PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES (SWEDEN, DENMARK, NORWAY): SOFT SKILLS FORMATION

Abstract

The article analyzes the content of professional training and becoming a social worker in the Scandinavian countries (on the example of Sweden, Norway, Denmark). The model of social policy, directions of implementation and features of social work in the Nordic countries are described. It has been found that under this policy, the five countries of Northern Europe (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland) are among the ten happiest in the world year after year. Norway ranks first in the list of countries according to the Human Development Index. The peculiarities of professional training of social workers are indicated. It was found that the system of training specialists in the social field in Scandinavian higher education institutions provides a new approach to the purpose and evaluation of the learning process of students. It is noted that the system of education in higher educational institutions of the country has a multilevel character, and professional training is carried out in universities and university colleges and provides for the following qualification levels: bachelor, master, doctor. The institutions of higher education in which it is possible to get a profession of the social worker are listed. It was found that the training of social workers in Sweden, Norway, Denmark combines theory, practice, training and research. The place of “soft skills” in the training of social workers in the Scandinavian countries is considered on the example of the provision of educational services Karlstad university (Sweden), UiT The Arctic University (Norway), University College Absalon (Denmark). It is noted that among the “soft skills” the greatest attention is paid to the formation and development of communication skills, critical thinking, solving complex problems, decision making, ability to work in a team, self-improvement, constant learning, successful conflict resolution, planning and working for results.