Connectivity: Engaging with industry in the creation of student placement opportunities

Abstract

Innovation in placements is challenging stereotypes in social work field education. This article presents a Co-operative Inquiry between industry and university stakeholders, located in Australia and Scotland, about their experiences of non-traditional social work placements, and whether connectivity promotes such placements. Co-operative Inquiry, a participatory research methodology, involves researching and writing with people rather than about people. Our inquiry led us to consider connectivity (differing from collaboration) to be about engagement, relationships and partnerships with agencies and colleagues that create and impact practice learning opportunities. This article posits that interprofessional connections drive collaboration and quality learning outcomes for students, staff and educators across university and industry. Interprofessional connectivity can lead to future placements, improved placement capacity and possible expanded employment opportunities for social workers.