What brings people to the social work classroom: a comparative perspective from India and China

This article explores the motivational factors for students to take up social work as a degree programme at the postgraduate level. The study reports on qualitative interviews (N = 66) conducted with conveniently selected postgraduate social work students at ten different university departments of social work across India and China. The findings revealed that there are (1) gaps in entry to MSW program: need to rethink admission policy; (2) gaps in the impact of studying social work: need to focus on social change and transformation; (3) gaps in career preferences after studying social work: need to focus on career guidance. The result of the study provides information on current international social work developments in education and help policymakers and educators to change or enhance their approaches towards understanding social work theory, teaching practice and student recruitment policies.