The meeting, held at UMP's Mbombela Campus, brought together senior representatives from ASASWEI, the Department of Social Development, and UMP to explore partnerships aimed at strengthening social work education and professional practice in South Africa. UMP Vice-Chancellor Professor Thoko Mayekiso reaffirmed the University's commitment to developing professional qualifications that meet national standards.
"This engagement marks a pivotal moment for our Social Work programme. We are looking forward to the path ahead and grateful for the opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues and institutions," said Professor Mayekiso.
She also emphasised the institution's determination to contribute meaningfully to the field. "We are a young institution with a young programme, but we are committed to excellence. We see this as an important step in aligning our academic offerings with the professional expectations of the social work sector."
ASASWEI President Dr Poppy Masinga stressed the importance of partnerships, mentioning that ASASWEI represents 19 universities – 17 public and two private, with a vision that is rooted in equity, decolonisation, and the indigenisation of social work education.
"We welcome UMP into this community and hope to walk the journey together as you grow your programme. We encourage the University to participate in our upcoming events and consider hosting the 2027 ASASWEI International Conference," she said.
UMP, DSD Executive Members of ASASWEI are strengthening relations to benefit the Bachelor of Social Work Programme.
Dr Masinga also outlined the association's broader role in building collaboration between institutions and the government and advancing research, community development, and policy influence. "We believe that consistent standards across institutions can enhance the social work profession and its impact on society."
UMP and Executive Members of ASASWEI are strengthening relations to benefit the Bachelor of Social Work Programme.
Chief Director at the Department of Social Development, Mr Gustav Wilson, applauded the growing partnership and affirmed the Department's support. "We see great potential in this collaboration," he said. "Our collective challenge is to ensure social work remains relevant, professional, and ethical. We cannot afford to launch initiatives and walk away; we must avoid what I call the 'Triple L' approach where we: launch, lunch, and leave."
He noted the Department's commitment to initiatives that build morale and a strong professional identity among social workers, and further referred to the pending Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and UMP, describing it as "a formal step in a long and fruitful partnership that must deliver tangible outcomes for students and communities."
Providing an update on the BSW programme, Acting Programme Leader Dr Nkareng Klaas-Makolomakwe shared progress since the programme's launch in 2023. "We are proud to currently have 174 active students," she said, further adding that UMP is actively engaging with placement agencies across Mpumalanga and is building a support system for fieldwork.
"Ninety-nine students were already registered for practical placements in 2024. We are also proud of our student representation at the celebration of Social Work day event hosted by UMP in collaboration with DSD in March this year. Their confidence and knowledge reflect the solid academic and professional grounding we are building."
The presence of diverse stakeholders signalled a unified commitment to strengthening social work education, practice, and service delivery to communities across South Africa.
Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures ©ChrisplPhoto