A Reflective Evaluation Study on the Major Competencies of New Social Workers

This study aimed to examine how much major competency new social workers acquired in school education to perform their duties as social workers through self-reflection evaluation. Data collected through in-depth interviews with eight new social workers currently working at social welfare organizations were analyzed using phenomenological research methods. As a result of the analysis, a total of 158 statements, 102 re-statements, and 87 second re-statements were organized, and analyzed into 14 meaningful themes and 5 theme clusters. The 5 theme clusters are as following; ‘the fruits and limitations of university education’, ‘insufficient as an ‘expert’’, ‘expertise completed in the ‘field’’, ‘insufficiency of school education’, ‘dreaming of ‘by myself’ and ‘together’’. The results of the study were summarized as the achievements of school education as acquired specialized competencies, evaluation of social welfare expertise, and areas lacking in social welfare education. Based on these research results, the necessity of strengthening field practical education, digital technology education, efforts to secure expertise, and forming a social welfare industry community were suggested.