Exploring the Lived Experiences of Social Work Students in Fieldwork Placements: A Qualitative Study at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur

The current research is preoccupied with the investigation of the experiences of the students of the Department of Social Work, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, in relation to their field work activities and the volunteer services delivered by them. These students were put in various community centers, such as Urban Community Development Project, DHQ (District Headquarters Hospital, Pelican Development Organization, etc. This research adopted a qualitative methodology whereby Interview schedules comprised open ended questions to capture the responses of the students. This was done using a sample of students who were deployed in the field to carry out field work practices. The feedback of the students was then analysed using thematic analysis in order to come up with concrete themes related to the study. The results indicated that field work develops the professional identities and possibilities of the students. Nonetheless, there are multiple struggles and dilemmas that prevent their full development in this practicum. This research suggested better student facilitation, advancement of fieldwork training modules and supervision.