Project title: Integrating social and health care for improved management of health conditions in India: International Social Work Paradigm.
Funded by :  British Council and University Grants Commission
Principal investigators: Dr Fr Saju M.D, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences  &   Prof Martin Webber, University of York

UK India Education Research Initiative (UKIERI) started in April 2006, an initiative aimed at enhancing educational links between India and UK. It has beenstrengthening all sections of education sector between the two countries since then.UKIERI is being supported by a large number of stakeholders in the UK and India.The present project jointly collaborated by UGC and British Council was started in 1^st April, 2017 and will be completed by 31^st August, 2020. The partnering universities of the project are Rajagiri College of Social Sciences and University of York. The Indian Lead Applicant is Dr Saju MD and the UK Lead Applicant is Prof. Martin Webber. The project team in India include: Principal Investigator, Project Director, Additional Director, Systems Director, Project Co-ordinator and Research Officers.

Project details:

• Develops collaborations between the two institutions and facilitates knowledge exchange between different areas
• Involves the triangulation of the different methods in social work research to understand the chronic health conditions in India
• Conducts systematic reviews on chronic health conditions and its management
• Improves chronic health conditions in India through effective and efficient interventions
• Generates publications on high impact journals

Project duration: 1st April 2017-31st August 2020

Project Title: " Culturally Competent Practice with Refugees and Migrants in India and Germany: Implications for Social Work Education "

Indian Project Leader : Dr. Anish K.R ¹ & Dr Anil John ^2
1,2Assistant Professor & ¹Head of the Department, Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous)  

German Project Leader: Dr. Monika Pfaller-Rott
Senior Researcher, Department of Social Work, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt

Social work education has a pivotal role in building, cultural competence of students, to engage with clients of diverse backgrounds. The need for developing an all-encompassing curriculum in this regard is an established fact (CSWE, 2008). The context of increasing number of migrants and refugees in Germany, and interstate migration from multicultural background in India, calls for establishment of a culturally sensitive social work practice model for working with refugees and migrants. This would facilitate their social integration and enhance their social capital. Little is documented about the role of social work education, in the enhancement of cultural competence of social work trainees. This study attempts to explore the social work curriculum, social work education and practice in India and Germany in relation to:

• Current curriculum coverage concerning building up of cultural competence of the social work trainees, 
• Perceived skills and knowledge in intercultural practice among practitioners and social work trainees
• Confidence in intercultural practice among the trainees and practitioners
• Examples of demonstrated competence in intercultural practice
• Current methodologies for training for intercultural practice

The project would further explore the possibilities of:

• Development of a model curriculum for training social work students for intercultural practice.
• Develop a continuing education program for social work practitioners to develop and foster skills and confidence in intercultural social work practice with migrants and refugees. 
• Development and standardization of cultural competence indicators for intercultural practice education and practice in social work.
• Enable social workers (students, practitioners, researchers) to practice cross-cultural cooperation by: 
  • Demonstration of intercultural research competence
  • Working in Cross-cultural research teams

For More Details: View Report July 2019

Project Duration: 2018-2019

UGC Major Project Outlay: Rs. 8.49 Lakhs, XI Plan 2013-15
Principal Investigator: Dr Anish KR, Assistant Professor, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous)
 

Introduction: Mental health and wellbeing are fundamental to the quality of life and success of children. Social Competence forms the foundation to the wellbeing of children. This paper attempts to assess the effectiveness of an intervention designed based social competence model (Anish, Divya, 2013) developed as part of the research process.

Methods: The study used a group randomized design wherein, the whole groups of participants are randomized to intervention or control groups. The reporting of the methodology will follow the CONSORT statement for randomized control trials. The participants of the study included 9 clusters of adolescents (N=442) studying in standard IX in various schools of Ernakulam district in Kerala, India, selected using a multistage cluster sampling were given a 15 Hours intervention. The outcomes social competence and wellbeing were measured using Social Competence scale in the pre, post and follow up levels. Independent sample and paired sample t tests were performed to understand the between groups and within groups differenced in the mean values. Plots from repeated measures analysis was performed to assess the effectiveness of intervention.

Results & Conclusion: Compared to waitlisted group the intervention group showed improvement in the outcome measures social competence and wellbeing. The repeated measures assessment could show effectiveness of intervention in enhancing the social competence and wellbeing in the pre-intervention/baseline to post-intervention levels (p<.01) and the effects were maintained in the follow up assessment too. Intervention based on the Social Competence Model rooted in the life skills education paradigm could enhance and maintain the social competence and wellbeing of adolescents

For More Details: View Report

Project Duration: 2013-15

Project Outlay: Rs. 8.49 Lakhs