MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK From india’s No 1 Private University Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri Campus

United Nations UNESCO Chair in Gender Equality Educational, Scienti c and and Women’s Empowerment (India) Cultural Organization MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK AMRITA VISHWA VIDYAPEETHAM

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is a multi-campus, multi-disciplinary research academia that is accredited 'A' by NAAC and is ranked as one of the best research institutions in India. Amrita is spread across six campuses in three states of India - , Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, with the headquarters at Ettimadai, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham continuously collaborates with top US universities including Ivy league universities and top European universities for regular student exchange programs, and has emerged as one of the fastest growing institutions of higher learning in India. The institution is managed by the Math.

A renowned humanitarian leader and spiritual teacher, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi is the guiding light of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. Amma’s concept of education, stress on research and commitment to instilling universal values have come together to shape Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham into an institution where the latest advancements and discoveries combine with compassion and service-mindedness. As Mata Amritanandamayi said in 2010 when the State University of New York honored her with an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters: “It is Amma’s prayer that we develop the expansive-mindedness to embrace both scientific knowledge and spiritual wisdom. We can no longer afford to see these two streams of knowledge as flowing in opposite directions. In truth, they complement one another. If we merge these streams, we will find that we are able to create a mighty river—a river whose waters can remove suffering and spread life to all of humanity. AMRITA VISHWA VIDYAPEETHAM AT A GLANCE

2 AMRITA UNIVERSITY MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK THE CENTER FOR WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT & GENDER EQUALITY

The Center for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality (CWEGE) of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham promotes societal transformation through participatory action research, education and implementation. These three activities interact with the different sectors of society and knowledge sharing in the context of service to humanity.

The CWEGE is at a crossroads of research and action, focused on creating an institutional home and an intellectual community to develop and share knowledge about women and gender through an analysis of texts, social and cultural practices, and social institutions in India, and globally.

Amrita has been in a long-standing cooperation with foreign universities, organizations and related institutions. International partnerships involve programs in education and research suited to national as well as international development. These innovative programs prepare students to become advocates for social equality and social justice. UNESCO CHAIR ON GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT

In the fall of 2016, Amrita and UNESCO inaugurated India’s first ever Chair on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment. The UNESCO Chair furthers the goals of the CWEGE and promotes international, inter-university cooperation and networking to enhance institutional capacities and collaborative work.

United Nations UNESCO Chair for Gender Equality Educational, Scienti c and and Women’s Empowerment (India) Cultural Organization

AMRITA UNIVERSITY 3 MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK (M. S. W.)

The Amritapuri MSW is a unique program offered by India’s only UNESCO Chair in Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment. It is a two-year full-time residential program which offers world-class opportunities in the field of Social Work. The curriculum is on par with that of the best international institutions while taking into account the specific requirements of the Social Work profession in the Indian context. The MSW program maintains a healthy balance between classroom sessions and field practice. Amrita has been in a long-standing cooperation with foreign universities, organizations and related institutions. These innovative programs prepare students to become advocates for social equality and social justice.

This two-year residential MSW program has specializations in Community Development and Physical and Mental Health. Medical & Psychiatric Social Work specific to women in the Indian context. The curriculum is on par with that of the best international institutions in the field of Social Work, while taking into account the specific requirements of the Social Work profession in the Indian context. The MSW program maintains a healthy balance between classroom sessions and field practice.

Students immerse in fieldwork on the development projects undertaken by the CWEGE, both concurrent with academic courses and separately in blocks. In the fourth semester, students are required to do a research project wherein they undertake a field based research to empirically test a selected social science theory, the results of which is submitted for a Scopus indexed conference/journal publication.

Students also conduct seminars and workshops on Drugs and Alcohol Abuse, Suicide Prevention and Crisis Management. MSW students are also active in Amrita’s diverse cultural and spiritual activities. The MSW degree gives professional skills to those interested in serving the community as a vocation. The program is most suitable for those who would like to build a career in Social Work and gives them an opportunity to derive great joy by extending a helping hand to those in need, including the underprivileged populations in the society. In 2018, field opportunities arose when the Kerala floods occurred, giving MSW a rare opportunity to work in post-disaster scenarios. 4 AMRITA UNIVERSITY MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK OUR CHANCELLOR A renowned humanitarian leader and spiritual teacher, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi is the guiding light of Amrita University. Amma’s concept of education, stress on research and commitment to instilling universal values have come together to shape Amrita University into an institution where the latest advancements and discoveries combine with compassion and service- mindedness. As Mata Amritanandamayi said in 2010 when the State University of New York honored her with an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters: “It is Amma’s prayer that we develop the expansive-mindedness to embrace both scientific knowledge and spiritual wisdom. We can no longer afford to see these two streams of knowledge as flowing in opposite directions. In truth, they complement one another. If we merge these streams, we will find that we are able to create a mighty river—a river whose waters can remove suffering and spread life to all of humanity.”

