Prospects, dilemmas, and constraints of global leadership in social work education and frontline practice: perspectives from international social workers

Janet Walker, Guanyu Jason Ran, Tatenda Goodman Nhapi and Diwakar Khanal

Chapter 22 in Research Handbook on Leadership in Social Work and Social Care, 2025, pp 281-294 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Effective, innovative, and ethical leadership for social work practice requires practitioners to possess knowledge, skills, and values for complex decision-making, planning, and communication at individual, group, and organisational levels. Leadership development for social change is central to this; however, key theories and knowledge for leadership have traditionally derived from the minority nations, those countries where the minority of the world's population live (developed countries), as opposed to majority countries, where the majority of the world's population live (developing countries). We draw on the views and experiences of international social workers undertaking a global Master programme, Erasmus Mundus MA Advanced Development in Social Work (ADVANCES), to reflect on the prospects, dilemmas, and constraints for examining social work leadership from a global social work perspective, including case studies to highlight leadership perspectives in New Zealand and Nepal. This has supported the development of a conceptual framework of key concepts for teaching and application of leadership in a global social work context. We conclude by proposing pathways on how international perspectives on leadership for social work can strengthen the focus on steering the best outcomes for social workers’ training and frontline practice, particularly in the face of intractable challenges for individuals and communities.

Keywords: Teaching and learning; Social workers across nations; Global-minded leadership; Conceptual framework; Practice implications (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035314485
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