The study reveals and substantiates the theoretical and methodological fundamentals of the social competence (SC) formation of future social workers (FSW) in a higher education institution (HEI). The object of the research is the professional training of future social workers. The purpose of the study is to scientifically substantiate, develop and experimentally test the system of social competence formation of future social workers in the process of professional training.
Therefore, within the scientific research, it was established that the social competence of the future specialist is the basis of his/her successful professional development. The training of social workers, social educators – students of the first (bachelor’s) level of higher education of the specialty 231 Social work in the field of study 23 Social work is highly emphasized. The requirements for the training of competent social workers and his/her training, traces basic issues in the future social workers training and their social competence formation, outlines the ways to solve the above-mentioned problems. The analysis of the competency-based approach and actualization of personal skills of lifelong learning facilitated the substantiation of the new paradigm of FSW training in HEI in terms of their SC formation. The analysis of scientific works on the research problem testified to the existence of variable approaches to determining the essence and content of SC, methods of its formation in the HEI.
The author’s interpretation of the following terms «competence», «competency», «social competence» is offered, the components of the above-mentioned definitions are established. SC of FSW is presented as a three-stage integrated entity, which is a key (supra-subject) social competence, the structure of which is complicated, enriched, acquires a qualitatively new content due to the professional component, being the object of socially oriented vocational education and contains special (subject, academic) social competence. The main components in the structure of the studied construct are singled out: value-motivational, cognitive-activity, personal-reflexive. The criteria, indicators and levels of SC formation of FSW (low/reproductive, medium/constructive and high/creative) are determined. Diagnostic tools for assessing the state of SC formation of FSW have been developed.
A model of a competent social worker has been designed. It is based on the semantic characteristics and substantiated structure of the social competence itself, which should be carried by the future specialist. Its structure includes dominant functions of social nature and ability to realize these functions, professionally and socially significant personal qualities and individual properties of socially competent specialist, system of social competencies. The model of a socially competent social worker is characterized as a certain sample, a desirable example of a properly trained specialist, the generalized components of which are the basis of the system of SC formation of FSW.
The concept of SC formation of FSW is presented as an integral system of views, which makes it possible to create appropriate conditions for the professional training of future social workers and on the basis of which the formation of their social competence takes place. The main idea, purpose, objectives, crucial characteristics of the concept are determined. It is based on the ideas of formal, non-formal, informal education integration; ideas of social competence formation of future social workers in the process of professional training with maintenance of continuous process of improvement, self-improvement and self-development; modernization the educational process implementation in terms of the competency-based approach. Theoretical, methodical, methodological and technological concepts are outlined.
The system of social competence formation of future social workers is substantiated and developed. It included the structure of SC itself, the components of the process of its formation, their interaction and interdependence. The system comprised four blocks: theoretical and methodological, target, content-procedural, effective. The process of the system implementation of social competence formation of future social workers is realized at instructive-motivational, cognitive-activity, reflexive-productive stages. It should be implemented in the educational environment of HEI of certain organizational and pedagogical conditions and scientific-methodical support of their realization. An experimental verification of the effectiveness of the system offered by the author was performed.
Keywords: higher education institution, professional training, social work, competency-based approach, social competence, future social workers, educational environment, system of social competence formation, organizational and pedagogical conditions.
