The goal of the project is to integrate research and practice in the preparation of the next generation of social workers by developing partnered research training initiatives, both within academia and across the public and not-for-profit sectors, that enhance student research practice knowledge and applied skill development.

The partnership has five objectives:

1. To transform social work field education by bridging the gap between research and practice through joint training initiatives, projects and other forms of multi-stakeholder engagement and integration;

2. To strengthen the recognition of the importance of social work practice research by building knowledge and skills among students, postdoctoral fellows, and current and future practitioners;

3. To train and mentor students and postdoctoral fellows through new partnered research training initiatives that build the research capacity of current and future social work scholars, practitioners and policymakers;

4. To support the development of sustainable models of field education through engaging students and postdoctoral fellows in research on promising practices in social work field education across Canada; and

5. To engage students and postdoctoral fellows in partnered knowledge mobilization and the multi-directional exchange of knowledge in Canada and internationally on promising practices for sustainable field education and practice research.

An overview of the TFEL project and the three streams of activities are captured in a digital story put together by student research assistants Nozipho Moyo and Jayden Wickman.

The TFEL partnership is supported in part by funding from a SSHRC Partnership Grant (Talent).  The SSHRC talent program aims to support students and postdoctoral researchers in order to develop the next generation of researchers and leaders across society, both within academic and across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

The robot logo was designed by Emily King, a 17 year-old high school student living in Edmonton, Alberta. The robot logo represents the transformative experience of students engaged in training and mentorship.