05/07/2019
It's been nearly two weeks since we returned from Chile. Now that the summer class (MSW575: International Social Work) is over and all papers have been graded, I am finally getting a chance to reflect on the most amazing 2-week service-learning abroad program for CSUF MSW students.
This is our 5th year that we sent students to Chile for short-term study abroad experience in partnership with the Technological University of Chile INACAP. Integrating academic and experiential learning, this program provides unique opportunities for MSW students to develop cultural awareness and transferable social work skills in international contexts. Besides the Chile program, our department has also offered similar programs to Korea and Germany.
What is unique about the Chile program is that we are tapping into our program's strengths, i.e., a large number of bilingual/bicultural Spanish-speaking students. Our students' ability to communicate directly with folks in Chile makes a huge difference in terms of the depth of their engagements and connections they make with the people and the culture of Chile. In addition, we have the most committed and generous university partner one can wish for: The Technological University of Chile INACAP. To be able to sustain such a partnership year after year, we need not only an institutional partner but an individual who champions the cause of global academic collaborations, and that colleague is Pedro Quiroga Menéndez, Director Escuela de Humanidades y Educación and Vicerrectoría Académica at Universidad Tecnológica de Chile. I can't thank Pedro and Eliana Jerez Fuenzalida, Directora Carrera Área Humanidades y Educación at the INACAP Maipú campus, enough for all their hospitality and seamless coordination. Professor Marlene Flores-Avila who co-led the group with me, deserves much thanks from all of us as well.
Here are my takeaways from the 2019 Chile Program:
1) Preparation makes it perfect: It took at least 6 months of careful planning and preparation on both sides. We had several meetings via SKYPE to discuss the details and a month before our departure, we set up a Zoom meeting to introduce our students to INACAP and social welfare agencies in Chile and vice versa. I think this "paying it forward" approach was the main factor for the success of this year's program.
2) Although Chile is the richest country in South America in terms of the per capita income, there is a huge wealth disparity in that country just like in the US. You can see a lot of poverty in the midst of modern sky scrapers in the metropolitan Santiago, the capital of Chile.
3) Government-funded resources for social services seem very limited. Well-intentioned social policies don't seem to translate into efficient and effective programs that actually benefit intended targets. Despite the limited public funding and resources, what frontline social workers manage to accomplish is nothing short of astounding. They are true heroes and inspired us to be more passionate about and committed to the profession of social work.
4) Bachelor's level social work students at INACAP (5 year program) seemed very well trained and prepared for the profession. Their curriculum is somewhat equivalent to the MSW education in the US. Our students participated in intensive fieldwork orientation trainings and seminar facilitated by INACAP social work faculty that were similar to the MSW field curriculum here.
5) While you are in Chile, you wouldn't know that there is FIFA Women's World Cup going on, but you would see CONCACAF Gold Cup games on TV everywhere. Even Uber drivers stop driving when Chile men's soccer team was playing. Would that be a sign of a patriarchal society?
6) The metro system in Santiago is convenient and efficient most of the time. There were a couple of times we got stuck in the train due to some mishaps, i.e., someone sitting on the track. Avoid the rush hour ride unless you don't mind becoming a human sardine.
Overall it was a true privilege leading our MSW students to Chile. Each of our students represented CSUF and the Social Work Department well through their positive attitudes and behaviors. Hope the experience was as enlightening and transformative for the students as it was for me.
