Integration of Transversal Skills into Social Work Higher Education

Abstract

The purpose of this literature review was to find information about the competence and education of transversal skills in a social work context for the use of a Metropolia University of Applied sciences project, which aims to integrate transversal skills into social work education in Metropolia UAS and to develop teaching tools and methods for its execution. The source material consists mainly of research journals from 2015 to 2021. The scarce amount of material found concerning the topic could indicate that in general, social service students are expected to automatically behold sufficient transversal skills.

Transversal skills are character tied to an extent, but studies suggest that they can be taught and learned and that they should be taught in higher education institutions. Studies further suggest that when teaching transversal skills, various diversified methods should be used to cater all learning styles and to attain successful teaching results. Transversal skills can also be taught simultaneously with theory or field specific skills, and teaching ought to be diversified and multi-disciplinary methods should also be used. It is also important that students are informed about the aims, goals, and assessment in the study plan or syllabus beforehand. The question of whether socioemotional and interpersonal skills can be applied online, as a large part of social services tasks are conducted via the Internet, is also discussed. Studies further suggest that for example creative- and contemplative methods and human libraries could be used as methods for teaching transversal skills.