Co-creating practice learning: Social laboratories as an innovative model for social work field education in Rwanda

Pierre Celestin BIMENYIMANA; Sylvie Ingabire; Fidele Nsengiyumva; Ronald Mayora Synnes; Eugene Rutembesa; Paul Bukuluki

doi:10.1921/swssr20262577

Authors

Pierre Celestin BIMENYIMANA University of Rwanda https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4303-8087
Sylvie Ingabire University of Rwanda https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9684-837X
Fidele Nsengiyumva Institute of Social Work https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4245-4515
Ronald Mayora Synnes University of Agder https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1129-2654
Eugene Rutembesa University of Rwanda https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3789-3538
Paul Bukuluki Makerere University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5388-5469

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/swssr20262577

Keywords:

Community Intervention, Rwanda, Social Labs, Social Innovation, Social Work

Abstract

A Social lab is a cooperative, multidisciplinary, and experimental method that unites different stakeholders from different societal sectors to address intricate, systemic social issues by jointly developing and evaluating practical, iterative solutions. In Rwanda, during practicum, students used to be sent to various organizations to do their practicum. However, in those organizations, they were only learning from what that specific organization does. The current study investigates the experiences with the social labs approach as a case of social innovation introduced by the University of Rwanda in two districts of Rwanda in 2022. To reach the study's objective, 21 interviews were conducted with social work students and faculty members who participated in implementing the social labs. A thematic network analysis guided by the social innovation concepts and Hassan Zaid’s social labs' methodology was adopted. The collected data were uploaded to MAXQDA, a qualitative data analysis software for data mapping and visualizations. The findings revealed that the social labs increased practical skills, developed collaboration skills, and fostered a favorable and co-creation in getting innovative solutions. However, it was also found that social labs face challenges, including financing limits, limited time for practice, and long distances to the field. The study suggests that the social labs' approach should be integrated into the social work curriculum, where they shall replace the conventional practicum step by step. However, for social labs to be more productive, there is a need for strong partnerships, community ownership, and funding models for the approach should be enhanced.

Author Biographies

Pierre Celestin BIMENYIMANA, University of Rwanda

Bimenyimana Pierre Celestin is a PhD holder in Social Work from the University of Rwanda, with some courses at the University of Agder. He works as the Advisor to the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research at the University of Rwanda, where he also teaches in Social Sciences. His research interests fall under citizen satisfaction with public and private services, behavioral change, social protection, social innovations, and youth engagement

Sylvie Ingabire, University of Rwanda

Sylvie is a Tutorial Assistant at the University of Rwanda. She is also pursuing her Master's in Social Work at the Institute of Social Work in Dar Es Salaam. Her publication will be focused on women’s empowerment, and the inequalities and injustices faced by women in the labor market and other economic and social areas, as well as the importance of embracing diversity and promoting inclusion and Gender and Development.

Fidele Nsengiyumva, Institute of Social Work

Fidèle NSENGIYUMVA is Rwandan and a Master’s Degree student in Social Work from the Institute of Social Work, Dar es Salaam, under the building resilient community project. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Rwanda. He has experience in different areas, including child protection, sponsorship, when he was working with Good Neighbors International, and gained experience in the rehabilitation and reintegration of street children with all related social activities when he was working with Centre Cyprien et Daphrose RUGAMBA (CECYDAR).

Ronald Mayora Synnes, University of Agder

Ronald Mayora Synnes (PhD, University of Agder) is a Sociologist and currently working as an Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology and Social Work at the University of Agder. His research interests fall Youth, immigrants, and negotiations on religion, ethnicity, and gender.

Eugene Rutembesa, University of Rwanda

Rutembesa Eugene (PhD, University Saint-Denis) is a Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapies within the Department of Clinical Psychology at the University of Rwanda. he has conducted several studies on resilience related to the survivors and ex-perpetrators of the genocide of 1994 against Tutsi in Rwanda.

Paul Bukuluki, Makerere University

Bukuluki Paul(PhD, University of Vienna) is a Professor of Social Work in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at Makerere University. He has published in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, social norms and gender-based violence, social sciences and global pandemics, social work and social protection, social work and forced migration/displacement, and social work and social policy.

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