EIT Honours programme in social work
EIT is offering a social work honours programme in 2019, the first institutes of technology and polytechnic sector to do so.
The programme, through EIT’s School of Education and Social Sciences, has been strengthened with the appointment of ex-pat Kiwi, Dr Sue Hanna.
Sue has many years’ experience as a social work practitioner and lecturing to BA and MA social work students, both in New Zealand and, more recently, in England.
“We are delighted to add Sue’s experience and knowledge to our team,” said Gwenda Kervern, Head of School. “Both our students and teaching faculty across the Hawke’s Bay and Taira¯ whiti campuses will benefit from her skills and perspective. “It’s exciting to give our students the opportunity to continue their social work studies onto the Honours level should they aspire to that.”
In her last role overseas, Sue headed a team providing professional learning and development for social work staff and students employed by The London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
She also led its successful bid to secure almost £1 million for a social work teaching partnership between five north east London local authorities and two London Universities. Sue was involved in governance of the grant’s implementation. “Our collective goal was to ensure graduates and post graduates in East London were work-ready by substantially increasing the number of statutory student placements available in each of the member local authorities,” said Sue. “We also provided academic staff with frontline opportunities to refresh their practice and gave frontline social work staff the chance to teach into the social work education curriculum. This enhanced their skills and career development options, as well as benefited our students.”
During her eight years in London, Sue also worked as a senior lecturer in social work programmes at Middlesex University and Brunel University.