Social work education in the orientation toward sustainable development: an integrated model of academic and practical training at the faculty of social work, university of social sciences and humanities, vietnam national university ho chi minh city

In the context of sustainable development increasingly becoming the focus of social strategies, social work (SW) education needs to be restructured towards an integration of theory and practice. This paper introduces the training model at the Faculty of Social Work – University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (USSH,VNU-HCM), with the aim of enhancing students’ professional capacity while strengthening the role of social work in sustainable community development. Based on an interdisciplinary approach and liberal education methods, this integrated model closely connects training programs, applied scientific research, and practical activities within the community. Students not only acquire theoretical knowledge but also participate in community-oriented projects, services, and research under the guidance of faculty members and partner social organizations. This creates favorable conditions for students to develop critical thinking, professional skills, ethical standards, and sustainable practice competencies in real-world settings. The paper also highlights some challenges in implementing the integrated model and offers recommendations to improve the quality of social work education in the new context, contributing to the construction of a just, inclusive, and sustainable society. Keywords: Social work education, integrated theory and practice model, liberal and interdisciplinary education, sustainable development.