A Qualitative Study of Final-Year Social Work Students' Experience during Practice Placements

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a rapid and substantial challenge to higher education institutions worldwide, necessitating swift and appropriate adaptations in response to the pandemic-induced conditions for educational provision. In the context of social work education, this pandemic crisis prompted a transition from traditional onsite placements to e-placements (off-site placements), utilizing communication and information technologies. This paper examines the experiences of final-year students with their social work practice placements. Emerging as a cohort that commenced their studies amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the participants of this study were constrained by face-to-face limitations experiencing also alternative off-site placements. The findings shed light on the range of activities students engaged in during both off-site (e-placement) and onsite placements, revealing factors that facilitated their learning as well as those that presented challenges. Furthermore, the study suggests valuable enhancements to the organization, structure, and delivery of practice placements.


Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, field education, practice placement, e-placements