploited, or homeless on the streets.

However, to date, the whole country only has about 70,000 social work professionals, most of whom have not received formal training but have only participated in short-term training courses.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hoi Loan - Head of the Social Work Department, Faculty of Sociology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), the Vietnamese people have a precious tradition of loving and supporting each other, and this value is very suitable for the field of social work.

"Since ancient times, when someone faced hardship, the whole village would come together to help, but that was just charity. Social work is completely different. It is a professional activity that requires social workers to have a philosophy and scientific methods in order to help vulnerable groups in society confront and overcome their own difficult problems."

That's why social workers, in addition to love for people, need to master the knowledge and skills of the profession. And to do that, they must be properly trained," said Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hoi Loan.
 

A charitable activity to help poor children.

Reducing social barriers and inequalities.

Social work is a profession whose mission is to help, support, and care for the unfortunate, those with special circumstances, and those facing difficulties in the community, in order to help them integrate and have better lives. This may include people with disabilities, the poor, those unable to care for or defend themselves, those suffering from incurable diseases, or victims of political, social, or natural disasters.

Social work, therefore, plays a role in reducing barriers, injustices, and inequalities in society. And the profession of social work is also known as the profession of compassion, empathy, and love.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hoi Loan stated that the Social Work training program of the Faculty is almost identical to the training programs of developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and South Korea. The Faculty trains students in three main areas of knowledge:

Firstly, there is the basic knowledge base in Philosophy, History, Culture, etc.

Secondly, there is the foundational knowledge base of the social work field, including: Human behavior, Social environment, Counseling, etc.

Thirdly, there is the block of specialized knowledge, delving into methods and areas of work such as: social work with the poor, social work with people with disabilities, mental illnesses, children, the elderly, etc. Of this, the amount of practical knowledge and internships in the classroom and at the grassroots level accounts for one-third of the curriculum.

"Students undertake internships in the form of interventions and assistance for specific vulnerable groups such as the elderly, homeless children, orphans, etc., at social welfare centers. They receive training under the guidance of instructors on theory and meticulous mentoring and instruction from staff at the facilities from the end of their first year until graduation."

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hoi Loan shared: "The essence of social work is the combination of social sciences, and to ensure that social work is effective, understanding the needs, psychology, culture, lifestyles, etc., of vulnerable groups is essential."

Currently, the Faculty has many relationships with renowned universities around the world and directly participates in student training with them. These include: San Jose State University, University of Michigan, University of Washington (USA); Shukuto-ku University, Fukushima University (Japan); Lund University (Sweden), University of Zurich (Switzerland)... Domestically, the Faculty has a network of internship facilities including: Social Welfare Centers - Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and privately organized centers assisting disadvantaged children, people with disabilities, and the elderly.

Honored Profession

Assessing the labor needs in the social work sector, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hoi Loan stated that the current societal development is creating and will continue to create immense pressure on both those in management positions and the general public. People face numerous difficulties and risks in life such as poverty, unemployment, economic downturns, and natural disasters. They also experience significant mental stress, easily leading to anxiety, worry, and illness.

On the other hand, the current issue of social stratification and the widening gap between rich and poor countries is leading to an increasing number of disadvantaged people in society.

This reality necessitates a professional workforce for social work. Currently, across the country, there are 55 universities and colleges and 21 vocational training institutions offering social work programs, with thousands of graduates each year. However, thanks to their strong theoretical foundations and broad and deep knowledge, social work graduates from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities easily find employment.

In fact, up to 90% of the Faculty's students find employment within a year of graduation. "Social work plays a role in ensuring social security for the people and is a very effective means and tool for effectively implementing social policies and the guidelines of the Party and the State in practice."

The government's investment of 2,347.4 billion VND to develop Project 32 on social work is clear evidence of this. Therefore, in the present and future, the social work profession will be increasingly valued and respected. This is an opportunity that students should seize at this time," Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoi Loan emphasized.