Aside from serving as the Chancellor of Amrita University, Mata Amritanandamayi also runs the vast humanitarian mission known as the Mata Amritanandamayi Math, the headquarters of which is home to one of Amrita University’s five campuses. A world-renowned institution, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math has built more than 45,000 homes for the homeless poor throughout India, is currently providing scholarships for more than 46,000 impoverished children, and has helped more than one lakh poverty-stricken women form self-help groups, and much more.

Mata Amritanandamayi is also a spiritual guide and teacher to millions throughout the world, giving people through her teachings and emotional support the strength to face the challenges of life with peace and mental equanimity. Her days are spent receiving thousands, placing men, women and children on her shoulder, addressing their concerns and instilling in them the confidence and inner strength to move forward in life. In this manner, more than 34 million people have come to Amma for her darshan.

We all know that the real goal of education is not to create people who understand only “the language of technology; the main purpose of education should be to impart a culture of the heart, a culture based on spiritual values. Viewing religion only outwardly creates more and more division. We need to see and understand the inside, the essence of religion, from a spiritual perspective. Only then will the sense of division come to an end. Where there is division, there cannot be any real spritual experience; and where there is true spritual experience, there will be no division - only unity and love. -Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

AMRITA UNIVERSITY 5 MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK FIELD WORK OPPORTUNITIES

As part of an immersive, field-work project, 12 first year MSW Students and faculty and staff from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham participated in Amritodhayam 2018, a rural camp in the flooded area of Aranmula (Pathanamthitta District.) The area had been gravely affected by the Kerala Floods, therefore in much need of rehabilitation.

NATIONAL LEVEL

NIMHANS, Bangalore Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Mysore Narayana Hrudayalaya Medical Centre, Bangalore St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore SCARF(schizophrenia Research Foundation), Chennai Coimbatore Cancer Foundation (GKNM), , Coimbatore SRM, Chennai Chaitanya Hospital, Mumbai Bedrock , Nagapattanam Baniyan, Chennai SION Hospital, Mumbai Hand in Hand, Kanchipuram DHAN foundation , Madurai World Wide Fund Key stone foundation, Ooty ACCORD,Goodalur UNNATHI, Ahemadabad St.Johns Hospital, Bangalore CRY , Bangalore MYRADA , Mysore Tambarum Trust, Chennai

STATE LEVEL

Amrita Institute of medical sciences, District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) Amala Institute of Medical Science, Thrissur Little Flower Hospital and Research Centre, Kusumagiri Mental Health Centre, Kakkanad Govt Children’s home & Old age home, Kollam Quilon Social Service, Kollam KRDA Sureksha Project Vallikeezhu I C D S & Panchayat institutions Mahila Mandir, Kolam Dr. Nair’s hospital Kollam SoS Village,Aluva & Thrissur Mental Health Action Trust, Kozikode VRC, Malapuram Sahayi Trust Rasta, Wayanad Pariyaram Medical College, Kannur Alzheimer’s related disorders society of India, Kochi Medical Mission Hospital, Kollenchery Kerala Rural Development Agency, Kollam Manovikas , Sasthamkotta 6 AMRITA UNIVERSITY MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK HIGHLIGHTS OF AMRITA MSW PROGRAM

EXPOSURE TO UNESCO, INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL UNDEF AND UNICEF STUDENT EXCHANGE PHD FELLOWSHIPS & FUNDED PROGRAMS OPPORTUNITIES INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Exposure to UNESC O, UNDP a s

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY FIELD PLACEMENT & TRAINING IN ACTION PROJECTS THROUGH SOCIAL WORK RELATED LIVE-IN-LABS PROJECTS & PROGRAMS OF MA MATH

