SUSS' New Social Work School to Offer Refreshed Curriculum

Existing programmes will be expanded to cover more specialisations, to boost sector

- Gabrielle Chan

The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) will open a new social work school, building on its existing programmes and introducing a revamped curriculum to address workforce shortfalls, attrition and burnout in the social work sector.

Promising opportunities for more pathways after graduation and career development, the School of Social Work and Social Development will open its doors in the third quarter of 2025, said SUSS provost Robbie Goh.

The school, which will be located in the SUSS campus in Clementi, will be the university's sixth and newest school. The dean will be Dr Vincent Ng, chief executive of non-profit organisation Allkin Singapore.

SUSS has existing social work programmes, but these will be expanded to include more specialisations, Professor Goh told the media earlier on March 21.

While no new courses will be introduced, he said there will be a revamped curriculum that "looks forward and will train social workers of the future". This allows students to specialise in various areas such as protection, eldercare, disability services, family social work, and juvenile justice and correctional settings.

The curriculum will also include graduate-level courses to help social workers grow in their careers, and courses for those who want to switch to different areas within social work or develop new skills such as counselling, psychology, management, or digital skills.

Students will also get enhanced practicum experience – a short-term supervised training stint – with industry partners in their chosen field.