Supervision meets Education
Due to profound changes in the world of work Student Supervision is increasingly recognised by the helping professions in Europe. It is acknowledged as an important instrument in preparing students for their future professional requirements which will confront them with the complexity of problematic situations, of risks and contradictions in work processes and competition in cooperative work settings. In supervision the goal is to guide the student to develop as “a reflective practitioner” who integrates theory, methods and personal abilities as a precondition to interrogate the daily practice critically.
Following the results of our international comparative research, published in this book, we postulate that modern Student Supervision has to provide a climate to promote a scientific attitude in meeting the challenges of the changed working field. This new learning profile is based on the ability to reflect experiences and to transfer the gained perception innovatively.
This book can justly claim to have done pioneer-work in the international field of research into educational Supervision which can be seen as a neglected part of professional supervision.
But it does show a tendency to the development of a distinct and separate character, primarily influenced by recent developments in Social Work and European Higher Education.
Thus the identity of Student Supervision is developing in an international context. It should be acknowledged as a special branch with a special academic responsibility in the growing field of supervision.
The editors
Godelieve van Hees
Pedagogue, MA, is senior lecturer at the faculty of Social Studies, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences in Maastricht (NL) and licensed supervisor (LVSC). As researcher at CESRT Research Centre Social Integration she is project leader of the SSWEE research project “Supervision in the Bachelor of Social Work in Europe”.
Brigitte Geißler-Piltz
Sociologist, Ph.D., MA, is Professor of Social Medicine in Social Work at Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences for Social Work, Health and Education in Berlin (DE), Gestalt therapist, licensed Supervisor (DGSv, DVG).
Published by CESRT Research Centre Social Integration, Faculty of Social Studies, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