STRUCTURE OF MSW PROGRAM

1 Theory classes Duration : 2 years 2 Field Work (Concurrent & Internship) Level : Post Graduate Type : Degree Eligibility : Graduation in any disciple 3 Research projects & Publication

4 Block placements

COLLABORATIONS & RECRUITERS INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

AMRITA UNIVERSITY 7 MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK NATIONAL LEVEL

Prerana, Mumbai Prajwala, Telegana Azim Premiji foundation, Pondichery Hand in hand Chennai The Richmond Fellowship Society, Bangalore NIMHANS, Bangalore Smile foundation, Bangalore BEDROC , Nagapattanam TISS project , Kollam Green Peace foundation, Hyderabad

STATE LEVEL

Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi Hornbill foundation, Athirapally Sree chitra Trinal institute for science and technology, Thiruvanandapuram Dr. Nair’s Hospital, Kollam District Mental Health Unit , Kollam Harrisons Malayalam Ltd., Kochi People Pro Trainers and Consultants Pvt Ltd, Kakkanad Reach Out, Thrissur Ashoka Trust for Research Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) Kollam & Palakad Kerala coconut development board , Thiruvananthapuram Qulion Social Service Society, Kollam Divya Hridaya Ashram,Kollam Balashram Ramakrishna Math Alappuzha Central School, Kollam Nirbhaya Cell, Thiruvananthapuram Kudumbasree project,Thiruvananthapuram KSACS , Kannur VRC, Malapuram SOS village project , Eranakulam Munnar,Wildlife sanctuary Swedesi Science Movement, Eranakulam Institute of Disaster Management, Thiruvananthapuram

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AMRITA UNIVERSITY 9 MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK MSW - EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

• 5S training during Amritodhayam 2018, a rural camp in the flooded area • Rural/Tribal Camp • PLA camps • Study tour • Observation visit in field agencies • Leadership training program for coconut producers society in collaboration with coconut development board • Live in labs projects in AServe villages • Employment engagement survey in collaboration with Harrison Malayalam Ltd • Amala bharatham campaign in Sabarimala • Observation of important days • International Day for Disaster Reduction Street play shows in collaboration with Kerala State Disaster Management Authority • Awareness program on personal hygiene • Anti alcohol campaigning • Life skill education in schools • Medical camps in elderly homes • Blood donation camps • Green initiatives in schools & panchayat • Lay Counseling training in MAM Trivandrum • Exam Stress management class in schools • Habitat study in perumbalam island • Mangroove visits • Plastic free campaign • Faculty development program for Amrita Hostel wardens • Field action project on monitoring the implementation of Right to Education Act. • Street vendors survey in collaboration with kollam municipality • Aranmula Heritage village Protection Action council

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AMRITA UNIVERSITY 11 MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK MSW - ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMES

• International conference on Mental health (Buffalo University) • International colloquium on Social welfare programs (Indo- Swedish Collaboration) • International colloquium on Mental health policies ( St.Ambrose University,USA) • Intercampus workshop on Indian Constitution & Social Legislation, • Intercampus workshop on Public Health • Intercampus workshop on Psycho social Care in disaster Management • Certificate course in Research methodology • Certificate course in child protection & child rights • Workshop on Disaster management • Workshop on Tribal affairs • Workshop on Biodiversity and social science • Workshop on documentary & short film festival • Workshop on Child rights • Workshop on Life Skill Education • Workshop on communicating to communities ( Role of folk media for development communication) • National Seminar on Genetically Modified Crops • Yoga & Meditation camps • Guidance and Counseling Services • Program development training • Workshop on Street Theatre • ToT on social entrepreneurship • Participatory Rural Appraisal • Social Audit • Gender Sensitivity • Web page designing • Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) • Fundamentals of Computer and MS office • Music Therapy • ToT on Life skills Education • Seminar series • International & national Conference • Invited talk by international faculty • Student & Alumni Meets • Alumni Association- ASWAAS

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ADMISSIONS NOW OPEN! The UNESCO Chair for Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment Announces Ongoing Admissions for the multi-disciplinary, Global programme.

APPLY NOW www.amrita.edu/admissions Phone: 9745511104 Email: [email protected]

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Amritapuri, Clappana P O, Kollam - 690525, Kerala, India

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