THE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF THE COURSE "INNOVATIONS IN SOCIAL WORK" (FROM THE TEACHING EXPERIENCE)

The topic relevance is determined by the requirements for the training of social work specialists for innovative activities in conditions of modern challenges. The article aims to characterize the structure and content of the course "Innovations in Social Work" for the 2nd (master's) level of higher education, specialty 231 "Social Work" (from teaching experience). Scientific methods applied: generalization, abstraction, explanation, systematization, system-structural, and descriptive analysis. The author notes the importance of a systematic approach to the development of the general concept of the training course. It is justified by taking into account not only theoretical and practical aspects of innovative activity, but also regulatory and legal ones. The structure of content modules tested in the teaching process is proposed: 1) theory of innovative activity; 2) regulatory and legal support of innovations; 3) innovation as a factor in overcoming social problems of our time. A brief overview of the lectures and recommendations for seminars are provided. Considering the absence of thematic sections on innovations in the field of social protection of the population in cross-sectoral normative documents, special attention is paid to the Plan for the implementation of the Ukraine Facility 2024-2027. The reforms for the next 4 years are presented in this document. It is emphasized that some of them are considered in the module No.3 ("Social work in multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams", "Implementation of the veteran's assistant institute", "Evolution of the deinstitutionalization reform in Ukraine") with logical transition to module No.3. The proposed structure and content of the course "Innovations in Social Work" can contribute to the formation of program learning outcomes defined by the educational standard., Special emphasis is placed on the challenges of teaching innovative activities: taking into account the requirements of the standard of higher education and the professional standard, the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge, the incompleteness of legal support for innovative activities in the field of social work. Both the theoretical and legal and educational issues of teaching the course "Innovations in social work" are among the directions of further scientific research.